Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives has appointed Rene D. Egle to succeed Jens Moesker as general manager of the resort effective 14 October 2011.

Mr. Egle brings with him over 20 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry. Prior to moving to the Maldives, he was general manager at Traders Hotel, Dubai, a position he assumed in 2009. Previously, he spent three years at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai - first as resident manager, then hotel manager. Mr. Egle joined Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in 2003 as resident manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Egle held key positions in various five-star hotels in Asia, including the Swissôtel, Beijing; the Kempinski Hotel Lufthansa Centre, Beijing; the Kempinski Furama Hotel, Hong Kong and the Regent Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

"I am delighted to join the team of Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives," said Mr. Egle. "The natural beauty of the island is stunning and the commitment of the team in providing guests with a personalised experience is commendable. I truly look forward to working with the team to bring the resort to the next level of excellence."

Set amidst white sandy beaches, lush vegetation, 17,000 coconut trees and towering banyan trees, Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in the Maldives south of the equator. Located in a boutique-style environment, guests can choose from private ocean retreats to tropical tree house villas with panoramic views. A selection of fine dining options, innovative treatments at CHI, The Spa and cycling on nearby islands will satisfy every sense.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 72 hotels under the Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 30,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.