Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club has appointed Mariola Carbajo as its new hotel manager, a newly created role. Carbajo brings over 25 years of luxury hospitality experience from The Ritz-Carlton and Jumeirah.
Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club, a slow luxury destination that opened on the Costa del Sol in summer 2025, has created a new executive position to reinforce its management team. The resort, part of the Iconic Hotels & Resorts portfolio, has appointed Mariola Carbajo as hotel manager, effective immediately. Carbajo will oversee the day-to-day operations of the resort, including the beach club and spa.
Carbajo’s appointment follows the recent hiring of Jeroen Nettekoven as general manager and Lumy de María as sales and marketing director, forming a senior leadership team focused on positioning Gran Marbella as a leading international luxury lifestyle destination. With over 25 years in the luxury hospitality sector, Carbajo has held key roles at The Ritz-Carlton and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts. She has participated in hotel openings and task force projects in London, Marbella, Dubai, Powerscourt (Ireland) and Oman, giving her a broad operational perspective.
Her career began in Barcelona at Hotel Arts with The Ritz-Carlton, then expanded to roles in food and beverage and rooms division in destinations such as St. Thomas in the Caribbean and Milan’s Hotel Bvlgari. She later spent more than a decade at Jumeirah in Mallorca. Most recently, she contributed to maintaining Marbella Club’s reputation as a luxury benchmark on the Costa del Sol.
“I am very excited to join Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club at such a thrilling moment in its evolution,” said Carbajo. “The resort’s vision as the ultimate expression of Andalusian slow luxury, together with the great team and exceptional setting, represents a unique opportunity to offer a truly differentiated luxury experience. I look forward to working with Jeroen and the rest of the team to continue building on this solid foundation and driving excellence in every stage of our guests’ experience.”
General manager Jeroen Nettekoven commented: “We are delighted to welcome Mariola to this new role. Her extensive experience, leadership style and deep knowledge of luxury hotel operations will be key to further refining our guest experience and strengthening the resort’s position in the international luxury market. This appointment also allows us to sharpen our operational focus and continue elevating the offering of Gran Marbella Resort as well as Amù Beach Club.”
The creation of the hotel manager position underscores Gran Marbella’s commitment to attracting top talent. The resort, which features 220 rooms, a private beach club and a Champneys Spa, targets high-net-worth individuals seeking an authentic Andalusian lifestyle. With Carbajo on board, the property aims to consolidate its status among Europe’s exclusive leisure destinations. The resort is located in Marbella, on the Costa del Sol, and operates year-round.
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