Leading boutique hotelier Alila Hotels & Resorts has announced two new appointments. Marco den Ouden has been named the new General Manager of luxury Balinese retreat, Alila Villas Soori, and Mario Gonzalez Martin takes up the position of Cruise Director aboard the luxury Indonesian Phinisi, Alila Purnama.
Marco arrived on the southwest coast of Bali from the shores of Maldives where he was previously General Manager of Huvafen Fushi. Starting his career in the late 1990s in his native Netherlands, the last 24 years have seen Marco build up a wealth of experience with brands including Holiday Inn and NH Hotels. From 2006-2009, Marco charted his own restaurant establishment, Coopvaert Rotterdam to become the city’s top three fine dining restaurants. He subsequently spread his wings to Asia, first taking on the role of International General Manager at Jin Jiang Hotel in Chengdu, then moving to Singapore as F&B Hospitality Consultant for the Les Amis Group.
Besides being proficient in English and his native Dutch, Marco’s global experience also enriched his linguistic skills in Mandarin, French, German and Italian. Marco will oversee all operations and staff at the award-winning Alila Villas Soori, a boutique luxury hotel and destination spa, featuring 49 luxurious villas, perfectly crafted to the panoramic ocean scapes and sea breezes. Located along the southwest coast of Bali, not far from the island’s famous Tanah Lot Temple, the resort lies within the UNESCO protected rice terraces fronted by beautiful volcanic-sanded beaches overlooking the Indian Ocean. Marco can be reached at mdenouden[at]alilahotels.com
Spanish born Mario Gonzalez Martin takes the helm as Cruise Director for Alila Purnama, the group’s first luxury handcrafted Phinisi. A man of many skills, Mario is an accomplished kite surfer, surfer and diver with extensive knowledge of dives sites across Indonesia and West Papua. In his new role, Mario will manage an experienced crew of 16 catering to a maximum of 10 guests as they sail on private charters.
Launched in December 2012, Alila Purnama, is the most luxurious liveaboard Phinisi in Asia. The 46-metre long ship consists of three decks, hand crafted in the traditional style of the Bugis seafarers. Alila Purnama offers three sailing expeditions to Raja Ampat, Komodo and Ambon, offering amazing sea voyages to deep forests and marine parks with island-hopping adventures and world-class diving in some of Indonesia’s most pristine destinations.
