Anantara expands sales and marketing team due to rapid growth plans

To facilitate greater worldwide exposure, Anantara has enhanced its sales force in line with an overall plan to grow its global reach of hotels, resorts, and spas over the next five years.

Anantara’s newly-restructured sales and marketing team take the helm of an already successful expansion roll out with the enhancement of the existing Anantara Bophut, Koh Samui (new pool villas set to open in December), along with the opening of Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives later this year. Three new properties in Oman, China, and Bali are also scheduled to be completed in 2011.

Narelle McDougall has taken up the position of area director of sales and marketing for Anantara Dhigu, Veli, and Naladhu Resorts & Spas in the Maldives. Narelle commenced her career with Minor in sales and marketing for Thailand in 2006 as brand director of Anantara. Accompanying Narelle in the Maldives is Brigitte Dasquet, who will oversee all sales and marketing efforts for Anantara Kihavah Villas. Brigitte previously held the same role of director of sales and marketing for Le St. Geran in Mauritius.

Key appointments in Thailand include Mr. Philip Hall who has joined Minor from the Unique Collection of Hotels Thailand, now enjoying a more rigorous role with Anantara as director of leisure sales, Thailand, and Rory Campbell from The Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong – a Langham International Hotel – as director of sales and marketing for Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, and director of transient retail sales for Thailand.

Properties within Thailand have also been boosted with the promotion of Mr. Supachai Punja-apisith from senior sales manager groups Thailand to become director of sales, Anantara groups. Other key appointments include the promotion of Ms. Sirintorn Varatorn to the position of director of sales and marketing at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa and the appointment of Ms. Rawiwan Thepraksa as director of sales for Anantara Si Kao Resorts and Spa.

Anantara in United Arab Emirates also sees new leadership with the appointment of Marissa Garcia Olm, who held sales and marketing leadership positions with Kempinski Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East, prior to joining Anantara as area director of sales and marketing in Abu Dhabi.

2010 also sees the global expansion of the Anantara sales force, with dedicated sales representatives based in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Hong Kong.

Dillip Rajakarier, chief operating officer of Minor Hotel Group, the owners of Anantara, commented, “With the aim of strengthening sales and marketing leadership for Anantara’s growing international portfolio, these formidable appointments illustrate Anantara’s commitment to growth in key markets and the faith we have in our dynamic global journey.”

Shown in photo: Back row from left to right – Mr. Supachai Punja-apisith, Mr. Philip Hall, Ms. Narelle McDougall, Mr. Rory Campbell; Front row left to right – Ms. Sirintorn Varatorn, Mr. Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Hotel Group, Ms. Rawiwan Thepraksa