Executive Appointments at Six Senses

Six Senses recently made the following executive appointments.

Ana Maria Da Costa Tavares has been promoted from brand director to managing director of Six Senses Destination Spas. In this role, she will continue to direct the development of the Six Senses Destination Spas brand. In addition to this role, Ana Maria will continue to act as General Manager of the recently opened Six Senses Destination Spa Phuket in Thailand.

Prior to joining Six Senses, Ana Maria was the founding general manager and deputy managing director of renowned Chiva-Som International Health Resort, a role which she performed for six years and which firmly established the facility as a market leader. Under her direction Chiva-Som was awarded the world’s premier destination Health Resort, as voted by the readers of Condé Naste Traveller magazine.

Following that tenure, Ana Maria relocated to her country of birth – Portugal – where she was responsible for planning the development of Chiva-Som Heath Resort’s first overseas venture. When the company withdrew this planned development after several years, Ana Maria joined Shun Tak Holding Limited in Hong Kong as owner’s representative for three international 5-star properties and the largest conference centre in Macau.

Ana Maria is based at Six Senses Destination Spa Phuket, which opened in June 2008.

Henry J.P. Gray has been promoted to managing director Thailand from his previous position as area director Thailand. Henry will continue to oversee Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi, Six Senses Hideaway Samui, and Six Senses Hideaway Hua Hin and Evason Hua Hin, in Thailand.

Henry joined Six Senses from his previous role of general manager of The Oberoi, Udaivilas in Udaipur, Rajasthan India. Prior to that he had a 12-year stint with Amanresorts, opening and operating Mahakua - Hacienda de San Antonio in Colima, Mexico; and the renowned Amandari in Bali, Indonesia.

With a Diploma-OND in Hotel and Catering Management from Henley College for Hotel Training in Coventry, England, Henry’s early career took him to the British Virgin Islands, Mexico, USA, Canada and his native Scotland. Henry is now based at the Evason Phuket. 

John Philipson has been promoted to the position of managing director Maldives from his previous position as area director for the same region. John will continue to oversee the iconic Soneva Fushi – voted Best of the Best in Condé Naste Traveller’s Awards, Soneva Gili - the Maldives’ first award-winning over-water resort, and Six Senses Latitude Laamu - which is scheduled to open mid 2009.

John has more than eighteen years of hospitality experience including broad ranging responsibilities with deluxe 5-star international hotel and resort companies. Prior to joining Six Senses, he was general manager of Rocco Forte Hotels’ The Lowry, in Manchester, and general manager of The St. David’s Hotel & Spa in Cardiff, Wales. He started his hospitality career with the Hyatt International Group at the Hyatt Regency in Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean, and the Grand Hyatt in Chicago.

A British national, John has been active in the hospitality industry since finishing his higher education at Newcastle University. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality from New Hampshire College and a Masters of Science in Hospitality at I.M.C.A. Socrates in Boulder, Colorado - both in the United States.

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