Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Welcomes Thomas Weber as General Manager
Thursday 17th of November 2022
The luxurious resort, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has welcomed its new General Manager, Thomas Weber who would be taking the reins at the island resort. Having lived and worked in the Maldives for over six years, Thomas is familiar with the island life and takes pride in enjoying this scenic landscape of the world.
The warm Maldivian sunshine and unobstructed views of the ocean are in great contrast to Thomas’s homeland in the snowy village of Klosters in the Swiss Alps. Nevertheless, the Swiss Village is widely recognized as a ski resort, frequented by celebrities and royalty alike and it was here that Thomas had his first brush with the hospitality industry.
He began his career in the industry at Hotel Pardenn in Klosters where he took up a chef’s apprenticeship soon after graduating from secondary school. Fast forward to today, Thomas brings a wealth of international hospitality experience to Alila in an impressive career spanning over 35 years. Over the years, he has served in multiple positions including F&B and management and worked with renowned luxury hotels all across the world in Switzerland, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kenya, India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.
Thomas initially stepped in as general manager in 2003 at Kurland Hotel and Poloclub in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa before filling in the same role at Mövenpick Jeddah Al Nawras in Saudi Arabia. He then served under the same brand in India at Mövenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore and returned to his country to serve the position at Oberwaid in St Gallen, Switzerland. His journey in the Maldives incepted in 2016 when Thomas was appointed as the General Manager of Diamonds Athuruga and Thudufushi. After working at the Diamonds properties, he assumed responsibilities at Sandies Bathala Maldives in 2018 and Dusit Thani Maldives in 2019.
In his new role at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, Thomas has ambitious visions for the resort. He aims to make it the most-preferred destination in the Maldives with his team, especially for affluent travelers seeking a relaxing, eco-conscious recluse. Speaking on this, Thomas remarked “The Maldives provides the opportunity to rejuvenate and disconnect as you can escape to your own private villa, your own private cocoon. The sustainability efforts we practice at Alila Kothaifaru and our responsible mindset towards protecting the environment make our resort especially appealing”.
Alila also invests in empowering the local community through internship, employment and partnership opportunities as per the resort’s holistic sustainability framework. Having seen the recruitment of many passionate hoteliers, Thomas believes that there is great talent to be scouted and nurtured. Moreover, Alila Experiences curated with the local expertise of the Leisure Concierge team allows guests to explore the culture and traditions of the Maldives in a truly authentic way.
Through a collaborative and relationship-oriented leadership style, Thomas looks forward to empowering every team member so they can be their best and create amazing experiences for guests, surrounded by the splendid beauty of the Maldives.
