Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives recently celebrated the third anniversary of its General Manager, Mark Eletr, who, during his tenure, marked several milestones.
Mark is a seasoned hotelier with years of experience working in luxury resorts around the world, who joined the Maldives property in November 2021. Since then, he has achieved several refurbishments, rebranding, and new initiatives. On joining the company, Mark emphasized his role in advancing the resort's evolution with the main emphasis on financial success, environmental stewardship, and employee welfare.
One of his accomplishments has been the Surf Corner, which is a hub full of life during the surfing season, upgraded with a fire pit that is the favorite spot for visiting musicians. Over the years, the resort has been able to host some of the best in the industry, including Jimmy Barnes, Delta Goodrem, and Birds of Tokyo. The "Music In Paradise" program will have celebrated its 10th year in 2024. By 2025, artists such as Missy Higgins and The Church are to perform.
Mark has operated several projects; among those are staff accommodations constructed from solar-powered units and rolling maintenance plan which will have offset the impacts of Maldivian climate on his operations. His passion for sustainability led to innovative initiatives such as Frond Circles, which convert palm fronds into compost and thereby reduce waste and emissions due to transportation. He also promoted reef conservation, with 100 coral frames added to the waters surrounding the resort, and renewable energy production doubled through the installation of solar panels.
In the diving world, Mark brought the first "Dive Free" promotion to the Maldives, providing free dives to certified guests, which has elevated the resort's appeal. His dedication to marine conservation was further underlined when he joined the rescue efforts of a manta ray caught entangled in ghost nets-an experience that inspired further environmental advocacy.
He also introduced a 3-bedroom Beach Pool Villa that families and groups can book during his tenure, as well as other sustainable developments like the extension of Chef's Garden and a pilot fish-farm project. In some negative setbacks of his tenure, a wave energy project had to be dropped, though he looks forward to innovations that will make their future look more promising.
Talent development is what brings him the most pride, including building the local Maldivian workforce. Mark was also proud to celebrate the promotion of former Resort Manager Shahid Hussain to General Manager at another IHG property and the promotion of Saji Abraham to Assistant General Manager at his current assignment.
Mark credits the success of the Kandooma team to collaborative efforts and supportive ownership, saying it is a key driver in keeping the momentum going and fostering innovation within the resort.
