Rodrigo Buanafina Appointed General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

Rodrigo Buanafina has been promoted to General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, effective August 4.

Rodrigo Buanafina has been promoted to the position of General Manager at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives. The promotion took effect on August 4. Buanafina, who previously served as the Resort Manager, will now oversee the day-to-day operations of the 45-villa resort, which employs nearly 300 staff members.

Buanafina joined Gili Lankanfushi in 2018 as the Food and Beverage Manager and was later promoted to Director of Food and Beverage. During his tenure in the food and beverage department, he led a team of nearly 100 and introduced several new dining experiences. These included a blind-dining experience and a Brazilian Churrascaria theme night. His efforts in the department contributed to the resort’s dining reputation.

In 2023, Buanafina was promoted to Resort Manager. In this role, he managed daily operations and oversaw renovation projects, including the construction of a new Marine Biology center and an Overwater Restaurant. The resort also underwent refurbishments during his time as Resort Manager.

Buanafina’s career in hospitality includes various management roles in food and beverage at other hotels, including The Nittany Lion Inn at The Pennsylvania State University and Pine Cliffs in Portugal.