---
type: "Article"
title: "Hospitality in the Maldives: Hosted by the hosts"
description: "We were surprised on multiple occasions about the hospitality of the Maldivians during our stay at the Gili Lankanfushi Resort ..."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/maldives/hospitality-gili-lankanfushi"
author: "Katja Birrer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 9
tags: ["Culture", "Maldives"]
entities:
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culture"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/resort"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/shopping"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-07-04T13:18:11+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2015-05-21T17:55:07+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: hospitality-gili-lankanfushi.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Katja Birrer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:18:11+00:00
---

# Hospitality in the Maldives: Hosted by the hosts

> Gili Lankanfushi is an eco-conscious luxury resort in the Maldives where all 280-plus staff members are called 'hosts,' creating an atmosphere of genuine, personalised hospitality. The article highlights the resort's employee village, sustainability initiatives, and an internal innovation programme that distinguishes it from typical luxury properties.

## What to see
- **Host Village** — A dedicated employee community on part of the island, featuring a shop, soccer field, restaurant, fitness centre, surf centre, and communal spaces, all with playful branding like 'Gili Licious' and 'Gili Gets Fit.'
- **Solar raft** — A roughly 100-square-metre raft covered in solar cells, capable of producing around 20 kilowatts of electricity for the resort.
- **On-site carpenter shop** — Most woodworking for the resort, including villa floor repairs, is handled in the island's own workshop using natural and traditional materials.

## What to do
- **Cycling around the resort** — Each villa comes with its own bamboo bicycle, and hosts also use bicycles, making cycling the natural way to get around the island.
- **Private dining in villas** — Guests can arrange in-villa private dining, a service that even senior management take turns performing under the resort's 'In Your Shoes' innovation programme.

## Good to know
The resort operates by a 'No Shoes, No News' motto, encouraging barefoot relaxation, though island-wide Wi-Fi via satellite broadband is available. Drinking water is distilled on-site and served in refillable glass bottles; bathrobes, linens, and towels are made from organic materials, and plastic packaging is actively avoided in imported products.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Katja-Birrer-Erfan-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Waiter Erfan and Katja"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Roberto-Arganese-Walter-Schaerer-interview.jpg"
    caption: "Roberto Arganese telling Walter about the Host Village"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Gili-Licous-canteen-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Entrance to the employee restaurant \"Gili Licious\" in the Host Village"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Esther-Olivia-bikes-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Bicycles belonging to hosts"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Satellite-dish-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Satellite dish for broadband Internet connection"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/handyman-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Handyman Carpenter repairing the floor in a private villa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Bikes-Spa-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Bikes made of bamboo"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sundeck-host-village-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "Sundeck in the Host Village with solar panel behind it"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/farewell-jetty-Gili-Lankanfushi.jpg"
    caption: "An entire delegation of hosts waving goodbye to us"
```