{"id":34440,"date":"2026-11-09T01:19:42","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T23:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/?p=34440"},"modified":"2026-11-09T01:20:45","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T23:20:45","slug":"luxury-comes-with-freedom-mohamed-khaleel-on-the-maldives-and-the-art-of-hospitality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/luxury-comes-with-freedom-mohamed-khaleel-on-the-maldives-and-the-art-of-hospitality\/","title":{"rendered":"Luxury Comes with Freedom: Mohamed Khaleel on the Maldives and the Art of Hospitality"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>The Managing Director of <a href=\"https:\/\/pulseresorts.com\/\">Pulse Hotels &amp; Resorts<\/a> and CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/mantaair.mv\/\">Manta Air<\/a> speaks to Lillian Psylla, Publisher of GRtraveller at WTM London 2026 about policy stability, the guest journey and what Greece can learn from the Maldives.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>A holiday in the Maldives may revolve around an island resort, but the experience begins well before a guest reaches its shores. For Mohamed Khaleel, Managing Director of Pulse Hotels &amp; Resorts and CEO of Manta Air, the journey to and from that island can shape the memory of an entire stay. Speaking to Lillian Psylla at WTM London 2026, he explains why hospitality led him into aviation, challenges the policy changes affecting investor confidence in the Maldives and considers how destinations such as Greece can build on their own strengths. The conversation also turns to a question every traveller faces: how do you choose the resort that is right for you?<\/p>\n<p>Watch the full intrerview on Youtube:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mohamed Khaleel - Pulse Resorts \/ Manta Air: Maldives Tourism, Investment &amp; Innovation | WTM 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_qCVnJHrkhA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>This interview has been edited for length and clarity.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34454\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large2-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>How are the 40% foreign currency conversion requirement and the 17% tourism GST affecting investor confidence, and what is at stake if that confidence slips?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Maldives needs investment. We need to expand our economy and our tourism base. The 40% conversion requirement is practically impossible to implement. No hotel in the Maldives will be able to meet it.<\/p>\n<p>I was the President\u2019s adviser on tourism development, and this is why I resigned when the bill was passed. I did not believe I should remain in an advisory role when I felt that the policy would have a negative impact on the tourism industry as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>On the tax issue, the government has realised it made a mistake and is now moving to repeal the measure. It had been postponed until April, but a bill has now been put before Parliament. I expect it to pass this week or, at the latest, next week, so that the destination principle tax will no longer apply.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s note: The repeal discussed above concerns the extension of GST to inbound tourism products and related booking or agency services supplied by overseas businesses without a fixed place of business in the Maldives. It does not concern abolition of the standard 17% tourism GST rate, which has applied since 1 July 2025. In a statement dated 5 November 2026, ABTA reported that the Maldivian tourism minister had confirmed the intended repeal of the overseas-supplier provision and that the amendment was expected to pass shortly. Khaleel\u2019s comments reflect his expectations at the time of the interview.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>What does the Maldives need from policymakers to stay competitive against other luxury destinations while strengthening the local economy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is very simple: we need stability and visibility. Policies should not change so frequently.<\/p>\n<p>People do not invest solely on the basis of today\u2019s circumstances or today\u2019s forecasts. They invest in the future. Their projections are based on certain economic and policy assumptions.<\/p>\n<p>If policies change frequently in ways that affect the overall economy and the performance of their properties, that has a negative impact on investors. People need certainty, both for investment and across the wider business environment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34460\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Eri-Maldives-Aerial-Large-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>With Manta Air and Pulse working hand in hand, what are the benefits of an airline and resort partnership for guests, operators and the destination?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Transport and logistics are essential to any destination. In the Maldives, they are even more important because of the challenges of reaching remote islands and the one-island, one-resort concept. Manta plays a critical role in the success of hoteliers.<\/p>\n<p>We never intended to start an airline. We were pushed into it because our investments were at risk of failing as a result of services provided by a third party, over which we, as investors and hoteliers, had no control. That is why Manta came into the picture.<\/p>\n<p>Our philosophy does not come purely from aviation. We come from a hospitality background. As hoteliers and resort operators, we understand the industry\u2019s pain points, and we introduced Manta Air to address them. Manta is a hospitality airline, and there is a significant difference in that approach.<\/p>\n<p>The industry has responded well to the concept, which is why Manta has been able to grow significantly in a relatively short time. We were the first to introduce a fixed-schedule seaplane operation in the Maldives.<\/p>\n<p>Seaplanes had been operating here for 20 or 25 years, but the services worked rather like buses, moving from one place to another without fixed schedules. Guests did not know when their connection would be.<\/p>\n<p>Before Manta, you could book your international flight to Mal\u00e9 and know the flight number and connection times. Yet you could not have the same certainty about the final leg from Velana International Airport to your resort. You would only find out after arriving at the airport, when you might be told to wait one, two or three hours.<\/p>\n<p>That uncertainty makes people frustrated. With Manta, guests travelling to the resorts we serve receive their ticket and know their connection time before they arrive. They can plan the journey through to their final destination.<\/p>\n<p>The guest\u2019s first and last impressions depend on the airline. You can provide excellent service at the resort and deliver a wonderful holiday, but if the arrival or departure goes wrong, that is what the guest remembers.<\/p>\n<p>Hoteliers often have no control over those moments. Yet guests may hold the hotel responsible because it arranged the transfer. That is the problem we set out to address, and it is how we differentiate Manta.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34451\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/LivingRoom1TCR-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Could this model work in Greece or in other destinations with a similar island geography?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Why not? It could work in destinations with similar geography. But I believe that if the intention is simply to start an airline operation, the model will not work in the same way. An aviation business can have different objectives and a different perspective.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to create this kind of connectivity, a company controlled by hospitality interests should establish and operate the airline. The objective is to make money, of course, but not to squeeze every last penny out of the customer.<\/p>\n<p>What makes the difference is the synergy and the symbiotic relationship between the hotel and the airline. For us, a happy customer will be a repeat customer. That is how our business model works.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34463\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/The-Nautilus-Aerial-View-of-Naiboli-Pool-Bar-and-Ocean-Houses-and-Residences-Large-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>What else can other destinations, including Greece, learn from the Maldives about innovation, destination positioning and the visitor journey?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tourism in the Maldives began in the 1970s. Our pioneers travelled to places such as the Bahamas, explored what was happening there and brought those lessons back to the Maldives.<\/p>\n<p>We used to follow other destinations and learn from them. Today, I would say the Maldives is a trendsetter. Our pioneers travelled around the world, understood what others were doing and then, over time, tried to do it better. That determination and willingness to improve have helped make the Maldives distinctive.<\/p>\n<p>Geographically, we are a very unusual destination. The one-island, one-resort concept gives us a competitive advantage over many other places, and we build our industry around that strength.<\/p>\n<p>People often talk about cultural tourism, but that is not the basis of the Maldivian offering in the way it can be for Greece. Greece can draw enormously on its civilisation and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n<p>You need to understand your strengths and analyse your weaknesses. When positioning the destination, focus on your strengths. Learn from the rest of the world, understand where you want to stand, identify your real competitors and examine why they are successful. Then take the best of what you see and consider how you can improve on it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34448\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/CoralResidenceBeachfront-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>For a Greek traveller considering the Maldives, how do you choose the right resort when there are so many options?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Two things play a role. The brand helps guide the choice, while travel advisers, agents and tour operators act as the bridge that connects the traveller with the right place.<\/p>\n<p>Even within the luxury segment, the concepts can be very different. Take The Nautilus, for example. It operates in the ultra-luxury segment, with pricing comparable to other properties in that category. But a guest who chooses Cheval Blanc may not necessarily be the right guest for The Nautilus.<\/p>\n<p>The concept is different. The Nautilus is for people looking for complete privacy, comfort and disconnection. It is very laid-back. Luxury comes with freedom: the freedom to disconnect from the rest of the world and recharge.<\/p>\n<p>Different people travel for different reasons, and a holiday has a meaning beyond moving from one place to another. What does the guest really want to do? What is their budget? What is the purpose of the trip? You need to understand all of that to match the person with the right place.<\/p>\n<p>At a similar price, one resort might offer a quiet stay while another offers a much more active holiday. If you want peace and quiet but choose somewhere with a very active atmosphere, you may not enjoy it, because it does not match the experience you were looking for. It all depends on the kind of holiday you want.<\/p>\n<p><em>Khaleel\u2019s account connects decisions made in government with the details guests encounter on their way to a resort. Investors need a policy environment they can plan around; travellers need a journey they can trust. For Greece, his argument invites a closer look at how island transport and hospitality work together, alongside a clear understanding of what each destination does best. His advice to the individual traveller is just as specific: choose a resort around the holiday you want to have. The right match begins with understanding what brought you there.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pulseresorts.com\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Discover Pulse Hotels &amp; Resorts<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>_________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Mohamed-Khaleel.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-34442 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Mohamed-Khaleel.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"217\" height=\"326\" \/><\/a><strong>Mohamed Khaleel<\/strong> is a Maldivian hospitality and aviation executive, serving as Managing Director of Pulse Hotels &amp; Resorts and Chief Executive Officer of Manta Air. His work spans resort development, operations and island connectivity, with Pulse\u2019s portfolio including The Nautilus Maldives, Kandima Maldives, Nova Maldives and Eri Maldives. Through Manta Air, he has championed a hospitality-led approach to aviation, introducing scheduled seaplane services to make resort transfers more predictable and improve the guest journey. He previously served as Adviser to the President of the Maldives on Tourism Development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Managing Director of Pulse Hotels &amp; Resorts and CEO of Manta Air speaks to Lillian Psylla, Publisher of GRtraveller at WTM London 2026 about policy stability, the guest journey and what Greece can learn from the Maldives. A holiday in the Maldives may revolve around an island resort, but the experience begins well before&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34445,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,62,125,67,127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34440","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thematikos-tourismos-en","category-epikerotita-en","category-epikairotita-en","category-prosopikotites-en","category-proorismoi-5-aisthiseon-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34440"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34469,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34440\/revisions\/34469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grtraveller.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}