The trailblazing Fari Islands development in the Maldives has welcomed the first cohort of students to its Vocational Education & Training (VET) centre, delivered in partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious hotel schools, the renowned EHL Hospitality Business School (EHL).
With his restaurant featured in Conde Nast Traveller's Top 50 restaurants in India 2018 -19, Sivakumar Gopalakrishnan takes the role of Executive Sous Chef at Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa. His extensive experience of over 15 years helped shape his food philosophy of high quality, innovative, sustainable, and mindful consumption. Prior to his role, Sivakumar worked at renowned properties such as The Oberoi, Trident and The Leela in India and Le Cirque in New York, where he oversaw the main kitchen operations, was responsible for a team of over 100 members, the planning and executive of various menus and serving styles, as well as working closely with the sales teams to achieve budgets and lead the team to deliver the best dining experiences to guests.
Priti Pandey, Director of Revenue Management, started her career with Marriott International in 2013 as Reservations Supervisor with Four Points by Sheraton Ahmedabad, and has been loyal to the hotel brand since. As a data-driven professional, she sees her role as paramount in streamlining distribution channels, optimising revenue streams, and in aligning the resort's long-term strategy in the highly competitive hospitality landscape of the Maldives.
A passionate and result-oriented professional, the new Director of Sales & Marketing, Airika Sirak, brings over 25 years of industry knowledge and expertise.The Estonian national has previously contributed to the growth of a prolific portfolio of notable international hotel chains, such as Hilton and Marriott International, in Europe and UK, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and now Maldives. Within her new role, Airika will orchestrate impactful business, sales, and marketing initiatives to drive business growth, and greater brand awareness, as well as mentor her team members to reach their goals and advance within their respective organisations.
Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Britta Krug as General Manager. Britta aims to further develop and curate the authentic Seychellois experience to ensure sustainable and long-lasting memories for guests and colleagues alike. Born and raised on the banks of River Rhine, Britta is a dedicated hospitality professional with over 20 years of luxury hospitality and hotel experience in Europe and Africa, having worked with various brands including Kempinski Hotels, Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Prior to her appointment, Britta held the position of Managing Director at Jakobsberg Hotel and Resort in Germany. During her tenure, she oversaw the full business planning for the property, as well as identified future opportunities for property development and growth.
Eddie Teh makes the move to Soneva Jani from Soneva Fushi, where he was Guardian of the Experience from May 2021. A veteran hotelier, he has worked across South East Asia and Australia, with leadership roles with the Orient Express, La Residence Phou Vao in Laos and the Belmond group in Myanmar. While at Belmond, he helped establish the Belmond Free Clinic, named the Best CSR Programme for Belmond worldwide.
Manjit rejoins the Soneva family following a leadership role at Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam. Before that, he was with the Soneva Kiri team on Koh Kood, Thailand, between 2009 and 2019.
Originally from Singapore, Pjey first joined Soneva Fushi as Resort Manager in 2021. His career in hospitality began after 15 years as a commissioned officer in the Singapore Armed Forces, after which he joined The Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and Doha. This was followed by management roles at Naumi Hospitality, Millennium Hotels and Resorts and the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in his native Singapore, as well as being on the pre-launch teams for properties including M Social in Singapore and Suzhou and The Ritz-Carlton in Sanya and Hong Kong.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is pleased to announce that Chef Glen Cooper has been appointed the Executive Chef for the luxury resort. Chef Cooper joins the Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands with over 18 years of culinary experience at luxury hotels across the globe.
Alila Kothaifaru Maldives is delighted to announce the appointment of Nika Kim as Senior Sales Manager at the newly opened Hyatt property in the Maldives. Nika brings nearly a decade of hospitality experience, including her previous assignment in the commercial department at Grand Park Kodhipparu and Ayada Maldives. In this new role, Nika will oversee the Russia and CIS market focusing on introducing Alila Kothaifaru Maldives as the new addition to the Maldives' luxury resorts.
Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa arrives in the archipelago with a 109 all-pool villa resort, delivering an exceptional stay for a new era of travelers.
Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce that an agreement has been signed for a new luxury resort in the Maldives. The new Bulgari Resort, scheduled to open in 2025, is set to be the thirteenth gem in the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi announces the appointment of Anna Karas as director of marketing & communications. In her new role, Karas will use her expertise and passion for luxury brand standards towards the continued success of the resort where she will be responsible for overseeing all communications and marketing initiatives to continue to attract luxury leisure, business and group travelers.
Following its first anniversary, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands has confirmed the appointment of seasoned hospitality professional Antonio Saponara as its new general manager. With an impressive track record of managing flagship hotels for luxury brands including Aman, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah and Ritz-Carlton, the gregarious Neapolitan will use his extensive experience, clarity of vision and sure-footed mastery of hotel operations to shape Patina Maldives as it matures through its second year and beyond.
With a wealth of luxury hospitality experience, spanning an impressive 25 years, in his new role Orton will lead the overall operations, performance, and strategic direction for Fairmont Maldives. Having spent much of his career in Asia working across Accor's luxury brands, Orton's roles have included General Manager at La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Director of Operations at Pullman Yangon Centrepoint in Myanmar.
Hilton has appointed Gaurav Thakur as the general manager of the upcoming Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa. Located on a private island in the North Malé Atoll, the 109-all pool villa resort will open on 1 July 2022, marking the entry of Hilton's flagship brand into the Maldives.
Anastasiya Babenko was appointed as a key marketing player at one of the largest resorts in the Maldives, LUX* South Ari Atoll.
Originally from Indonesia, Maya Damayanti lives and breathes her life as a health practitioner, valuing the importance of balancing body, mind, and soul, with a key focus on self-love and healing. She brings over 15 years of experience to Siyam World from her time working to develop spa brands and train staff at global luxury hotel and resort groups across Bali, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and the Middle East. Damayanti was awarded 'Best Spa Manager 2016' by the Indonesian Spa Professional Association (IndSpa), the Indonesian Wellness Master Association (WMA) and Wellness & Healthcare Entrepreneur Association (WHEA).With her result-focused, innovative approach, and eye for detail, Maya will lead the Veyo Spa team, oversee all spa operations, and be responsible for the development of spa marketing initiatives, treatment offerings, and promotional activities to eventually expand spa revenues.
Florian Niessing joins Siyam World from his role as Director of F&B at The Wellem, Germany's first Unbound by Hyatt hotel. Prior to his time here, he held esteemed positions as Hotel Manager at Staycity Hotel in Heidelberg, Bar and Beverage Manager at Le Meridien, Xiamen in China, and Cluster Director of F&B at Crown and Champa Resorts, one of the leading resort collections in the Maldives.Having nurtured a passion for food and beverage, Niessing worked around the world, boasting career highlights such as owning his own hotel and restaurant in Phuket, Thailand where he won numerous awards for his cocktail innovations. Combining his love for marketing with his creative flair, Niessing oversees the development of the culinary concepts across Siyam World's 14 restaurants and bars, including exclusive new beachfront dining venue, The Cube, and the resort's underground Wine Cellar Barrique.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, a private island retreat located in the picturesque Raa Atoll at the northern edge of the Maldives. The all-pool-villa resort offers a refreshing blend of serenity and discovery in a relatively untouched corner of the archipelago renowned for its abundant marine life.