RIU Hotels & Resorts has appointed Janitha Madawala as Deputy General Manager – East Africa Operations, bringing more than 20 years of international hospitality leadership experience to the role. He will oversee key operational priorities across the region while supporting RIU’s growth plans and long-term business strategy in East Africa.

Madawala has held senior positions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific and North America, managing luxury resorts, multi-property portfolios and hotel openings. His experience covers hotel operations as well as commercial performance, organizational change, financial management and business transformation.

In his new position, Madawala will work with RIU general managers and regional leadership to guide resort operations and support consistent performance across the portfolio.

His responsibilities will include operational strategy, financial oversight, business performance, guest experience, talent development, succession planning and risk management. He will also be involved in hotel pre-openings, renovations, capital projects, asset optimization and operational transformation, helping RIU prepare its East African properties for future growth.

The role brings together his experience in both day-to-day hotel operations and larger-scale projects, including property launches, refurbishments and organizational restructuring.

Before joining RIU Hotels & Resorts, Madawala was Senior Cluster Director of Food & Beverage & Entertainment at Sunrise Resorts & Cruises in Egypt. His responsibilities included improving operational performance, developing commercial strategies, enhancing guest experiences and supporting leadership development across the properties.

Earlier in his career, Madawala held senior roles with IHG Hotels & Resorts, Carnival Cruise Line, Premier Inn, Emirates Leisure Retail, Ramada by Wyndham, Southern Sun Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and Hilton. Across these positions, he gained extensive experience in hotel pre-openings, business turnarounds, organizational restructuring, major renovation projects and large-scale hospitality operations in competitive international markets.

Madawala’s background in operations, commercial strategy and organizational development will be central to his work across RIU’s East African portfolio. His focus will include building strong leadership teams, improving business performance and maintaining high service standards while supporting the region’s changing hospitality landscape.

His appointment comes as East Africa’s tourism and luxury resort sector continues to attract investment, with destinations across the region drawing growing interest from international leisure and hospitality brands.

With experience spanning multiple markets and hotel formats, Madawala is set to support RIU Hotels & Resorts as it develops its operations and pursues new opportunities across East Africa.

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