Interview with Mr. Antonio Saponara,
General Manager of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands
Following its first anniversary, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands has confirmed the appointment of seasoned hospitality professional Antonio Saponara as its new general manager. With an impressive track record of managing flagship hotels for luxury brands including Aman, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah and Ritz-Carlton, the gregarious Neapolitan will use his extensive experience, clarity of vision and sure-footed mastery of hotel operations to shape Patina Maldives as it matures through its second year and beyond.
After starting out in Food & Beverage Operations, Antonio moved to Phuket, Thailand to take up the role of Executive Assistant Manager of Aman flagship Amanpuri, Phuket, overseeing operations and launching a new restaurant in partnership with two Michelin star Chef Naoki Okumura, before taking over as Hotel Manager in 2008. After his time at Amanpuri, Antonio joined The Surin Phuket as General Manager, renovating the resort with famed architect Ed Tuttle and relaunching it following a complete rebranding and repositioning exercise.
Following his experience in Thailand, Antonio moved on to China, joining The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong and later stepping up as the opening General Manager of the Bulgari Hotel Beijing. Remarkably, Antonio achieved profitability for Bulgari Hotel Beijing within the first month of operation, maintaining an unprecedented level of colleague and guest satisfaction throughout his tenure — including in 2020, despite the onset of Covid-19.
Prior to joining Capella Hotel Group, Antonio was the pre-opening General Manager of Bulgari Hotel & Residences Moscow, slated to open in December 2022.
“It is a tremendous privilege to have been entrusted with the stewardship of one of the most inspiring, forward-thinking pioneers of next-gen Maldives hospitality; I am excited to bring fresh impetus as Patina Maldives embraces the next stage of its perpetual journey to positively impact people and place.” Antonio Saponara said. SpaChina interviewed him.
As a new brand of the Capella Hotel Group, what is the unique concept of Patina and who is the target group?
Born out of guests’ desire to honour individuality, Patina appeals to a new generation of travellers who seek deeper connections with themselves and the world around them. The human-centred design flows with the natural modes people are in, gently and intuitively providing for the individual needs of each guest, ensuring that no two stays are exactly the same.
Overall, Patina guests are young at heart, socially conscious, future thinkers. The seek sanctuary but also seek connection through meaningful journeys and experiences. This is why no effort has been spared to ensure guests have access to the best nutrition, wellness journeys and experiences that fuel creativity.
Why do you choose Maldives for the brand’s debut? And as a newly opened property in the Maldives, what is your key competitive edge over the numerous luxury island resorts in the Maldives?
We have seen increased global appeal for the Maldives, with literally travelers coming from all continents. The distance, privacy, and insular configuration of Maldivian resorts, paired with strong guidance and governance towards international travelers, continues to build a high level of confidence and demand for our stunning destination.
Patina Maldives is located on the Fari Islands, an elevated Maldivian resort experience anchored by three world-class hospitality brands. The archipelago features the picturesque Fari Marina right here at Patina, built around a vibrant Fari Beach Club, exclusive boutique experiences, and a selection of handpicked upscale food and beverage options, so guests will have the freedom to move between the islands and make the most of these experiences.
Our Fari Marina Village will push the boundaries of Maldivian hospitality, pursuing creative collaborations with renowned names in art, music, culinary arts, photography, fashion, and design.
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands emphasizes heavily on sustainability. What have you done in this regard?
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, aims to advance the well-established trend of purposeful travel with a hands-on, data-led approach to positively impacting people and place, reflecting a brand-wide commitment to the pursuit of perpetuality – our promise to positively impact both people and place. From addressing waste in supply chains and boosting the health of guests and the local environment to ensure energy-positive operations, Patina Maldives is dedicated to making a lasting difference in everything it does.
A great example of this is the culinary concept on the island. Based on the nose-to-tail, root-to-leaf principle, not only minimising waste, but at the same time advocating the benefits of a plant-based diet. Roots, the signature dining experience at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, is the manifestation of the latter. It is a conscious and conscientious lifestyle and plant-based concept, created responsibly for curious foodies seeking nutritional food and drink without compromising flavour and quality, all in an environment that is ethically grounded.
Art plays a core role in Patina Maldives. What are the inspirations for this? How do you lead guests into the immersive journey of art?
At Patina we invite guests on a path of discovery. Art is one of the many ways we do this. Large-scale photography. Textural Mingei Undou weaving. Architecture as Art. Patina Maldives’ curation of playful, symbolic, ethereal works form a connect journey that asks questions, provokes new behaviours and invites reflection and wonder.
Patina Maldives has a unique design different from other resorts in Maldives, said to be in harmony with the island’s horizon. Could you share more detail about this?
Our resort is a radical new example of biophilic design from renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan. Kogan’s design ensures delicate architectural lines remain respectfully low, never breaching the horizon, with the aim to honor the encompassing blues of the Maldivian sky and the ocean, as well as the lush foliage that surrounds the villas. The purpose is really to have these lovely sanctuaries but the star is still the beautiful environment.
Patina Maldives is also known for its application of Advanced Technology. Could you give us some detailed examples?
At Patina we focus on a future thinking data-led approach in everything we do. From the pre-fabrication modular construction of the resort’s villas to the guest programming in Footprints (Kids Club), FLOW our spa or even our coral conservation efforts.
At Footprints’ Fab Lab, kids can design and model toys using 3D printing and laser cutting technology. At FLOW, guests can immerse themselves in flotation tanks, which give you sanctuary from an overstimulating world and may lead to increased creativity, focus and concentration. After treatments, they can try pioneering IRIS sound immersion headphones which triggers positive brain activation through audio, using an algorithm to split out and increase sound wave information to the brain. The process stimulates the brain-boosting high frequency Beta waves (13-30 Hz) dominant in our waking state and when we are alert, attentive and focused on a demanding task. This sound evokes an active listening brain state reflecting higher engagement and reward, and associated endorphin release – described by psychologists as a ‘flow state’.
Please introduce the spa and wellness concept of FLOW. What kind of wellness experiences and results do you want to create for guests?
FLOW is focused on an intelligence-led, sensory approach to holistic wellbeing. We believe in healing through sound energy, phenomenal touch, and intelligent technology. The concept focuses on cultivating a state of mind, body and play where connection comes from letting go, nurturing body and soul by being in the moment. We also work with visiting practitioners and gifted healers who bring a new dimension to our wellness concept.
An experience not to be missed would be Energy Healing to improve the vital force we all possess within us to induce deep theta states of rest, as well as the Vagus Nerve Meditative Massage which focuses on the longest cranial nerve in the body – reaching from the brain to the gut – to regulate stress, rest and digestion. Another popular choice is the aquatic-led immersions of Watsu, a gentle water bodywork that goes beyond the physical and has helped many of our guests access deeper states of joy and deep peace they never knew existed.
What do you see are the greatest requirements and needs of guests now in the post-pandemic era and how will Patina Maldives meet these needs?
Post-COVID, travel experts have forecasted a change in consumer appetite and demands, predicting that there will be a surge of interest in eco-conscious travel with travel-for-good intentions, off-the-grid and exclusive experiences, as well as higher demand for outdoor experiences. Travelers will be eager to rediscover their personal perspective on the world around them — having spent so much time in their own small part of it — and at Patina Maldives we are ready to welcome them.
Our team has conceptualized thoughtful brand pillars that will be the cornerstone of the Patina experience – Perpetuality (sustainability), Sustenance (healthy nutrition), Kinsfolk (community), and Balance (wellbeing), to name a few. Each of these ties in with the predicted desires of the post-pandemic traveler.
What are the guest profiles in Patina Maldives? What are the special characteristics and preferences of Chinese guests?
Different seasons bring different travelers to our property and country, but we see strong demand from all markets including the Middle East, Europe, South East Asia and now increasingly from China. The length of stay does vary from anywhere from 4 nights to 14 nights. Chinese affluent travelers, despite having been restricted to inbound travel for most of the past three years, are well in tune with global trends, especially millennials and younger generation people who appreciates the ethos of Patina Maldives, from its contemporary design and attention to sustainability, to its array of eclectic dining choices in the unique setting of the Fari Marina Village, and the idyllic diving spots that surround Fari Islands.
What hospitality trends and wellness trends can you see in the near future?
The Patina signature experiences is something our team took great care in putting together in order to bring to life meaningful experiences that help the Patina guest immerse themselves in nature, culture and mindful body and soul restoration.
Many guests visit the Maldives for its beautiful setting but we want to ensure that Patina guests also receive an experience that helps them build a deeper connection with themselves and their kin.
FLOW’s concept provides a platform for our guests to explore and rediscover a new way of enjoying their spa and wellness experiences. Wellness is a very personal and ever-changing journey because our body and mind are never in the same state on any given day, we are in a constant state of flux and flow. We do not view our wellbeing as novelty nor chase the trends. We still believe and honour ancient traditions and the well-researched benefits of yoga and meditation, for example, and allow our guests to combine these experiences with more advanced approaches like spending time in a sensory deprivation floating pod. We curate transformational healing experiences via gifted healers and practitioners not found anywhere else in the world!