JA Manafaru has appointed Karen Merrick as its new general manager. Hailing from Scotland, Merrick will be leading a team of 350 associates.
According to the award-winning resort, Merrick is the second female general manager in the JA Resorts & Hotels portfolio of 8 properties. She is also one of a handful of females in this position in the Maldives.
Merrick’s career spans 30 years across a variety of hotels in the Indian Ocean and Europe. Prior to joining JA Manafaru, she spent 3 years running the Song Sad Private Island in Cambodia.
This will be Merrick’s fifth leadership role in the Maldives, and she has a personal connection to the country with a home in Addu city with her Maldivian husband. Her previous tenures include the Taaras Resort & Spa in Malaysia, Kemang Icon by Alila in Indonesia, as well as the Ackergill Tower in Scotland. In the Maldives, she has also worked at Soneva Fushi Resort & Residences, Diva/White Sands Resort & Spa and the Rania Experience.
According to JA Manafaru, Merrick aims to bring the Maldivian culture to life on the island and ensure that guests experience seamless 5-star service whilst also enjoying the freedom to roam as an explorer on the raw, remote beauty of the island.
JA Manafaru is located in Haa Alifu atoll, at the northern tip of the Maldives. The 5-star luxury island boasts 84 beachfront and over-water villas and bungalows, each with their own private plunge pool. Seven scenic dining destinations provide a culinary journey with traditional Indian Ocean cuisine, international fare and seafood feasts. Recreational facilities include the Calm Spa, a fully-equipped dive, water sports and excisions centre, plus a Marine Research Centre dedicated to conservation. Visit https://www.jaresortshotels.com/maldives/ja-manafaru for more information.