JOALI appoints Lana Ghawi Zananiri as Global Director of Sales and Marketing
JOALI has announced the appointment of Lana Ghawi Zananiri as its new Global Director of Sales and Marketing, strengthening the brand’s leadership team as it continues to expand its global presence.
Zananiri brings more than a decade of experience across luxury hospitality, integrated marketing, communications, and business development, with a career spanning multi-property leadership roles, complex resort pre-openings, and global brand positioning. Her background combines commercial strategy with communications, public relations, and stakeholder engagement across competitive international markets .
Prior to joining JOALI, Zananiri held senior leadership roles with Marriott International, where she served as Cluster Director of Business Development for The Red Sea portfolio, including The St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton Reserve and EDITION brands. In these roles, she led market expansion initiatives, developed global partnerships, activated distribution channels, and supported the pre-opening and commercial positioning of high-profile luxury resorts. Earlier in her career, she also held marketing leadership positions at Fairmont, The St. Regis and W Hotels in Jordan, overseeing integrated sales, marketing, and communications strategies at property and cluster level .
Alongside her hospitality career, Zananiri has experience in the non-profit and development sector, having worked with organisations including Oxfam and ARDD, where she led fundraising, communications, and programme development initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa. This background has shaped a leadership approach that combines commercial performance with purpose-driven brand positioning, community engagement, and inclusive leadership .
In her new role at JOALI, Zananiri will oversee the group’s global sales and marketing strategy, supporting revenue growth while reinforcing the brand’s positioning across international markets.
JOALI operates two luxury resorts in the Maldives: JOALI Maldives, located in Raa Atoll, and JOALI BEING, the brand’s wellbeing-focused retreat on Bodufushi Island. JOALI Maldives is positioned as an art-led luxury resort centred on personalised experiences, while JOALI BEING focuses on transformative wellbeing through curated programmes rooted in scientific and traditional healing practices. Together, the two properties reflect JOALI’s brand philosophy and contribute to the Maldives’ positioning as a leading destination for experiential and wellness-driven luxury travel.
Zananiri has been recognised by Hotelier Middle East as one of the region’s leading marketing professionals, with accolades including inclusion in regional marketing power lists. Her leadership style places emphasis on mentorship, inclusivity, and the development of high-performing teams, aligning closely with JOALI’s organisational values .
Her appointment marks a new chapter for JOALI as the brand continues to strengthen its global footprint and communicate its philosophy of the Joy of Living to travellers worldwide.
