'World's best boss' takes staff on five-star holiday to Maldives

Martial arts company employees treated to luxury tropical trip - and not for the first time

A man dubbed the "world’s best boss" has taken all 100 of his employees on an all-expenses-paid trip to a five-star Maldives resort.

Chatri Sityodtong, the founder and chairman of mixed martial arts (MMA) company Evolve, treated staff in Singapore to the holiday as a “small token” of thanks for the firm’s 30 per cent year-on-year growth.

He spent almost £400,000 on the trip to the tropical island country – and dismissed the gesture as "a normal part of Evolve culture”.

Evolve employees have previously been treated to holidays in Bali, Thailand and Indonesia as part of their boss’s efforts to thank and motivate them.

Mr Sityodtong said: “These rewards are a small token of my heartfelt gratitude to all of the phenomenal rockstars at Evolve MMA.

"Every year, I take the entire team on an all-expenses-paid trip to a five-star luxury resort at a surprise destination.

"Many of my staff would love to travel the world, but do not have the means to do so.

(Evolve (Evolve)

"The vast majority of my team at Evolve come from humble backgrounds of poverty, tragedy, or adversity. For them, Evolve is the greatest opportunity to escape poverty and to achieve the life of their dreams."

The trips were part of his aim to be a “servant leader”, he added.

Mr Sityodtong said: "The best deserve the best. It is only fair. We do our best to hire the best people in the world, giving out only one job offer for every 200 applicants. So they should be compensated as such. We work hard, and we play hard."

Evolve operates a chain of martial arts academies and runs one of the best teams in the increasingly popular MMA sport – a cross between boxing and wrestling.

The trip to the Maldives involved Evolve’s support staff, trainers and fighters.

Mr Sityodtong said the free trips would continue but next year’s destination was yet to be confirmed. He promised “another spectacular place”, however, and after their latest extravaganza, Evolve staff seem likely to take his word for it.