Connect with us

Business

The Ritz-Carlton makes key corporate appointments for debut Maldives resort

Published

on

The Ritz-Carlton has made key appointments to the revenue and finance department of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands, the upcoming debut hotel in Maldives by Marriott International’s flagship luxury brand.

Wendy Christ joins the resort’s pre-opening team as Director of Revenue Management. Meeran Mohidhin will serve as the Director of Finance, supported by Mifraz Mohamed in his capacity as the Assistant Director of Finance.

Wendy Christ

Hailing from Jakarta, Indonesia, Wendy has been working with Marriott International in revenue management. His previous role as Market Revenue Manager involved heading the revenue management function for JW Marriott, Mayflower Executive Apartments, and The Ritz-Carlton Mega Kunigan in Jakarta.

Wendy first gained exposure in sales in 2009 as a Reservations Agent at Harris Hotel Tebet Jakarta before joining Aston Hotel & Conventions Gading Serpon as Reservation and E-commerce Supervisor.

He built a successful career with TAUZIA Hotel Management, where he held his first leadership role as Assistant Revenue and Distribution Manager in 2012, and was subsequently promoted to the position of Cluster Revenue and Distribution Manager – Bandung Area.

Wendy left TAUZIA Hotel Management in 2017 to join Marriott International as the Revenue Manager at Four Points Thamrin by Sheraton, followed by Market Revenue Manager at JW Marriott, Mayflower Executive Apartments, and The Ritz-Carlton Mega Kunigan.

“With over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Wendy is an expert in revenue management. Possessing exceptional qualities of positive thinking and experience working at Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, he will be a great addition to The Ritz-Carlton Maldives team,” an announcement read.

Meeran Mohidhin

Originally from India but holding Canadian citizenship, Meeran has come a long way since starting his career in the late 1990s as a front office receptionist.

Meeran, who joined the pre-opening team of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives in June, brings over 20 years of international experience in financial and management accounting.

With a strong track record of proven success in leading teams to deliver financial success, he has solid knowledge of hotel operations as he previously oversaw operations as the Executive Assistant Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel in Beijing, China.

Meeran spent nearly 17 years working as the Director of Finance / Financial Controller at a number of leading hotels in the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Canada, China, Bahrain, Seychelles and Maldives. These include Velaa Private Island (Maldives), The H Hotel & Office Tower (Dubai), Radisson Blu Plaza (Bangkok and China), Westmont Hospitality Group – Arc The Hotel (Ottawa), Westin Bristol Place Hotel (Toronto), and three Le Meridien properties (Seychelles).

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, specialising in financial management, auditing, IT systems.

Mifraz Mohamed

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Mifraz started his career at Ernst & Young Sri Lanka in 2012. He later transferred to Ernst & Young’s office in Maldives and took up the position of Senior Accountant cum Auditor.

After his career with Ernst & Young, Mifraz spent nearly seven years at the W Maldives before joining The Ritz-Carlton Maldives in May.

During his time at the W Maldives, Mifraz held several management roles. He started as a Finance Assistance, but was later promoted to the positions of Accountant and Chief Accountant. Most recently, he served as the Assistant Director of Finance.

At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Mifraz will work under the general guidance of Director of Finance Meeran Mohidhin.

Mifraz will assist Meera in creating and executing a business plan that is aligned with the property and The Ritz-Carlton’s business strategy. He will focus on executing financial and accounting tasks, with the goal of delivering desirable financial results.

Located in North Male Atoll, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands will be part of Rah Falhu Huraa lagoon development, a lively integrated Marina Village and Resort Destination with world-class luxury living and recreation facilities.

Stretching over four islands, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands will feature a collection of 100 island and overwater villas. The resort’s five food and beverage options, distributed throughout the four islands, will offer guests all-day dining along with Italian, Chinese and Japanese teppanyaki specialties. Uniquely designed facilities include an experiential Kids Club, Recreation Club and Spa.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands is 50 minutes away from the Maldives main Velana International Airport by speedboat and 10 minutes by seaplane.

Part of Marriott International, the iconic Ritz-Carlton has 101 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 27,650 rooms.

Marriott already runs five resorts in the Maldives: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa, W Maldives, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, and the JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa.

Cover photo: From right to left, Meeran Mohidhin and Wendy Christ.

Events

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) holds its 34th Annual General Meeting

Published

on

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) held its 34th Annual General Meeting at Kurumba Maldives today, with a total of 100 members in attendance. 

The day’s events began with a welcome address from the Chairman of MATI, Mr. Mohamed Umar, who also presided over the session. The agenda included an address from the Secretary General, Mr. Ahmed Nazeer, the review and approval of the minutes of the 33rd AGM, the review and adoption of the Annual Report and Financial Reports for 2023, the approval of the 2024 budget, the appointment of auditors for 2024, the welcoming of new members and election of executive board members to the two vacant positions (by-election).

In the member discussion session, the following topics were covered: the Government’s aim to reach net-zero emissions by 2023 and renewable energy generation in the Tourism Industry, new terminal of Velana International Airport and developments, employment challenges, the Industrial Relations Act and trade unions, environmental conservation and the significance of creating and executing efficient management plans for protected areas like the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA).

Following the official proceedings, the Minister of Tourism Hon. Ibrahim Faisal and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Hon. Mohamed Saeed joined the forum. The Ministers provided remarks and engaged in a Member Q&A session. This session provided members with the chance to directly engage with the Ministers and delve into crucial industry topics. The queries focused on the Economic Outlook, forthcoming development plans and  immediate challenges and issues affecting the Tourism Industry.

A video presentation was also showcased that delved into the extensive work undertaken by MATI in 2023. The video also touched upon the Tourism Industry’s performance over the past 5 years, as well as the current and projected human resource capacity of the sector.

In his closing remarks, the Secretary General highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing industry challenges and called for greater unison amongst industry stakeholders, ending with an acknowledgement of the promising start to the year in terms of arrivals.

Executive Board Members elected to the 2 vacant positions (by-election):

  1. Ibrahim Shareef, CEO and Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited
  2. Renato De Olivera, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands and representative of Marriott International
Continue Reading

Business

Unlocking power of travel storytelling at Travel Creators Exchange 2024

Published

on

Join us for the Travel Creators Exchange 2024, taking place on February 1, 2024, at the Hotel Jen in Male’, Maldives.

This dynamic event provides a platform for networking and collaboration among Maldives-based travel creators, fostering connections, idea-sharing, and the establishment of lasting partnerships to expand opportunities and monetise content.

Our lineup of distinguished speakers includes:

  • Zihuny Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of MMPRC, will present on “Power of Digital Storytelling: Collaborative Strategies for Destination Promotion.” MMPRC actively markets the Maldives globally, utilising a comprehensive approach that includes travel trade shows, roadshows, digital marketing, and more.
  • Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director of Kuda Villingili Maldives Resort, brings over 23 years of hospitality industry experience. He will discuss “The Role of Content in Tourism Marketing,” drawing on expertise in revenue, customer service, sales & marketing, and human capital development.
  • Suresh Dissanayake, Assistant Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Heritance Aarah & Adaaran Resorts, with nearly two decades of experience, will shed light on “What does a Sales and Marketing Director Do?” He brings extensive luxury hospitality experience and a proven track record in sales, distribution, and marketing.
  • Vishal Amir Ahmed, a versatile cinematographer and content creator, will explore “Who is a Content Creator.” Currently associated with Various Arts Studio, he specialises in providing multimedia solutions to various clients.

Organised by Maldives Insider, Maldives Virtual Tour, Travel Trade Maldives, and Hotelier Maldives, this collaborative effort aims to empower Maldives-based travel content creators and elevate the Maldives as a premier destination for captivating travel storytelling.

Continue Reading

Events

Acclaimed contemporary artist Ana Pušica explores perpetuality and community at Patina Maldives

Published

on

Ana Pušica Kramer, an internationally  acclaimed contemporary artist, joins Patina Maldives for an exclusive  art residency in the now infamous Fari Art Atelier. From January 22 to  February 22, 2024, Ana Pušica will grace the shores of the Fari Islands,  weaving a vibrant narrative of colour and emotion across her larger  than-life canvases. 

Her artistry transcends boundaries, melding abstraction and figuration into awe-inspiring masterpieces. Having exhibited globally, from New York to Beijing, Ana’s paintings are a physical, intuitive act rooted in movement.  Described as a “beautiful fluorescent thunderstorm,” Ana’s art explores light and colour, capturing the energy of life itself. 

The Fari Art Atelier which has previously hosted the likes of Daniel Arsham, Chris Stamp and David Nott, will be transformed into Ana’s studio and gallery showcasing her enthralling artworks—a mesmerising journey through poetry, memory, and the vibrant interplay of colour. Guests at Patina are invited to delve into Ana’s world, where each stroke reveals layers of meaning, evoking sensations of intense lightness and boundless interpretation. 

At Patina Maldives, Ana will immerse herself in a month-long residency, inviting the Patina Malidves community or guests and team to witness her artistic fervour firsthand. Guests will have the rare opportunity not only to observe her creative process but also to engage with and create art alongside this luminary.

Experience artistry at its most exclusive

Art Exhibition
Experience Ana’s captivating exploration of colour and emotion in her spellbinding artworks displayed at the Fari Atelier.

Art Workshops: Message in a Bottle
As part of a collaborative artwork, Ana invites Patina guests to participate in short workshops, actively contributing to the creation of a permanent installation at Patina Maldives.

Open Studio Session
Join Ana for an exclusive open studio session, offering guests a behind the-scenes look at her creative process.

Ana Pušica residency package
Discover a world where creativity knows no bounds as Ana Pušica, the maestro of contemporary art, transforms Patina Maldives into an immersive canvas of inspiration.

Book now to secure your experience.
For more information and reservations, please visit Patina Maldives or contact
reservations.maldives@patinahotels.com

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.