Mr. Andrew Jansson – General manager of Centara Grand lagoon and Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives in an exclusive interview for Travel Magazine!
Mr. Jansson, congratulations on the prestigious The Best New Premium Resort Maldives 2025! Centara Grand lagoon is one of the most beautiful new islands with incredible views and luxurious villas. What is the secret to being one of the most desirable islands in the Maldives for vacation and relaxation?
It is a combination of many factors. Location is important, and the natural beauty of the surroundings is what Maldives is all about. Design and comfort is equally important, as today’s travellers are very well travelled, and have high expectations. And finally, it’s our team. The frontline of the service and with whom all the day to day interactions take place.
What sets you apart from other resorts in the Maldives and what will keep guests coming back to you again and again?
We have modern and contemporary design, which is very appealing. With close proximity to the airport, access to the island is very smooth, with only a 40 minute speedboat ride. More and more, this is desired by travellers as they want to spend less time getting to the resort, and more time enjoying it.
Centara is a world-famous Thai brand, what is the secret of its global success and what is its “trademark” in hospitality, especially in the Maldives?
Our service reflects authentic Thai hospitality, grounded in a strong company culture, and brought to life by a core team of employees who have worked with Centara for many years, and are able to truly represent these values. Our products also focus on key, signature experiences, such as the Suan Bua Thai restaurant, with its authentic flavours and dishes, and the Spa Cenvaree, another signature Centara brand experience. These elements all help shape and elevate the Thai hospitality culture found in our resorts.
What is your definition of success?
Success is inner calm, happiness, health, longevity and being able to do what you love to do. It is waking up in the morning and feeling positive about the upcoming day, and enjoying life to the fullest.
What are your plans for the development of the resort?
We are still in the early days with the resort just recently opened, but we have received great feedback from our guests and we continue to fine tune the product. We are looking to add more variety and choice to our F&B offerings, creating a yearly program of activities, ranging from visiting wellness practitioners, to sports events and culinary take-overs.
With the changing trends in the Maldivain tourism industry, how do you see the Centara Grand Lagoon positioned to these changes?
Travelers to the Maldives these days have a lot of choice, so its important we remain flexible and well-positioned in this very competitive market. I believe our location, modern design, comfortable rooms and beautiful beaches keeps us in a strong position, and together with our neighbor island, Centara Mirage Lagoon, we are able to offer a choice and variety that many islands in the Maldives cannot. We are able to appeal to all markets and origins, and as Maldives continues to grow and attract new travelers, I think our resorts, and the brand of Centara will be very well-positioned to meet those demands.
centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cglm
