Four resorts pay over MVR 30,000 in service charges

A total of four tourist resorts paid above USD 2,000 (MVR 30,000) as service charges for February 2023.

According to Resort Workers Maldives, a local Facebook page that regularly updates service charge disbursements from tourist resorts, the highest service charge payout last month was from Velaa Private Island.

While Velaa Private Island paid USD 2,431.67 (MVR 37,496.35) last month, the property was among the highest average service charge disbursers in 2022 as well.

Top 10 Service Charge Disbursements in Feb 2023

1. Velaa Private Island: USD 2,431.67 (MVR 37,496.35)

2. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands: USD 2,407.83 (MVR 37,128.74)

3. Cheval Blanc Randheli: USD 2,243.53 (MVR 34,595.23)

4. Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi: USD 2,005.67 (MVR 30,927.43)

5. One & Only Reethi Rah: USD 1,556.00 (MVR 23,993.52)

6. Four Seasons Maldives: USD 1,387.00 (MVR 21,387.54)

7. Riu Hotels & Resorts: USD 1,356.77 (MVR 20,921.39)

8. Anantara Kihavah Maldives: USD 1,342.04 (MVR 20,694.26)

9. Milaidhoo Maldives: USD 1,284.40 (MVR 19,805.45)

10. Soneva Jani: USD 1,205.92 (MVR 18,595.29)

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, which came in second this month, topped the list in January with USD 4,500 (MVR 70,000) distributed to each of its employees. This was the highest service charge payout a tourist property had ever made in the Maldives.

While four properties paid over USD 2,000 in service charges last month, eight other properties paid over USD 1,000, which included One & Only Reethi Rah, Four Seasons Maldives, Riu Hotels & Resorts, Anantara Kihavah Maldives, Milaidhoo Maldives, and Soneva Jani.

The lowest service charges disbursed in February included JA Manafaru, USD 660.33 (MVR 10,182.29); Sun Siyam Iru Veli, USD 653.37 (MVR 10,074.97); InterContinental Maamunagau, USD 589.00 (MVR 9,082.38); Resident Maldives Falhuma, USD 538.02 (MVR 8,296.27); and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, USD 506.63 (MVR 7,812.23).

Tourist properties in the Maldives are required by law to pay 10 percent of their monthly earnings in service charges. The Labour Relations Authority (LRA) has discretionary authority to fine any property found in breach of this by an amount not exceeding MVR 50,000.

So far in 2023, more than 375,000 tourists have visited the Maldives. The highest number of visitors in a single month was 177,000 in February.