(8/25/2003)
On Saturday night, August 23, 2003, the General Manager of the Melia Bali and Vice-President Operations for Sol Media Asia Pacific Ricardo Castaneda died of a heart attack. According to local press reports, Castenada died enroute to a local hospital after complaining of chest pains at 11 p.m. on Saturday evening.
Born in Ceuta, Spain on June 12, 1944, Ricardo Castaneda completed his tourism studies there before joining the Sol Group in 1979. After serving as a General Manager in Spain he moved with Sol to Asia in 1986, opening the Company's first hotel in the region with the Sol Melia in Bali in 1986. He also played a key role in the expansion of the Group's Hotels in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
From 1992-1996 he served as the Vice-President Sales & Marketing from Sol's Singapore office before moving to the Melia Hua Hin in Thailand. This was followed by his appointment to the group's new flagship property in Jakarta, Gran Melia. While in Jakarta, he was appointed Vice-President Operations Asia for Sol helping to oversee the group's 11 projects in the Asia-Pacific. In September 2001, Castenada was sent to Bali to once again assume the role of General Manager of the Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resorts there.
An active member of the local community, Ricardo Castaneda belonged to various clubs and associations including the Chaine des Rotisseurs, Casa Grande Hotel Associations, Rotary Club, and SKAL. He is survived by his wife and children.
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