Gregor Gerlach – Owner and Managing Partner, Seaside Collection

For Gregor Gerlach, luxury has never been defined by excess, but by creating places that reflect what guests themselves would seek. As Owner and Managing Partner of Seaside Collection, he continues the family philosophy established by his father more than five decades ago, combining thoughtful design, exceptional cuisine and genuine hospitality.

At .Here Baa Atoll, Maldives, Gregor’s vision of luxury is deeply personal, shaped around just nine residences, intuitive service and carefully curated experiences that make the islands feel remarkably like home.

Your vision for .Here Baa Atoll, Maldives centres around just nine residences across two islands. How does this scale redefine privacy and the way guests experience space?

What makes it very special is that it’s not only residences, but at the same time it’s also a small resort. We have a restaurant, a bar and wellness facilities. It is quite exclusive and caters to a very special type of guest, people who may own private houses in other parts of the world but also want to come to the Maldives because it’s such a fantastic country. This is almost like a private house. You have the space and the privacy of a private home, but at the same time you don’t have to worry about anything. It’s carefree. You just arrive and relax immediately. It’s really more like a private house with full service and everything that goes with it.

Dining at .Here is centred around flexibility despite having one restaurant and one bar. How do you approach dining to create a compelling luxury experience for today’s traveller?

The restaurant is called SAFAR because it’s like a journey around the world. We have signature dishes from many different countries so guests can enjoy something different every day. We wanted to make sure it never becomes repetitive. Every time you come, you can choose a different country through the menu. Each residence also has its own kitchen, so guests can have a private chef cooking in their residence. We offer private dining experiences on the beach, and every residence has a barbecue on the terrace, so guests can enjoy a private barbecue whenever they wish. Beyond the restaurant, there are many different dining choices.

The spa brings together ancient healing traditions and advanced wellness techniques. What was your intention behind this dual approach, and how does it shape the guest journey?

The duality makes a lot of sense. We don’t do things for marketing. We do things because we believe in them, and this is one of those things. Ancient traditions are not just traditions. They represent the experience of many generations. At the same time, we also have modern technology and modern science, and you cannot disregard that either. Combining the wisdom of traditional healing with modern science allows us to get the best of both.

Experiences at .Here are highly personalised. What are the defining moments you envisioned that truly turn a stay into something memorable for your guests?

Every experience is very individual. Some people love the sea. They love diving and snorkelling, and we can offer all of that. Others are passionate about food. Every guest is different, and that’s very much like having your own private house. You shape it according to your own preferences. That’s very important to us here. We don’t define the experiences. We create them together with our guests and try to find what suits them best.

There are also some very special experiences. Even for people who don’t dive, there are incredible things to enjoy. There are so many unique experiences in the Maldives, but we also take the time to listen to what our guests want. It’s always a combination of both.

The Roohu Butler concept is central to the guest experience. How is this level of personalisation delivered through the Roohu, both within the residences and throughout the stay?

We try to create individual experiences tailored to each guest, whether it’s the food, the excursions or whatever they choose to do. That means there needs to be one point of contact, one person who really communicates with the guest, understands their wishes and can even anticipate their desires. That’s the idea behind the Roohu. He is much more than a waiter or an attendant. He is the person who interacts with the guest, understands them and helps create a truly personal experience.

Could you tell us a little more about the residences themselves and what differentiates them from other ultra-luxury properties?

To us as a company and as a family, design is very important. We are very passionate about food and service, but we believe the third element that is equally important is design. We take a great deal of care to create something truly special. We actually started with a design competition. We invited four architectural firms from different parts of Asia to submit proposals for the two islands. In the end, a studio from Singapore won because they came up with the idea of creating villas that are half beach villa and half overwater villa. One side of the residence is connected to the beach, while the other extends over the water. A 50-metre pool connects the two sides, with the pool itself located on the first floor. Architecturally, it’s quite special.

Interior design was just as important to us. We chose a colourful theme because the Maldives are colourful. The sea, the fish and the tropical vegetation are all full of colour. We didn’t want to create a darker Asian city style of design, which is beautiful in its own way. Instead, we wanted something that reflected the Maldives. The result is a more colourful, easygoing design because it’s a holiday destination and it should feel joyful. Each bedroom has its own individual colour. There are coral rooms, blue rooms and different colour palettes throughout, making everything feel more vibrant and full of life.

What is the one moment you hope every guest leaves with that makes them say, “I was here” at .Here Baa Atoll, Maldives?

I hope it’s not just one moment. I hope it’s the entire experience. That’s why the Roohu is so important. He helps create one special moment after another, and that depends entirely on the guest. Some guests simply want to stay in the villa. Others enjoy meeting people, dining in the restaurant or going on excursions. The nicest moment is when guests leave and say they want to come back.

It isn’t about one defining moment. It’s about the whole experience. I hope they remember the design and say it was something special. I hope they remember the food, the excursions and the experiences. For some guests, food is the most important thing. For others, it’s the experiences. For others, it’s the villa because they hardly leave it. At this level of luxury, every detail and every moment has to be special.