Hospitality Hires of the Week

Featured image: Sarocha Pakeenuya, sustainability manager and resident marine biologist, Grand Park Kodhipparu

There have been some exciting movements in the hospitality industry in the Maldives this week. Read all about the latest appointments in this handy digest.

Peter Lodovico D’Souza has been appointed resort manager at Cora Cora Maldives, opening on 1 October in the Raa Atoll. Peter has 23-years’ experience in luxury hotels and resort from Qatar, India, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Cambodia, Philippines and the Maldives. Having held resort management roles at Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives and Coco Collection Maldives. Hailing from India, Peter Lodovico D’Souza graduated from Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics and BDPS Hotel Management School in Goa. He has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in key management positions at internationally renowned resorts.

Meanwhile, the Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives, welcomed Sarocha Pakeenuya as sustainability manager and resident marine biologist. Hailing from Thailand, Sarocha has been fascinated with marine creatures and life under the ocean since childhood. Passionate to learn more, she studied marine biology at the Chulalongkorn  University in Thailand. After graduating, she volunteered for research posts in marine life and coral propagation, working with Mobula Fisheries in the Bohol and Sulu Sea Project and ecological assessment consultancy for local government in the Philippines. Starting out in hospitality in 2017 in Koh Samui, Thailand, she joined Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui as their resident marine biologist and initiated the coral restoration and conservation project, collaborating with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, local community and local government. Passionate about sustainable management and development in the hospitality sector, she joined Phuket Hotel Association as Project Manager and later Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) focusing on a Low  Carbon Tourism Sector in ASEAN.

Other Appointments in May

Ahmed Zahir has become the hotel manager for Angsana Velavaru. A hotelier with over 39 years of experience in the hospitality sector in the Maldives, Ahmed Zahir has been promoted to hotel manager. Having been the acting general manager at Angsana Velavaru for over a year, he initially joined the resort as director of rooms in 2015. He has worked all the way up after 25 years at the resort. Prior to this, he worked at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru for over 13 years.

Abdulla Simaad has been promoted to the hotel manager for Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru.