About Us

Director & Marketing Manager

Mark Loughran, joint founder of Macaronis Resort, is originally from NW coast of Tasmania where he was previously trained as a chef whilst also studying a diploma in Aquaculture. Mark moved to the Mentawai Islands in March 2001 where he originally worked as chef, surf guide and coxswain captain aboard charter boats Neptune 1, Huey 1 and Serene Dream. After working 3 full seasons doing approximately 36 x 11 night surf charters, Mark then decided to set up a surf resort on land at Macaronis.

Under Mark's supervision, Macaronis Resort was built in year 2004 and year 2005, and operated from year 2006 until year 2010, until the resort was badly damaged by a tsunami on the evening of October 25. Macaronis Resort was rebuilt in year 2011, and again hosted guests from September - November year 2011, as part of a soft opening, and is scheduled to officially re-open March 01 year 2012.

Mark is now in his 12th season working and surfing in the Mentawai Islands, speaks fluent Bahasa Indonesian and is employed as Managing Director and Marketing Manager for the Company.

Photo Above: Mark @ Macaronis April 2009

Resort Operational Manager

For year 2011, we have employed Nathan Walton and his wife Alina to watch over operations and Manage quality control of the hotel services. Alina has extensive experience working in Bali in several 4 star hotels in the marketing department, and has has a degree in law and business administration. She speaks fluent English, and has the knowledge and skills to handle the administrative side of the business.

Nathan has extensive experience working in human resource management, hospitality, tourism & the accommodation industry. More recently Nathan has owned and operated his own establishment in Bali 'The Bali Bukit Surf Villa', and before that he worked in his family business as the Tourist Park Manager for 'Mapleton Cabins and Caravan Park'. Before this, Nathan spent two years managing Allender Apartments in Brisbane, as well as Managing several other properties prior to this including Pacific Blue Apartments and Sails lifestyle Resort, both located in Perigan, Qld, Australia.

Nathan has a passion for surfing, keeping up a good standard of hotel services and making sure guests are well looked after. His laid back personality and easy-going attitude, but also having a sense of urgency when the situation calls for it, is why we have choosen him and his wife Alina for the job in year 2012.

Macaronis Resort Surf Guides

Many of our surf guides are part owners in the resort and therefore put a focus on making sure guests are happy. They are all keen surfers and will be happy to show you around to the surrounding breaks. Our surf guides have years of experience surfing the Mentawais and especially at Macaronis. Their skill and local knowledge will assist to make your surfing experience one to remember.

Photo Above: Barts @ the Bush 2010

Photo Above: Barts @ Macas 2010, photo by Peter Clarke

Apart from our main hosts and surf guides, whilst at the resort you will also meet our other Indonesian staff who are all very friendly and dedicated to making your stay one to remember.

Padang Logistics Staff and Company Administration:

Especially worth mentioning is Pak Yon Mardjono (better known as just Pak Yono), who has worked as head of Administration and logistics department for the past 6 years, and Rini who has worked for us for 5 years, assisting Pak Yon running the Padang logistics department. Rini will be there to meet and greet you at the airport, and apart from that, our logistics team is sometimes the most busy of all, delaing with food orders and making sure everything run smoothly behind the scenes.

Photo Above: Pak Yon (left) with Governor of West Sumatra at Macaronis Resort.

Photo of Rini to come, so you know who she is when greeting you at the airport..!!

Here is some further information about us...

In 2004, Management agreed to contribute US$1.50 per guest / per day to assist in community projects in Silabu Village, focusing mainly on improving health and education standards.

Macaronis Resort contributed approximately US$5,000 toward completion of Silabu Church in year 2004, over US$2,000 for purchase of a new generator for the village in year 2005, and US$4,000 that was used mainly to provide electricity to each home in the village in 2006.

In 2007 Macaronis Resort offered further assistance to Silabu Village, mainly for earthquake relief, after village homes were damaged in 2007 after an earth quake struck the area (Macaronis Resort buildings were fortunately not damaged).

Apart from financial assistance along the way, it has been the resort development and day to day work opportunities, either at the resort or supplying it, that have given the most positive impact upon the local community.

Senior staff recruited from the mainland enable us to train local employees, while at the same time maintaining a high level of service for our guests. The resort currently employs approximately 25 staff members, approximately 50% Mentawaian and 50% from the mainland.

The recent introduction of the Mooring Buoy system at Macaronis whereby the village charges Rp.300.000 per buoy / per day to visiting charter boats, has further increased economic benefit from the surfing industry to the local community with further income of up to Rp.18.000.000 per month (US$2,000).

The installation and licensing of the 5 moorings in Silabu were funded by Macaronis Resort, which has handed management of the moorings over to the village, with Macaronis resort and its guests benefiting from a managed capacity of surfers in the bay each day.