Are you sociable or does enforced isolation suit you?

On any given (non-COVID-19) day, I would normally have 120 guests on the property and 160 team members, so with no guests and a drastically reduced staff, I’ve had to quickly adjust in so many ways. Currently, I spend every waking moment trying to keep staff employed because they need to   be able to put food on the table back in their home villages and pay their bills. But I cannot think of a more beautiful place to spend a long period of isolation, as we have a 100-hectare deserted tropical island to roam as we please.

Any new hobbies?

I purchased a drone with the idea of learning to fly it to create our own marketing collateral. I figured it must be pretty straightforward – turns out it’s not. It’s quite a challenge dodging palm trees and making sure you don’t accidentally ditch it in the South Pacific. I have also been learning how to ride a Fliteboard, which is an electric hydrofoil surfboard.

Wow, interesting! Why those activities?

I’d always tried to learn new skills when I went to a new destination, but never really got around to it due to the 24/7 nature of my work. I was never able to be out on the water  completely free of anyone – until now.

Any favourite podcasts?

No. In all honesty, I prefer to be on one of our beaches or hiking.

GM Justin King with son Alex on daily hike up Mt VOMO during COVID-19

What books are you reading?

James and The Giant Peach, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Snail and The Whale, Dinosaurs Love Underpants… and Drones for Dummies.

Has your exercise routine changed?

The resort sits on a small mountain on Vomo and we run a charity event year-round, with guests who walk or run to the summit pledging $10 to the Cure Kids Fiji charity. We raise about $20,000 a year.

So, I’ve punished myself by committing to scaling this rocky pathway each morning. Currently, the fastest time is three minutes and 20 seconds and I take just over seven minutes, so I have a way to go!

Did you buy new exercise equipment?

I’m lucky. I have a deserted hotel gym at my disposal, and a couple of great hikes on the island.

Did you rush out and buy something you didn’t feel you needed before?

The drone! Oh, and good Australian pinot gris (stocks of which have already dwindled).

Do you play an instrument or sing?

Every Fijian has the voice of an angel, so I’ve had to refrain from singing, other than in the shower.

Are you binge-watching anything?

When the kids go to bed, my wife, Melanie, and I have two hours to binge on a show with a glass of wine. Right now, Ozark is keeping us occupied.

How are you keeping in touch with friends and family?

I have more communication options than I’ve ever had and am constantly running in circles wondering what app is ringing or dinging. I have Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, Messenger, webcam and email, and I write letters that go by mail bag to the mainland.

Have you discovered any new communications channels?

Our staff has a WhatsApp group. It pings all day with messages like “Does anyone have green peppercorns?” or “I’m off for a kayak around the island if anyone wants to join me.” My parents are in Australia and my brother is in Abu Dhabi. We recently introduced a weekly Trivial Pursuit night over Zoom. It seems that family fights and rivalries can be just as intense online as in person.

Any tips for staying sane?

Definitely have a routine. I feed off people and get a great deal of satisfaction from human interaction. I struggled without this until I established a pattern for my day.

And finally, what have been your reflections from the couch?

We can stand still or we can use this moment to learn something about ourselves, our businesses or our families that will allow us to view this time positively.