Avani+ Fares Maldives appoints Magdalena Martorell as General Manager
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort has appointed Magdalena Martorell as General Manager, bringing more than two decades of international hospitality experience across Europe and Asia to the Baa Atoll resort.
Originally from Spain, Martorell has built much of her career around resort operations and leadership, spending more than a decade working in Asia and developing experience across some of the region’s established leisure destinations.
She joins Avani+ Fares Maldives from Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort in Indonesia, where she served as General Manager. Prior to her role in Bali, Martorell spent four years as General Manager of Meliá Phuket Mai Khao in Thailand.
Her move to the Maldives marks the latest chapter in a career shaped by island and resort hospitality, with her leadership approach centred on the role that people play in defining the guest experience.
Martorell believes strong resort operations begin with teams that are given the confidence and space to bring their own personalities to their work. Her approach combines employee engagement and guest interaction with a focus on commercial and operational performance, reflecting a management style built around visibility and direct involvement in the day-to-day life of a resort.
At Avani+ Fares Maldives, Martorell will focus on building on the resort’s existing identity while further strengthening its position within Baa Atoll. Her priorities include developing experiences across dining, wellness and recreation, while making use of the resort’s setting within one of the Maldives’ best-known marine environments.
Rather than viewing hospitality principally through service delivery, Martorell places emphasis on creating an experience that guests actively participate in. She is known for maintaining a visible presence around the properties she manages, spending time with both guests and team members and remaining closely connected to resort operations.
Her personal interests in wellness, sport, the ocean and an active lifestyle also align with the character of Avani+ Fares Maldives, where marine experiences and outdoor activities form an important part of the guest offering.
For Martorell, the new role will involve bringing together Avani’s contemporary and energetic approach to hospitality with the natural setting of Fares Island, while developing experiences intended to leave guests with a stronger connection to the destination.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is located on Fares Island on the western edge of Baa Atoll, within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The property opened in April 2023 as Avani Hotels & Resorts’ first resort in the Maldives and forms part of Minor Hotels.
The resort features 176 pavilions, beach villas, overwater villas and residences, with accommodation designed for couples as well as families and larger groups. Its inventory includes multi-bedroom beach pavilions and overwater residences, alongside beachfront and overwater accommodation with private pools.
Dining is spread across seven restaurants and bars, with venues including Ocean Terrace, The Skipjack Bar, Charcoal, Tribe and Smuggler’s Shack, while Petit Bistro provides a dining space specifically for younger guests. The resort also offers AvaniSpa, AvaniFit, water sports and diving facilities, as well as dedicated clubs and recreational facilities for children and teenagers.
Its location gives guests access to the marine environment of the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort has a 220-metre house reef and several dive sites accessible from the island, while Hanifaru Bay — known for seasonal manta ray aggregations — is among the marine attractions in the surrounding atoll.
Avani+ Fares Maldives has also strengthened its positioning in the family and experiential travel segments. In August, the resort was named Best Family Resort at the TTM Awards 2026, its third consecutive award at the event following Best Dive Resort in 2024 and Best Beach Resort in 2025.
With Martorell taking over the leadership of the property, the resort is looking to build on that positioning while continuing to develop its guest experience across accommodation, dining, wellness, recreation and the natural attractions of Baa Atoll.
