| Role | Company |
|---|---|
| MD | Orchid Holdings Pvt Ltd |
Additional Info
Son: Ahmed Fayaz Waheed Connections: Champa Hussain Afeef
My first job in the industry was as a sort of guest relations officer. Mr.Kerafa Naseem was the one who gave me that job. It was right after I returned to Male’ from my exile. Mr. Naseem saw me at the jetty and he approached me, asking if I was free to go to Kurumba Village with him for a job opportunity. I agreed and that is how it began. I was actually working at the bar at Kurumba Village when Mr.Ibrahim Noordeen, who was the airport representative for the resort at the time, got the chance to go study in Australia. Consequently, Mr Champa Hussain Afeef also told Naseem that I would be perfect as a resort representative. Not long after I found myself working for about twelve resorts as their airport representative. However, I would say the true beginning of my career was when President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Government appointed me as the General Manager of Bandos Island Resort. Finding the funds to make a successful proposal for Bandos when the Government put it up for a bid was also a huge challenge. I had only USD 500 in my bank account at the time. However, my proposal specified I was willing to invest USD 7.8 million to develop the resort. At the time, I hoped that the Government would not go too deep into the details of the investment, but at the same time, I knew I had to find a way to get the funds. As luck would have it, I met Mr.Ong Beng Seng during one of my trips to Singapore and he expressed his interest in entering a partnership with me. I explained to him about my proposal for Bandos and was delighted to find out that he was willing to invest USD 6.5 million into the venture. It was luck, guts and being at the right place at the right time. I have also had the honor of filling the position of Vice President of Maldives1.