Deveekaa Nijhawan Cluster Director - Public Relations & Communications - Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Naladhu Private Island Maldives & Niyama Private Islands


Personality of the Month
Deveekaa Nijhawan Cluster Director - Public Relations & Communications - Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Naladhu Private Island Maldives & Niyama Private Islands
PUBLISHED July 15, 2020 | updated September 15, 2020 00:34

1. How are you finding the Maldives?

Working in the Maldives is a once in a lifetime experience. I thought having lived in

cosmopolitan cities for most of my life, making the transition to calling an island my

home would take some time. However, within a few weeks I realized why the Maldives is

so special. The beauty of working against a backdrop of the calming turquoise waters,

white sandy beaches and seeing the sky at sunset being painted with shades of gold,

orange, red, pink, and purple; makes you realize the enchantment of natural beauty.

While I do miss home, the island and its people have enveloped me with love, friendship

and happiness, making me proud to call this paradise my home. It has also allowed me

to maintain work life balance and enjoy time to myself, which was a very different

experience for me, given I had grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle of working in

cities.

 

My current state of mind is best represented by the brand ethos of ‘Welcome to Paradise

at Nature’s Playground’ for Niyama Private Island Maldives and ‘Life is a Journey’ for

Anantara Dhigu and Anantara Veli.

 

2. You oversee the PR functions at Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Naladhu Private Island

Maldives, and Niyama Private Islands Maldives. Which one is your favourite and why?

It would be impossible for me to choose between the four resorts, as I am very proud of

my achievements at each of them and feel honoured to be given the opportunity to be

responsible to drive the PR and communications strategies for each one. Each resort

 

has a portfolio of distinctive USPs, which I have successfully leveraged to create unique

collaborations, take advantage of synergies and maximize PR opportunities for the

group. Thus being able to capitalize on the idiom of ‘one for all and all for one’.

 

3. What do you like most about your work?

I am extremely passionate about my job, so I love brainstorming, corroborating stories,

competition ideas, to the media and developing PR strategies. I also enjoy interacting

with hotel guests to learn about their experiences and do my little bit to make their stay

at the resort unforgettable.

 

4. If you can change anything in your life, what would it be?

I wouldn't change anything about my past, because it's made me who I am today. I

believe I am destiny’s child and have always looked at life positively and embraced

challenges and opportunities wholeheartedly. From a humble beginning of having no

hospitality experience 8 years ago to a journey of discovery, learning and immense hard

work, I am very proud of the way my career has evolved in such a short space of time. I

feel privileged to be in such a prestigious position of being the Cluster Director of PR

and Communications for four esteemed resorts in the Maldives.

 

5. Tell us about how you started your journey in the PR field?

I happened to join the industry by chance and it didn’t take long for me to realize how

much I loved it and wanted to continue pursuing it. To an outsider, the industry seems to

be very glamorous and fun and don’t get me wrong it is – and that’s why I love it so

much, but it is a lot of hard work as it’s a 24/7 job and basically your social life is non-

existent. However, I have managed to make it work for me, as my friends are all in the

industry so work doesn’t seem like work!

 

6. Were you always interested in hospitality?

I was born in the hospitality industry as my father was the General Manager with Oberoi

Hotels & Resorts. As he took over different hotels, we travelled a lot and I learnt to

embrace different cultures early in my life. I realized loved meeting people and

interacting with different nationalities, making me fall in love with this industry. When I

was very young, I had told my father, I would follow his footsteps and join the industry as

well. At that time no one took me seriously and now I am here… life does come full circle

indeed!

 

7. How would you differentiate between the consumer profile of your resorts?

All four resorts have distinctive USPs which appeal to varying customer segments:

Niyama Private Islands Maldives - with its unique twin islands Play and Chill concept,

appeals to adventurous honeymooners, surfers, active couples as well as to those

seeking tranquillity and relaxation. It offers a variety of adrenaline pumping water sport

activities, is the only resort in the Maldives with its own wave breaking right onto the

shore, has luxurious overwater villas and pavilions, pristine white beaches and

renowned spa services.

Naladhu Private Island Maldives - is perfect for the jet set elite due to the exclusivity

and privacy it offers with 20 elegant houses with individual pools, secluded pristine white

beaches and kaleidoscopic reefs, in-spa residence and tailor-made VIP experiences.

Anantara Dhigu - provides the ultimate family holiday adventure with its luxury family

resort villas, variety of water sports activities including surfing and renowned Dhoni Kids

Club.

Anantara Veli - caters to honeymooners and couples as it’s an adults-only island and a

tropical destination for surfing.

 

8. What is it like living in the Maldives during the pandemic?

It’s surreal to be in an almost deserted island with limited activity and I miss interacting

with guests and colleagues. However, being an optimistic individual, I have used this as

an opportunity for self-reflection, to work on my health and wellbeing and participate in

meditation against the backdrop of turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches. In

fact, with no movement in and out of the resorts, there couldn’t be a safer place to be

isolated.

 

9. How do you stay productive during these times? 

There is no doubt a lot of uncertainty at these times, however being an optimistic person,

I always focus on the positive. I focus on activities which are in my control and identify

ways in which I can make a difference, rather than get stressed and worried about things

which are dependent on external factors. Work is an escape for me and helps me divert

my attention.

 

10. Who are you listening to at the moment?

Dance Monkey (Tones and I)

 

11. Favourite motto or saying:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde.

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