Weathering the crisis by moving ahead with a strong, single-minded focus to help in the rebuilding of local communities fractured by the recent catastrophe is foremost on the minds of the employees at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. The indomitable spirit of cooperation, compassion, strength and hope had tide the team together in braving risks to effect the immediate rescue and evacuation of all of its over 200 guests caught on the day of the devastating tsunami and continues to propel them with focused dedication and purpose in rebuilding their paradise after the storm. " The mood among the employees is positive and there is a sense of professional pride and determination to get over this setback. In the coming weeks, we will be working hard to return it to its previous paradise beauty. " General Manager, Armando Kraenzlin expressed over the unfolding hours of the crisis. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has survived the tidal impact without any loss of life or serious injuries. The safe evacuation of all of its guests was expediently arranged within hours following the surge as a private plane was chartered through the direct assistance of Hotel Properties Limited's (HPL) Managing Director, Mr Ong Beng Seng, also owner of the Resort in Maldives. HPL responded with great immediacy upon news of the disaster and working in parallel with the crisis team at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, rallied the urgent emergency aid to the Resort by exploiting its resources and a close network of industry contacts. After a night at the Resort in the safe comfort of caring employees, the guests of Four Seasons were evacuated on the privately chartered Qatar Airways to Doha which departed at 6pm the next day, 27 December 2004 when the Male International Airport resumed its operations. " Our primary concern has been the safety and comfort of our guests as we ensured heightened attention was applied to all safety concerns until their onward journey home from Doha." informed Kraenzlin who had personally escorted the guests to the Male airport. Three management staff of Four Seasons Resort Maldives had accompanied the guests all the way to Doha and with the support and assistance of colleagues from Four Seasons Hotel Doha ensured their safe onward journey to their home destinations. The tsunami that struck South Asia has however directly affected the Resort with damages sustained to its infrastructure (partial), furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and landscaping. The Resort will be temporarily closed till March 31, 2005 and no new reservations will be accepted until further notice as restoration works are carried out. No cancellations charges will apply for existing reservations and any deposits made in advance for services which have not been utilised will be refunded in full. Bringing Aid In the aftermath of this disaster, several other islands in the Maldives archipelago including our neighbouring island of Bodu Huraa which accommodates over 100 of our staff and their families have not been spared the wrath of the waves and have suffered significant damage. Major relief programmes now underway across Asia include the localized efforts as our staff working closely with local authorities and government officials continue at a coordinated and sustained pace, concertedly orchestrating the clean-up and rebuilding of the tsunami-stricken islands. In undertaking immediate relief efforts with the provision of emergency services; potable water, food, shelter and medical supplies have been delivered to the island. A pipeline with potable water has been laid from the Resort island Kuda Huraa to Bodu Huraa. Our resident doctor who has been conducting daily rounds to attend those requiring medical attention is also working with the island clinic to provide information on the prevention against related waterborne diseases. The pest control team continues to fog the island on a daily basis to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. Four different staff teams have been formed to assist with Bodu Huraa's clean-up and in progress as well, owning company, HPL has hired a contractor to facilitate the overall clean-up exercise. The repair of the island's generator is on-going and partial electricity has already been restored to Bodu Huraa. As a part of the Resort's on-going community and environmental outreach initiatives, Four Seasons Resort Maldives and Seacology (a non-profit and nongovernmental environmental organisation based in San Francisco, USA) had partnered with the Island Council of Kendhoo in the Baa Atoll in an effort to ban the harvesting of turtle eggs. Kendhoo was recently presented a grant of US$30,000 to build a new pre-school for the children of the island in exchange for their commitment to protect turtles and their eggs on and around their island. Kendhoo was not spared the devastation of the waves and funding to help these villagers resume their livelihoods have been also been initiated with assistance in the repair/replacement of fishing boats and supply of new fishing equipment. In the collaborative spirit of community relief operations, the Four Seasons Explorer, the resort's 39metre luxury catamaran which was not affected in the tidal surge of December 26 has been actively assisting with the National Security Force in jointly transporting aid to the hardest hit outlying islands in the Maldives, located in the atolls of Laamu, Thaa and Dhaalu. In response to rebuilding local economies and infrastructure, Four Seasons Resort Maldives, Kuda Huraa has initiated the Kuda Huraa Tsunami Relief Fund to directly aid the affected Maldivians. A Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, company wide donation drive for funds to be collected on behalf of staff of Kuda Huraa and their families have also been established. Financial contributions can be directed to the following accounts: Fund Transfers by Four Seasons properties In Favour of Kuda Huraa Tsunami Relief Fund Name of the Bank Chase Manhattan Bank, New York Corresponding Bank Code CHAS US 33 Account No 126 000 176 - 2001, with State Bank of India, Republic of Maldives Branch Swift Code SBINMVMV Telex 420120 CMB UI Remarks From FS....................... Fund Transfers by Other Interested Parties In Favour of Kuda Huraa Tsunami Relief Fund Name of the Bank Chase Manhattan Bank, New York Corresponding Bank Code CHAS US 33 Account No 126 000 177 - 2001, with State Bank of India, Republic of Maldives Branch Swift Code SBINMVMV Telex 420120 CMB UI Remarks From Mr/Mrs ...................... A Return to Paradise Tourism, a mainstay of the local economies will be adversely affected if tourists decided to stay away from the areas affected by the recent tsunami. Recovery efforts need to also vitally address the rejuvenation of tourism back into the Maldives where tourism accounts for 30% of the GDP of the Maldivies, employing two-thirds of the active workforce. Whilst directly hit by Sunday's killer waves, only part of the tourism infrastructure in the Maldives was damaged, with 64 of the 87 resorts still fully operational. Staying its course is the Resort's sleek 39metre luxury catamaran, Four Seasons Explorer. This three-level, 11-stateroom catamaran journeys the untouched reaches of exotic atolls on three, four and seven night cruises. A discerning voyage for the senses, the Explorer unfolds a discovery of Nature's pristine wonders and Maldives' ancient seafaring culture in the exquisite comfort and privacy of Four Seasons experience out at sea. Known internationally as one of the best dive destinations in the world and one of the least exploited marine environment, the Maldives offers excellent visibility (now more than ever as has been reported following the tidal surge) of underwater marvels within the hundreds of its captiving dive sites. Embarkation and disembarkation (with seaplane transfer) for the cruise now begins at the Male International Airport and pre and post cruise stays for the present time can be enjoyed at any of the 64 resorts which are fully operational. As the nation strives to recover from the aftershock of the tsunami and begin rebuilding their lives, a hope for a return to paradise by international travel industry and individual travellers is greatly urged to reach out to restore the tourism landscape briefly scarred by Nature's fury. Extraordinary Efforts With unwavering commitment and focus, the team at Four Seasons Resort Maldives had already begun to restore hope and confidence as far back as the onset of the tsunami catastrophe, guest letters expressing their deep appreciation for the manner in which the crisis was effectively handled have begun streaming in. In a letter to the staff, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts' Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Mr Isadore Sharp expressed his appreciation, " Your compassion and strength in this crisis were remarkable and have earned the deep and lasting appreciation of your peers, and the many hundreds of guests that you saw to safety…. please accept my appreciation and respect for all that you have achieved in the last few days in the face of great difficulty. " Buoyed by a deeply instilled ethic of personal service that Four Seasons employees embrace with pride and Four Seasons guests embrace with confidence, the rebuilding of Maldives is well underway. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa occupies the entire island of Kuda Huraa, with a total area of 12 acres and 106 bungalows. The island is situated in the North Male Atoll, northeast of the capital, Male. It is 25 minutes by speedboat from the Male International Airport on the island of Hulhule. The Resort includes 68 beach bungalows and 38 water bungalows. A world-class spa located on its own private island premiered last September offering traditional spa treatments indigenous to India, Thailand and Indonesia. And in January 2002, the Four Seasons Explorer, a 39-metre (128 foot), 11-stateroom catamaran cruises to remote corners of the exotic Republic on three, four and seven night dive cruises Following the recent tsunami, Four Seasons Resort Maldives is temporarily closed until further notice however the Four Seasons Explorer cruises are fully operational.