Luxury, conservation and sustainability in paradise
Amilla Maldives is a luxury resort developed on a natural island, nestled within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives.
On arrival, I was welcomed by General Manager, Narelle McDougal, for whom conservation, sustainability and accessibility are top priorities. “I’ve been in hospitality all my professional life and it always annoyed me that disabled guests had a bit of a ‘second-class citizen’ treatment,” I asked her for an example. “Normally, access ramps are ugly; rooms adapted to wheelchairs don’t have the same standards as those for able-bodied visitors, and they are in the least attractive part of the resort…that kind of thing. I wanted to change all that here.”
She has indeed done that. Some of the access ramps are now works of art, like one shaped like a tropical fish, made from colourful tiles. Wheelchair-friendly rooms are in prime locations and boast thoughtful features – including extra space under sinks and desks for ease of use. Even details like the positioning of sockets haven’t escaped Narelle’s attention. She was also keen to cater for guests with mental health issues,…
