Hospitality Hires of the Week

Featured Image: Kanruethai Roongruang, General Manager at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru

The beginning of June saw some big and inspiring movements in the hospitality industry of the Maldives. Read all about this week’s resort appointments.

Kanruethai Roongruang, General Manager, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru has engaged Kanruethai Roongruang, as its new general manager.  Kan joined Banyan Tree Group in 1997 as Manager of Canal Village, Laguna Phuket. She has held leadership roles in Bangkok, India, Phuket, UAE, and Malaysia where she was promoted to vice president for spas and gallery operations. In 2017, she moved to hotel operations as hotel manager for Angsana Villas Phuket Resort, Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort, and Angsana Laguna Phuket.  She is a high potential LEAFer in Banyan Tree’s LEAF, a program that develops senior managers with the aptitude to lead the group Kan will lead the Banyan Tree’s Post-Covid Wellbeing Drive for Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.

Patrice Aira, General Manager, LUX* South Ari Atoll

LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort and Villas has welcomed Patrice Aira as general manager. Patrice brings more than 25 years of international hospitality experience to the role. With an extensive career across the globe — United States, Canada, Egypt, and the Indian Ocean — he has previously worked at Lily Beach in the Maldives, as general manager. A French national from Toulouse, Patrice played an instrumental role at Four Seasons hotels and resorts during his 18-year-long association with the brand. With a master’s degree in business administration in hospitality management from the Ecole Supérieure Internationale De Savignac in France, Patrice is fluent in French, English and Spanish. An avid diver, he enjoys being underwater.

Usha Rasheed, Director of Marketing and Communications, Kihaa Maldives

Kihaa Maldives has appointed Usha Rasheed as the director of marketing and communications. With four years at the resort, she previously held the positions of media relations manager as well as sales and marketing executive. Prior to this, she was the PR and corporate manager at Maldives Travel Agents & Tour Operators Association (MATATO) where she oversaw the entire PR & communications-related activities of the NGO. Kihaa is located on the world-famous UNESCO heritage site of Hanifaru Bay renowned for manta ray sightings.