She has a law degree, but instead of finding a passion in the field, she pursued her interests in people, networking, and travel, and found her calling in marketing.
Erica Magora, cluster assistant PR and communications manager at Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Vilu Reef, wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after graduating law school. Erica, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Malaysia, tried different jobs such as business development and sales, but she felt that none of them were right for her. One day, she came across an online job opening for a marketing position at a luxury hotel in Malaysia.
“I just said to myself, ‘Let’s try it, let’s try it,'” she says. “And I found out that it was my calling. I love marketing in the hospitality industry, especially the luxury industry, because I meet a lot of people, learn a lot from different people from all over the world, and I love marketing for the hospitality industry, especially the luxury industry. Because I can travel.”
She also realized that she had a talent for marketing, despite having no formal training or background. She credits her success to her mentors who taught her everything from the front end to the back end of marketing.
“I had a great manager and I learned a lot from her,” she says. “She taught me how to do graphic design, how to manage social media, how to update apps, how to operate a website, how to manage media, how to run shoots, how to work with different crews around the world, how to organize different events. It taught me how to coordinate with the management team.”
Erica’s first few years in marketing were “really great and I learned a lot.” She enjoyed the diversity and creativity of her work, as well as the opportunity to interact with guests and media from different countries and cultures.
After working in Malaysia for several years, Erica was ready for a new challenge. She heard about her opportunity at the Maldives luxury resort, Sunsiyam Veli, from one of her ex-colleagues who previously worked in the Maldives.
“He told me how great this experience was and how it was a very different market and environment,” she says. “So I said to myself, I’m going to give it a try because I was really interested.”
Erika applied and got the job. She moved to the Maldives in November 2023 and has been working in Il Veli ever since. She says the differences between working in Malaysia and the Maldives are huge, both in terms of culture and market.
“The culture is very different. The work culture, the diversity, the lifestyle, everything is different. Living here on an island in the Maldives, obviously you don’t get as much variety of food and experiences as you do in Malaysia. But… It’s still very interesting to me because I like Maldivian culture. It’s very rich and the food is similar in terms of curry and spices,” she says. “The biggest challenge for me is being away from family and friends, but I have also found a way to cope and enjoy life on the island. I really like being in the water. I love all the water activities, so being on the island doesn’t get me down because it actually gives me energy to work,” she says.
Maldives caters to a niche and high-end clientele. We place more emphasis on luxury and exclusivity, providing guests with a memorable experience. For Erica, this means she has to be creative and innovative in her marketing strategies and tactics, and communicate effectively with the media and guests. It also means learning and exploring new ways to make your resort stand out and attract more guests.
“So it’s not really a 9-to-5 job. You basically have to work at any time of the day, so it’s pretty flexible in a way, but there’s just a lot of variety. There’s a lot of variety to it. That’s why it’s more interesting because every day is not the same. It’s actually more exciting,” she says. “We have to maintain a good image and continually improve our brand image. As you know, we check our website and app to make sure everything is in order and refer you to us. You have to look at all the different publications that they put out there that will resonate with your brand.”
Like most fields, the hospitality industry remains a male-dominated industry. There are very few women, especially in leadership positions, and Erica is happy to see more women joining the industry and proving themselves.
“Our management team is asking us to hire and train more women. It’s not that they specifically say, ‘Oh, we’re only focused on hiring women,’ but rather It’s about focusing on talent. So, again, this is not just an issue for women or men. We look at individuals and consider the skills they have. But it’s true that the women here today have great potential,” she says.
She copes with this challenge by being sociable and flexible.
“Whether male or female, the characteristics always differ from individual to individual. Not all men are bad, and not all men are good. I just try to adapt to them. I work with them professionally and always try to be patient and understanding and understand their perspective on what we’re working on. It keeps you in rhythm,” she says.
Erika has a diverse background and works independently with directors in Spain. She loves hospitality and marketing and she would like to grow within the industry and within the Sun Siyam Resorts group. For her, her hospitality is exciting and rewarding, but also a challenge. She teaches aspiring hospitality professionals to be prepared to meet and deal with different people, to be kind, patient, strong, to trust their intuition, and to be open to learning and adapting. I’m giving advice.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things and explore different options. You never know what you’ll discover or where you’ll end up. Also, research yourself, learn from others, and always push yourself. Keep improving yourself. Marketing is a very dynamic and competitive field, so you have to stay on top of things and be adaptable,” she says. “You have to keep learning. Be open to learning. This world, this industry is always evolving, so be open to more ideas. Things won’t always stay the same. So, We have to learn how to adapt to trends and new generations and what people want. Hospitality is a service business, after all. You have to serve the people and make sure they get what they want. And just keep learning every day.”
For Erica, the unique combination of being originally from the Philippines and growing up in Malaysia helps her adapt to different cultures and markets, and gives her an edge in creating stories and brands that resonate with guests and media. She loves the Maldivian culture and the ocean, which she feels is what fuels her work. She is passionate about her work and her specialty and she wants to continue working in her luxury sector and grow with her company.
“I think that’s the beauty of hospitality and marketing: You can always find something new and exciting to do or learn,” she says.
