In addition to retaining his portfolio as the General Manager of Sol Meliá�s Asian flagship property, Ricardo Castaneda�s key responsibilities will be to assist Mr Payeras in managing the operations for the Group�s 11 regional, business development and opening of new hotels in Asia Pacific.

Instrumental in Spanish hotel chain Sol Meliá�s expansion programme throughout Asia over the last 15 years, veteran hotelier Ricardo Castaneda�s latest move in the region is the natural progression of his history with the Group, having been personally responsible for a number of significant milestones in the chain�s 15 year history in Asia.

Since his first Asian posting was back in 1986, for the opening Sol Meliá�s first property in Asia, Meliá Bali, among Mr. Castaneda�s many achievements was the acquisition of the group�s second property in Asia, Meliá at Scotts in 1989, which he consequently went on to manage as General Manager.  During that time he was also involved in the successful negotiations for the take over of another existing property which was to become the group�s third Asian property, the Meliá Kuala Lumpur.

His key role in the establishment of the chain�s first three hotels in Asia, led to his regional appointment as Vice President Sales & Marketing with the responsibility of setting up the group�s regional office in Singapore.  This was a position he held till his move to the management of yet another new property, Meliá Hua Hin in Thailand where he was General Manager till his appointment to the helm of the group�s new flagship property, the 428 room Gran Meliá Jakarta.
 

Commenting on Mr Castaneda�s move to Gran Meliá Jakarta, Sol Meliá�s Executive Vice President Asia Pacific, Miguel Payeras said: �Mr Castaneda�s valuable Asian experience together with his significant contribution to the group�s expansion in the region, made him the obvious choice when it came to selecting a regional Vice President Operations for Sol Meliá.  Sol Meliá is poised to continue our expansion programme in Asia-Pacific.�

Gran Meliá Jakarta  Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. X-O Kuningan, Jakarta 12920, Indonesia

As Meliá Hanoi�s new Director of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Visutriratana will be responsible for spearheading sales and marketing efforts for the 308-room five-star business hotel. Among Mr Visutriratana�s immediate priorities will be to develop the hotel�s international  corporate and travel trade accounts, particularly within the French, American, Japanese and Taiwanese markets.

A Thai national, Mr. Visutriratana brings to Meliá Hanoi more than 14 years experience in the hospitality industry. He has held senior sales positions with a number of Thai properties, including the Peninsula Bangkok, Baan Taling Ngaam, Felix Arnoma Swissotel Bankok, and Montien Bankok.

Prior to his appointment at Meliá Hanoi, Mr. Visutriratana was Director of Sales & Marketing for the Meliá Hua Hin in Thailand.

A graduate of Business Administration and Management, Mr. Visutriratana is fluent in Thai, English, and Mandarin.

Sol Meliá, Europe�s leading hotel group and the ninth largest hotel company in the world, has a portfolio of  more than 330 city and resort hotels in 30 countries under the brand names of Meliá, Sol and Paradisus hotels.