May Appointments in Maldives Resorts

(Featured Image: Ali Navaz, resort manager, Hurawalhi Maldives)

Hotelier Maldives has rounded up the latest hotel appointments beginning in May. There’s been some exciting movements at Maldives resorts. One of the country’s newest resorts The Ritz Carlton has a new assistant manager, while Cora Cora who opening in October, has selected its sales and marketing representative. Luxury resort Hurawalhi has selected its resort manager and Kihaa Maldives is excited to announce its new sales director. Read on to find out the latest hires at the resorts.

Ali Navaz, resort manager, Hurawalhi Maldives

Bringing over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry in Thailand, Vietnam and Oman and the Maldives Ali Navaz is beginning a new role as resort manager of Hurawalhi. Returning guests will remember Navaz who began as front of house manager before taking on a property development programme and island host program and climbing the ladder to rooms division manager before landing his new role as resort manager.

Hailing from Addu, Navaz is a keen sportsman who enjoys playing padel tennis, gym workouts, and jogging. He loves scuba diving as an advanced open water diver who is heading towards his rescue diver certification. Hurawalhi is famed for its dive spots and he loves diving Kuredu Express, Felivaru Kandu, Madivaru, Fushivaru Thila and Shipyard. Navaz loves spending time with people and helping his guests enjoy their holiday at Hurawalhi.

Hussain Naseem, assistant manager at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Hussain Naseem makes the move from The One and Only where he spent five years as assistant manager and assistant food and beverage manager. As a driven service-minded professional with more than six years of experience in all aspects of the restaurant trade including both front and back of house operations, he consistently delivers, leading others in service excellence through proactively anticipating and responding to guest needs. His strengths include communication, service delivery and development and operational management. At the Maldives newest resort to open he looks forward to assisting the general manager Mark Hehir in presenting the upcoming Ritz Carlton to Maldives Fari islands.

Anna Karaseva, sales and marketing manager, Cora Cora

Cora Cora has appointed a new sales and marketing manager, Anna Karaseva. The announcement comes at an incredibly exciting time for the hotel as it bolsters its team ahead of its opening in October 2021. Karaseva joins the hotel team from the five-star Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives, where she was sales and marketing executive as well as sales coordinator. Previously she worked at Nikki Beach Resort & Spa in the United Arab Emirates and the Intercontinental Carlton in Cannes. Karaseva is fluent in Russian, English and can also speak French.

Mohamed Zaheen, director of sales, Kihaa Maldives

An experienced hotelier with a demonstrated history of working in the tourism industry, Zaheen is skilled in reservation, revenue, sales, rooms division, and hospitality management. With 11-years-experience in the Maldives. Prior to joining Kihaa Maldives, he spent two years Angsana Velavaru Maldives as their sales manager for over two years. Zaheen began his career as guest relations officer at Olhuveli Beach Resort and worked with Soneva Fushi, Dusit Thani and Niyama Maldives. Kihaa in Baa Atoll has a thriving coral house reef spanning the world-famous UNESCO heritage site of Hanifaru Bay famous for manta ray gatherings.

Pedro Samper, executive chef, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has appointed Pedro Samper as their new executive chef. With years of industry experience, Chef Pedro will oversee and elevate all efforts at the resort’s already distinguished culinary scene. The resorts vast range of dining options at the finest address in the Maldives include Crust, Decanter, The Whale Bar, Cargo, Craft and the resort’s world-renowned signature restaurant, Alba.

Samper has over 20 years of experience in the industry and is renowned for his traditional Spanish and Basque cuisine, From San Sebastian, Spain, he learned his trade in some of Spain’s best Michelin-starred restaurants, including Martin Berasategui, Quique Dacosta, and Kokotxa. He then served as executive chef at Paradores resort, a luxury five-star property in Valencia, Spain. In Asia, Samper has worked in Tokyo under the culinary mastery of chef Seiji Yamamoto at RyuGin (three Michelin stars) and chef SeiichiHonda at Zurriola restaurant (two Michelin stars). Samper relocated as executive chef of Michelin-starred Zurriola restaurant in Hong Kong. Furthermore, he accepted the title of executive chef at The Langham, Hong Kong, where he oversaw the hotel’s western restaurants, including Palm Court, Artesian, The Bostonian, Main St. Deli and The Food Gallery, as well as in-room dining service and the events catering department. Most recently, Samper was the executive chef at St. Regis Kula Lumpur in Malaysia.

John Allanson, general manager, Kanuhura Maldives

Kanuhara has appointed John Allanson as general manager, who joins witth a wealth of managerial experience. As of May 4, Kanuhura Maldives officially moved under the umbrella of HPL Hotels & Resorts. As the 12th property in its portfolio, the Singapore main-board listed hospitality management company marks its seventh property in the Maldives.

Do you know of any new hotel appointments? Email: info@hoteliermaldives.com