He made Maldives his stop-over destination during his business trips and the holiday destination with his family. Smejc and his wife gifted their love to the Maldives.
His heart filled up with the quality services Maldives provided him when he stayed in the Maldives for weeks every year. The butlers in his attendance, the room attendants and the waiters who served him at the restaurants became his friends. He found friends he could trust in the Maldives within a short period of time.
Through all the things that he appreciated, he had one problem: the lack of a place to enjoy absolutely private moments in peace. The beginning of the thought to create the phenomenal resort - Velaa Private Island - now developed in Noonu atoll was the solution to his problem. To portray in a unique way, the beauty of the country that stole his heart became the aim of this billionaire.
"This resort has never been a business project. This is work done to make a dream come true," said Smejc, the owner of the most extravagant resort in the Maldives who had begun the development project four years ago.
The uniqueness of Velaa, which finally opened in last December, is proof of the love Smejc bestowed upon the Maldives; which is why all the services and the facilities at the resort is concentrated on "private moments". Velaa represents the taste of tourists. To make a place for people to come and enjoy with no restrictions and complete freedom was the greatest gift Smejc had presented the Maldives with.
"The owner wanted to create a vacation home or a place people can come to spend their vacations, which had everything that lacked in other places. The whole concept of the island is based on this. The owner personally wanted to develop a luxury resort with perfect services. The Velaa resort you see today is that dream made into a reality," said Mohamed Nihaj, a close friend of Smej and who oversaw the development of the resort from day one.
Velaa is also a life-size gift from Smejc to all the Maldivian people who had served him sincerely and kind-heartedly. Those Maldivians who had served him earlier to his satisfaction are now staff members of Velaa. He has extraordinary trust on them. While he has many billion-dollar investments worldwide, he had left his MVR5 billion investment's steering wheel completely upon the hands of his friends. Every member of staff at Velaa is a special friend of his.
Staff comments that though he is the owner of the resort, Smejc is a kind and 'a cool boss'; he plays and jokes with the staff and talks to staff politely, kindly and in a friendly manner. Although he is the owner of the most extravagant Maldives Resort, he does not have a bossy attitude. You can only see his kind heartedness and gentle manners.
"He talks closely, like a friend with all his staff, with no regard for levels or posts. He pays special attention to make time to spend with them when he is here. He does not have a room made better than the normal guest rooms here just because he is the owner. He leads a simple life," Nihaj, who also serves as the resident manager of the resort, said.
Though his life is portrayed very "carefree and cool" here, he is a billionaire behind many serious business operations and investments. He has shares galore at various banks, insurance companies and media. Investing in a small country such as the Maldives is not a big deal for him. His goal is not profit either.
Velaa, owned by Smejc and his wife Radka, is the symbol of the love they had found in the Maldives. It is an invaluable gift given by the couple to the nation that brings cool breezes to the heart. For all the tourists that visit the Maldives and the 40 years of Maldivian tourism Industry, this symbol of love by Smejc is more than enough.
Source: Ahmed Naif, Haveeru Online
