W Maldives appoints Chananchida Narongkool as Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications
W Maldives has appointed Chananchida ‘Bella’ Narongkool as Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, bringing more than a decade of experience in luxury hospitality marketing, public relations, digital strategy and brand development across international hotel groups.
Prior to joining W Maldives, Bella served as Director of Marketing at Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand, where she oversaw brand positioning, integrated marketing, public relations, digital performance, e-commerce and strategic partnerships. She previously held the position of Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications with Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts before progressing to her most recent leadership role.
Her career spans several international hospitality groups, including Marriott International, IHG, Minor Hotels, Accor and Hard Rock, with experience covering luxury resorts, lifestyle properties and urban hospitality markets.
Before joining Le Méridien, Bella served as Cluster Public Relations Manager for Anantara Hotels & Resorts and Avani Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok between 2019 and 2020, including responsibilities at Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. In this role, she managed public relations activities across the two hospitality brands, working with media representatives and industry partners to strengthen brand visibility.
Earlier in her career, she spent more than four years as Public Relations and Marketing Communications Manager at Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, from October 2013 to April 2018. She also held marketing positions at Paradise @ Koh Yao, Hard Rock Cafe and Eva Group in Phuket, building experience across hospitality, food and beverage, and property development.
Throughout her career, Bella has worked on marketing campaigns, international media collaborations, influencer partnerships and destination marketing initiatives. Her experience includes developing relationships with journalists, international media organisations, influencers and key opinion leaders, particularly across Phuket and Bangkok.
Bella holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and Marketing Management from Ramkhamhaeng University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business English from Assumption University in Thailand. She also completed studies at the University of California, Berkeley Extension in the United States.
In her new role at W Maldives, Bella will focus on strengthening the resort’s international brand presence through marketing campaigns, public relations, digital engagement and strategic partnerships. According to the resort, her appointment forms part of its efforts to develop its luxury lifestyle positioning through brand storytelling, culturally relevant collaborations and guest experiences.
Located on Fesdu Island in North Ari Atoll, approximately 25 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport, W Maldives is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio. The resort occupies a private island surrounded by a lagoon and house reef, offering accommodation, dining, wellness and marine experiences.
W Maldives underwent an extensive renovation and reopened in March 2025, introducing redesigned accommodation, dining venues and public spaces. The resort features 77 beach and overwater villas, with interiors inspired by the surrounding marine environment, including whale sharks, coral reefs and mangroves. Its accommodation includes two-bedroom overwater villas with private pools and beachfront villas featuring waterslides connecting upper-floor spaces to private pools.
The resort’s dining venues include FISH, an overwater seafood restaurant; FIRE, offering beachside grilled cuisine; KITCHEN, an all-day dining restaurant; SIP, an overwater bar serving cocktails and Nikkei-inspired dishes; and WET Deck, the resort’s poolside dining and entertainment venue.
Other facilities include AWAY Spa, featuring overwater treatment rooms, the FIT fitness centre, and diving and water sports experiences. Guests can also visit Gaathafushi, the resort’s nearby private island, for secluded dining and other experiences.
The resort’s renovation introduced a renewed design and guest experience concept while retaining the W brand’s emphasis on music, social experiences and its Whatever/Whenever service philosophy.
Bella’s appointment comes as W Maldives continues to develop its positioning following the renovation, with marketing and international brand engagement forming part of its efforts to attract travellers seeking luxury lifestyle experiences in the Maldives.
