Beach, books, bliss: Maldives resort on hunt for island recruit
AMaldives hotel named the world’s best beach resort is on the hunt for a barefoot bookseller. Luxury eco-resort Soneva Fushi is seeking someone to spend six months on Kunfunadhoo Island, where the resort is based, to run a pop-up bookstore.
The successful candidate will have a passion for books, and presumably a love for desert islands as they’ll be spending all of their time in the place that GQ named as the best beach resort in the world at its 2019 Travel Awards in March. Essential skills include having an in-depth knowledge of both classical and modern literature, being a team player and being able to engage with guests of all ages. Not getting star-struck would also be a helpful attribute as Soneva Fushi is a magnet for celebrities. It’s where Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas spent their honeymoon last month.
Anyone from anywhere in the world can apply, although applicants must have excellent written and spoken English skills. The bookseller will also be expected to write an entertaining blog to tell readers all about life on a desert island.
Other tasks will include hosting workshops and literary lectures, leading tutoring sessions for children and teenagers and managing social media accounts for the “barefoot
bookseller”. Island duties start in mid-October and applicants will spend a month surrounded by books and the team at Ultimate Library undergoing product training before they depart.
The position is paid but salary details are not yet available. Overnight villa stays at Soneva Fushi can cost upward of Dh90,000 per night but booksellers will get free accommodation for the duration of the placement.
Aimee Johnson, the successful applicant for the position last season, said: “Being the barefoot bookseller was an absolute dream. I got to meet amazing people, work with incredible books and live on a stunning luxury island. It was very much the dream job.”
The deadline for applications is Sunday, September 1. More information is available at www.barefootbookseller.com/ apply
I got to meet amazing people, work with incredible books and live on a stunning island. It was the dream job