Coral Coast – Warwick Fiji has appointed Paul Barton as Director of Food and Beverage and Som Thapa as Executive Chef, adding two senior hires with international experience to the Coral Coast resort’s executive team.
The appointments come as the resort’s Wicked Walu Seafood Restaurant and Sazanami Restaurant receive 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards recognition, placing them in the top 10 per cent of restaurants worldwide. The ranking is based on guest reviews and ratings over a 12-month period. The new appointments place experienced culinary and front-of-house leadership behind restaurants that guests have already rated highly.
Warwick Fiji General Manager Tomasi Turukawa said: “The appointments of Chef Som and Paul are an exciting step forward for Warwick Fiji. Both bring extensive international experience and a strong commitment to hospitality. Their leadership will be important in enhancing our dining experiences, developing our teams and continuing to exceed our guests’ expectations.”
Mr Barton has more than 25 years of experience with global brands including InterContinental, Shangri-La, Hyatt and Wynn Resorts. He has led large-scale food and beverage operations at Wynn Macau, Solaire Resort & Casino in the Philippines and Shangri-La’s Kerry Hotel in Shanghai. Before joining Warwick Fiji, he was Head of Food & Beverage at SkyCity Adelaide, where he was responsible for both culinary and front-of-house operations.
Chef Thapa’s 28-year career spans Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Mauritius and the Maldives. Most recently he was Executive Group Chef, Quality Assurance Manager and Trainer for Coral Sea Hotels in Papua New Guinea, overseeing culinary operations for seven hotels and 27 food and beverage outlets. His expertise covers menu development, quality assurance, food safety, cost management and team training.
