Long before it was in vogue to talk about sustainability, Salil Panigrahi bought into the concept. And how could he not? His company, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, has eight properties in the Maldives, an ecologically fragile region.
His understanding of going green started when he moved from India to join the Six Senses Group in the Maldives. He led the finance department for the luxury brand and oversaw other functions like project management for resort construction and product launch. When Salil launched Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts in 2011, he was clear about what he wanted to do – he wanted to build a resort brand that offered tranquillity, fun and value to travellers while caring for the environment.
Not only has he managed to stick to this ethos so far, but he also tries to keep evolving it to make sustainability the driving spirit of every resort. This is manifested well at OBLU Select Lobigili, the latest property to join the resort chain’s growing portfolio.
Tucked away in Lobigili island, a 20-minute sea ride from the Male’s Velana International Airport, this five-star adults-only resort features 68 beach and water villas. It is fashioned to cater to honeymooners and couples who can sink their feet in the white sands and gaze at the turquoise sea right outside their rooms without breaking their gaze at each other.
SERENITY ALL AROUND
Tranquillity envelops a visitor the moment they step off the boat and onto the wooden pier, which marks the entrance to the property. Island hostesses are quick to present a cooling brew made from fresh ingredients and lavender-soaked hot towels to wipe off the travails of travel. And from then on, one can spot elements of eco-consciousness all around.
Let’s start with the rooms. The first sensation one encounters on opening the villa door is one of calmness and spaciousness. Jorge Amaro, General Manager of OBLU Select Lobigili and the upcoming OBLU Xperience, explained that this is primarily due to the strategic design of the space.
“Since we are on an island, we have leveraged sunlight and air to make the rooms roomier and breezier!” he stated. Therefore, all rooms have a triangular ceiling reaching close to 20 feet, which gives a lofty feeling and also helps in better ventilation. French windows open to the sea, which overwhelms the room with ample sunlight and fresh air, accompanied by the soothing sounds of sea waves lapping the shore.
Each villa opens to a small porch with a private pool encircled by local plants that provide privacy from adjoining neighbours in their individual villas. Walk a few paces, and one encounters the breathtakingly beautiful, crystal clear and multi-hued blue ocean that the Maldives is famous for.
But, wait, soaking in this natural beauty has us meandering; let’s get back to the sustainability part of this sojourn. This intimate resort has resorted to wood extensively for the rafters, porches, furniture, or bath areas. Even the gym, built on cement columns and overlooks the ocean, sports wooden flooring and panelling heavily.
One has to point out a unique thing about the bath spaces in most Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts – they are spacious, open-air, but still manage to give a calming sense of privacy. At OBLU Select Lobigili, it would not be wrong to state that the bathroom is the center of attraction of the villa. One can soak in the bathtub or shower, while looking at swaying palm trees and listening to the incessant sounds of the ocean. Most of the luxuriant bath amenities are from Forisca, a brand known for its environmentally responsible products. It includes toothpaste tablets, wooden combs, wood-based shaving razors and biodegradable shower caps. While the toiletries from The White Company still come in plastic bottles, plans are afoot to find sustainable containers for these too.
The philosophy behind the resort’s design is to ensure that guests reconnect with nature. The windows above the bed have gigantic sea-shell structures, urging one to step out and pick these in real-time. Greenery is all over, including nooks in the bath areas, representing the deep-rooted attachment that Maldivians have with Mother Earth. Even the ceiling fans have wooden panels, while sheer muslin curtains hang by the bedstead.
FLOWER POWER
Since OBLU Select Lobigili is a new build, flora and fauna shrubs are planted all over, which promise to blossom into flowering and fruit-bearing plants soon. The dappled shadows from this vegetation offer a respite from the sunrays beating down on hot afternoons. At the same time, their flowers are used extensively in decorations at Ylang Ylang, the restaurant, and Elena Spa.
The open-air spa uses locally-sourced cold-pressed coconut oil for most massage treatments. In a bid to give more back to the land and their community than they take, the spa also displays various skincare and beauty products created by locals.
However, how sustainable can a resort be on an island where most produce is procured from various regions? Not very, admits Jorge. “But the idea is to reduce one’s carbon footprint as much as is possible rather than aiming at eradicating it; this is next to impossible,” he pointed out.
So, fresh produce is produced twice or thrice a week from Male, while inventory is carefully monitored to plan its replenishment well in advance. This way, more materials can be procured at the same time, rather than in bursts and spurts.
Similarly, transportation, a high carbon-intensive activity, is well-mapped in advance. There are set arrival and departure times from Velana International Airport so that the same speedboat can pick up several travellers in a single run, rather than making several rides to and fro.
“This saves on gas consumption and is also economical,” Jorge stated. In fact, the economics of sustainability is part of the resort’s operational template. It has its desalination unit, which treats the seawater available in plenty, desalinates it and adds essential minerals, which is then used for drinking and bathing purposes.
The wastewater management system treats wastewater and converts it into clean water suitable for re-entry into the ecosystem, which is used to maintain the landscape. Given the abundance of sunlight, a solar-powered system generates enough electricity to meet most of the resort’s power needs. An in-house incinerator disposes of solid and liquid food waste to avoid it from being dumped in the sea.
Well aware that true sustainability stretches beyond conserving the environment, Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts is focusing on areas like gender equality by promoting higher participation of women in its workforce. Close to 85% of its 100-plus staff strength at OBLU Select Lobigili comprises women.
The resort chain also acutely focuses on the development and well-being of local communities. It has already collaborated with community-led organisations and non-profit associations to support indigenous communities by providing access to education and training. These trained people will be absorbed in the hotel’s workforce, especially as it prepares to introduce OBLU Xperience Ailafushi, which will have over 200 accommodation options.
While OBLU Select Lobigili is the perfect luxury destination for an isolated stay, it is heartening to see how it is forged by design foresight and driven by the ambition to remain eco-friendly. Salil has undoubtedly succeeded in this goal to build a contemporary resort with sustainable luxuries without losing sight of his mission of keeping the surrounding marine environment pristine as it is.
