The Banyan Tree Group, one of the world’s leading independent, multi-branded hospitality groups, appoints a new MarCom trio that will drive the marketing communications initiatives for its properties in the Maldives to a notch higher by developing effective campaigns.  Centered on the purpose-driven mission of stewardship and well-being while offering exceptional design-led experiences, the new team will ensure a wider reach in various sources to potentially capture more market segments and ultimately increase all three properties’ revenue.

Ronalaine Fernandez Sato, MarCom and PR Manager, has 13 years of intensive experience in the hospitality, travel, and tourism trades, both in the Maldives and her home country, the Philippines.  

Prior to joining Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Rona was the Assistant Manager – of PR & Communications at Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives, a part of the German-owned Seaside Collection.  Her creativity, keen attention to details, versatility, flexibility, “can do attitude” and ability to work under pressure coupled with her savoir-faire and cordiality were her weapons to play a key role during the resort’s major transformation and reopening in 2020.  She joined Finolhu in 2019 as Sales Executive, and got promoted to Sales and Marketing Executive upon regularisation until she got appointed to her latest position.

Rona also had stints in Contracting and Sales at Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, and Alpha Maldives, a local tour operator, respectively.

She has been working in the Maldives since 2014, and possesses an in-depth understanding of the market and the destination.  Before taking a big leap to work in a foreign land, she was the Area Communications Manager of two properties in Bohol and Mactan, two of the most visited tourist places in the Philippines. During leisure time, she enjoys self-learning a new language and playing the ukulele.  

Riri Anggraheni Eka Rimandasari, Ecommerce Manager comes with over 9 years of experience in marketing.  For 3 years, she worked as a Customer Relationship Management, Ecommerce and Digital Marketing Manager for Cornerstone Retail Management, sister company of Sheraton Hotel Group Indonesia).

Riri had stints as a journalist for national TV (tvOne and Trans TV), as well as online shows in her home country.  In 2019, she became Indonesia’s official delegate to the World Journalism Conference at Thomson Reuters in London.

In 2020, she partnered with private and business sectors to build Peduli ODGJ Indonesia, a community that aims to provide care for people with mental illness.  She believes that good mental health at work increases productivity, and hopes to raise awareness amongst her colleagues. As a first-timer in the Maldives, she is very excited have fun in the sun and beyond.  With a certificate in PADI Open Water Diving, Riri hopes to explore the magical underwater world in the island nation.

Last but not the least, Khaled Jarrah, Assistant Digital Marketing Manager has been with the Banyan Tree Group for almost two years now.  Prior to his new role, he was Banyan Tree Doha’s Marketing Executive, wherein he led the hotel’s digital marketing, managed its website, and optimised content on all social media platforms with increased reach by 267.7% on Facebook and 339.7% on Instagram within a year.

Khaled hails from Jordan, and started his hospitality career as a chef in prestigious properties such as Crown Plaza® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn – The Business Park and IHG Hotels and Resorts, all in Qatar.  After reaching the Sous Chef position, he was selected to participate in the IHG future leader programme.  This paved the way for him to discover the interesting and challenging Sales & Marketing sphere, which allowed him to unleash his creative side, leading him to the digital marketing role. To continuously enhance his digital marketing skills, Khaled finds time to undergo online courses and trainings.  He firmly believes to “love what you do, and do what you love.” As a connoisseur of good food, Khaled relishes to check out delectable and new dishes, or cook for himself and his loved ones.

Three new team members with diverse backgrounds, but this diversity aims to create a zestful convergence with one goal – to strengthen the offline and online presence of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Dhawa Ihuru and Angsana Velavaru across the globe, and send the right guests to all three resorts, respectively. 

For more information about the Banyan Tree Group, visit www.banyantree.com.