Magdalena Martorell to lead Avani+ Fares Maldives

Magdalena Martorell has been appointed General Manager of Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort. Minor Hotels confirmed the move in an announcement on 8 October 2026, with Martorell transferring from Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort in Indonesia.

The appointment brings an established leader from within Minor Hotels to the Baa Atoll property. The company did not specify an effective start date.

Magdalena Martorell’s priorities at Avani+ Fares

Martorell’s plans centre on service culture, team development and collaborations with artists, wellness specialists and sports professionals. The intention is to extend the resort’s guest experiences while keeping the Maldives’ natural environment central to its offering.

She had led Anantara Uluwatu since February 2025. Before that, she was General Manager of Meliá Phuket Mai Khao in Thailand, with responsibility for its opening and subsequent operations.

A career built across resort and city hotels

Martorell’s earlier appointments included general management roles at Meliá Shanghai Parkside and SOL by Meliá Phu Quoc. Her experience spans Spain, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

The Meliá appointment announcement distributed by Balcony Media Group in November 2021 provides further detail on her progression. She entered the group’s internal development programme before moving through operations and resident management positions in Spain.

Those posts included operations manager at Tryp Rey Pelayo in Gijón, resident manager at Meliá Barcelona and general manager at Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto. Her move to Asia came in 2012, when she became hotel manager at Meliá Bali & The Garden Villas.

About Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort

Avani+ Fares has 176 accommodation units across pavilions, beach villas, overwater villas and residences. Its Baa Atoll setting places marine activities alongside a broader leisure proposition that includes dining, a spa, fitness facilities and programmes for families.

The resort lists seven dining and bar venues, including the children’s restaurant Petit Bistro. It also offers a house reef for snorkelling and diving, dedicated children’s and teenagers’ clubs, and sports facilities including padel and tennis.

What the appointment means for operations

For hospitality operators, the remit highlights the coordination required between daily service, employee development and specialist guest programming. Bringing in visiting talent can broaden an island resort’s appeal, but the lasting value depends on how effectively those experiences connect with the wider stay.

Martorell’s background in both hotel openings and established operations is relevant to that balance. The task ahead is to build on an existing resort identity while maintaining consistency across its different guest touchpoints.

For related coverage, read about Minor Hotels’ Life Longevity wellness brand and the group’s Avani+ Hanoi signing.