My pet hate is hyperbole of any kind, or advertising. It is counterproductive. Anything could happen that might delay the opening of a resort, so we don't know really until only a few months before opening

Our gross operating profit -- revenue against direct expenses -- is significantly higher than those of any other hotel in the world

Zecha says, "The first cigar of the day is the best one. It is my last vice left.

"We have more than 100,000 repeat customers," says Zecha. "Now, this is a company with less than 540 rooms—total. Many chains have more rooms in a single hotel. We call the repeat customers Amanjunkies." After a pause, he adds: "I should say that the customers call themselves this as well. It's an honorable word."

"To prepare for shortages of meat, which are still fairly common here, we will be making our own sausages and curing our own hams and bacons," says Reed. "Every once in a while, we will go down to the market and buy a yak and butcher it ourselves." He laughs. "This is something Amans have not typically done before."