Secret to being Runner-up - Best Hotel of the Year

"Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest dreams and expectations unless he or she begins with some wild dreams and expectations" Ralph Charell once said.

In 2000 Tom McLoughlin, then the Island Chief and GM of the Hilton Maldives, took me to the Maldives to do a week of training sessions with his team on Rangali Island. His commitment to training and team support was self-evident. The feeling of camaraderie between Tom and his staff of ‘322 Islanders’ was remarkable. They shared his passion and vision to make the Hilton Maldives a ‘dream holiday’ destination and be for it to be rated as one of the best in the world.

Recently I noted, in the UK Tattler Travel Guide, the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa on Rangali Island was heavily featured as Runner-up - Best Hotel of the Year. I asked Tom for his approval to share his ‘secret of success’ with you and he said, “Sure Max. To achieve the goal our team had set we had to believe in ourselves and our dreams. We lived the ‘Rangali Dream’ in everything we did. Always we had in mind Conrad Hilton’s advice "To accomplish BIG THINGS you must first DREAM BIG!"

If you'd like to see what a ‘dream holiday’ destination looks like, check it out at: http://www.maldives.hilton.com Tom has moved on from Rangali Island and is now the Managing Director of Maldives Solutions, a vibrant company focusing on investment and management of Hotel and Resort related activities in the Maldives. You can contact him at

Next week I'll introduce you to another outstanding hotel operator and another award winning hotel. Until then I wish you a week of 'learning from the best.'

Sincerely

Max Hitchins - The Hospitality Doctor - www.HospitalityDoctor.com

PS. I met Sylvia Raves from The Place on Mud Bay Restaurant – Olympia - Washington State - USA, at Bill Marvin’s Seattle Super Summit in 2002. She recently sent me a note wishing me "Prospero ano nuevo" which translates “Have the best year ever.” I certainly intend making 2003 my best year ever! I pass on the same greeting to you.