Mark Eletr, the General Manager of Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, has recently celebrated his third anniversary, marking a period of significant milestones. A seasoned hotelier, Mark arrived in the Maldives in November 2021 from Vietnam. Reflecting on the past three years, Mark notes, “It has been a roller coaster ride. We’ve accomplished so much, and the team has even embraced some of my crazier ideas, which I love.”
With a luxury resort pedigree built from various international postings, Mark’s career spans refurbishments, rebrandings, and new openings. “When I accepted the role with IHG to be General Manager of Kandooma Maldives, I knew my success would be pinned to taking the property forward into its next chapter in its 40-year evolution. Building on the typical financial measures of success but also caring for our people, the island, and safeguarding its future,” he says.
Mark, originally from Australia, last spoke about the resort’s progress at the end of 2022, when he was energised by his latest project, Surf Corner. He now reflects that those days seem like a lifetime ago, with the area now thriving, especially during the surfing season. “We even added a fire pit, which has become a big hit with visiting music stars who often grab the guitar for an impromptu sing-a-long.”
When Mark mentions music stars, he is not overstating it. He has welcomed numerous celebrity performers to Kandooma, including Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Mahalia Barnes, Xavier Rudd, Delta Goodrem, The Living End, You Am I, Birds of Tokyo, and many others. “2024 was a big year for Music In Paradise, celebrating their 10-year anniversary. We share a wonderful collaboration with their team and look forward to continuing our relationship with them to showcase some amazing talent to delight our guests and fans,” Mark says. “2025 is already shaping up to be a fantastic year with Missy Higgins, The Church, Birds of Tokyo, and Anthony Callea & Tim Campbell all confirmed to perform at Kandooma,” he adds.
During his tenure, Mark has maintained the momentum created with his on-property engineering team, overseeing a vast number of projects. His latest initiative, building new staff accommodation, commenced just a week ago. “When complete, the new block will feature 44 units, which is much needed to support our operation. There is also a plan to install solar power on their roofs. Property maintenance continues to be a big area for us that requires constant attention and a rolling annual maintenance plan. The Maldivian climate is harsh, and it does take a toll on our buildings, decks, and infrastructure,” Mark explains.
Mark has always had a passion for regeneration and is not one to shy away from trying new ideas. Known for his bold, innovative approach, he is a General Manager who often pushes boundaries, earning him a reputation for being a “renegade” within the corporate world. However, he is also a leader who knows how to rally his team and make things happen. “I’ve said this before, and it remains true today; if you don’t try, there is no risk or reward. Try and fail, well, at least you know and go back to the drawing board. Try and win, then celebrate and look for the next opportunity.”
In 2021, Mark introduced the concept of Frond Circles to the island— a simple but effective idea where fallen palm tree fronds are arranged in a circle, layer upon layer, to a height of 1.5 metres. “I stole the idea from another resort in Australia. We put it into action and have monitored the progress of the decomposition carefully. Within three and a half years, the fronds had decomposed down to a height of 75cm, creating rich, usable compost for our regeneration projects and gardens. We extracted fifty 20kg bags,” he says proudly.
The Frond Circles serve more purposes than just creating compost. They have eliminated the need for diesel-powered vessels to transport garden waste off the island, which Mark sees as a major environmental win. They also offer a neat way to manage the discarded coconut palm fronds around the resort. “Nature doesn’t have waste. When we look at sustainability, we need to consider circular economies, and the decomposition using organised Frond Circles is a good example,” he says.
Two years after Mark’s decision to reduce the daily path sweeping of the island’s white sands, the resort is now embracing rustic gardens that have self-seeded naturally, providing habitats for small animals and insects—another success for sustainability.
As a keen scuba diver and soon-to-be-qualified Dive Master, Mark’s passion for the ocean has also inspired a new promotion. The Maldives’ first “Dive Free” promotion was created for certified divers staying three nights or longer, offering up to two free dives per day. This courageous initiative has proven successful, showcasing the beautiful underwater world just off the resort’s shores.
Last year, Mark was also part of a dive team that rescued a giant oceanic manta ray entangled in ghost nets. “This experience was life-changing. To see first-hand the damage that discarded nets and rubbish have on marine life gave me a greater desire to do more,” he says. Subsequently, the resort introduced a jewellery line, with a percentage of the revenue donated to The Manta Trust for their research.
Following IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow sustainability programme, Mark is actively involved in driving Reefscaping initiatives. Recently, 100 Reef Stars (coral frames) were placed in the resort’s waters as part of these efforts. “I think relationships are key in the sustainability space. We can achieve more by teaming up with others,” he adds.
In 2023, the resort doubled its renewable energy output by adding corrosion-proof marine-grade photovoltaic panels to the roofs of 19 one-bedroom overwater villas and the two-bedroom overwater pavilion. This project increased the resort’s solar power capacity to 518.52 kWp.
However, not all projects have been successful. “Our wave energy project was abandoned by the Japanese research company evaluating it, as it was deemed too costly and not feasible. It started pre-pandemic, but we still see our involvement as a win. A win because it didn’t work and because it might just be the impetus for someone to tweak the technology in the future or look at it differently,” Mark explains.
Looking ahead, Mark is focused on further developing the resort’s Chef’s Garden. “We are now growing bananas, coconuts, and a selection of herbs. I’m also excited to see how a pilot project in my yard to farm a fish called Tilapia takes shape,” he reveals.
With no immediate plans to increase room inventory, the most exciting project in recent years from a guest room perspective has been the unveiling of a three-bedroom Beach Pool Villa, offering greater options for families and groups of friends. “We have an incredible infinity-edged resort swimming pool, and this new three-bedroom villa allowed us to explore how a private pool scenario might enhance our offering. There are no plans in place at the moment for more private pools, but you never know what is around the corner,” Mark says with a cheeky grin.
While Mark is proud of the many achievements during his tenure, he is most fulfilled by the opportunity to develop talent. “It is very special when you are in a position to have a positive influence on the careers of others, and in particular when you have the chance to develop local talent. We aim to attract and fill at least 40% of our roles with Maldivian people. Nurturing local talent and finding future superstars is very rewarding to me,” he says.
Reflecting on a recent example, Mark shares, “Just a few weeks ago, I felt such joy and pride when Shahid Hussain, our then Resort Manager and my number two, was promoted within IHG to be General Manager of Noku Maldives, a Vignette Collection property. It’s always bittersweet, you know. I was thrilled for Shahid but a little sad for our Kandooma team when the day came for him to leave. I know he will do a terrific job and go from strength to strength.”
When Mark joined Kandooma, he was dubbed the “Change Maker,” and three years on, he continues to live up to that title. He credits his success stories and ability to implement change so swiftly to the Kandooma team and the owners.
“It is a journey. The team has now seen the fruits of their labour, and our owners have greater confidence in my leadership. However, it takes energy to keep the momentum building and to nurture a culture where all ideas will be listened to, considered, and some implemented, as we strive for a resort that offers consistently great guest experiences. This is what motivates me each day.”
For more information about Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, visit www.maldives.holidayinnresorts.com.
