Family Matters: Introducing Chris & Jade

When travelers and their families arrive at Murex Resorts, they often say it feels like coming home. Every day here is a chance to uncover the natural, cultural wonders of North Sulawesi; from the turtles of Bunaken to the peaceful beaches of Bangka and delicious local food in Manado, there’s always something new to explore and enjoy with friends and family.

Murex works to ensure visitors receive a warm welcome and enjoy unforgettable experiences at every step of their diving trip, from planning and travel, to scuba diving, land tours, and even post-holiday photos. Integral to this process is a dedicated duo working tirelessly behind the scenes to enhance the guest experience: Chris and Jade Harvey, who began their own journey with us in 2024.

A Dedication to Exceptional Hospitality

Chris became the General Manager of Murex Bangka Resort in February 2024. In his daily activities, he is responsible for overseeing daily operations, managing staff, ensuring guest satisfaction, maintaining facilities, handling budgets, supervising dive activities, and supporting marine conservation. Chris summarizes this position as “delivering exceptional hospitality in a unique island setting.”

Jade joined Murex Resorts in January 2024 as Digital Marketing Manager. Her role encompasses managing social media channels, websites, and newsletters for both Murex Resorts and Lembeh Resort. Having successfully led the launch of Lembeh Resort’s new website last year, she will spearhead the development and launch of a new website for Murex Resorts in the near future. This strategic approach aims to enhance online engagement and drive growth across all digital platforms.

Before joining Murex, Chris and Jade lived and worked in another of Indonesia’s most spectacular diving locations: Raja Ampat. This gave them unparalleled experience in the dive tourism industry, which they now bring to the Murex team. After spending nearly a decade in Papua together, they developed the expertise needed to build on Murex’s existing legacy and further our ongoing efforts to evolve the brand.

Experience, Expertise, and a Deep Connection to Indonesia 

During this time, Chris was the manager of resort and dive operations at Sorido Bay Resort, one of Raja Ampat’s leading luxury resorts. “The role immersed me in the diverse cultures and languages of the Indonesian archipelago,” he explains, “which enabled me to collaborate more effectively with local staff and deliver exceptional guest service.” This connection to Indonesia ultimately helps Chris enhance guest experiences at Murex Bangka.

Chris has been a PADI Instructor since 2008, with specialist training in Emergency First Response (EFR) and Care for Children. With his extensive knowledge of diving safety and a deep connection to the places in which he works, Chris has previously been recruited to support production companies making underwater documentary films, including Apple TV’s Tiny World film and the BBC’s Blue Planet 2 and Planet Earth 3 series. He has also worked with renowned NatGeo photographers David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes.

In addition to exploring and documenting the marine environments of Indonesia, Chris is also committed to their conservation. In Raja Ampat, he was integral to a series of expansive reef building initiatives on the Sorido Bay Resort house reef, ⁠supported the ReShark Project on Kri Island – rehabilitating project aimed at restoring and rebuilding endangered leopard shark populations, and assisted the local government with monitoring and the prevention of illegal anchoring and fishing activities in the region. At Murex Resorts, Chris intends to continue and extend this commitment to both the celebration and preservation of Indonesia’s natural heritage.

Jade previously worked with Papua Diving, initially as a Personal Assistant to the Director, then as Assistant Resort Manager for 5 years at Sorido Bay Resort, and finally as Digital Media Manager. In 2023, she led the project to launch the new website for Papua Diving Resorts. This experience, spanning executive support, remote resort management, and customer-focused roles, provided her with a comprehensive understanding of operational efficiency and customer service excellence. 

Jade’s time managing a remote, high-end resort in Raja Ampat instilled strong problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, and a deep understanding of customer expectations. “Along with my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science,” she says, “my role as Digital Media Manager for Papua Diving Resorts equipped me with valuable technical and analytical skills.” This unique blend of hospitality expertise and digital acumen allows Jade to prioritize client satisfaction through both operational understanding and digital strategy.

Taking Murex Resorts and Lembeh Resort to the Next Level

For both Chris and Jade, joining Murex Resorts was an opportunity that was too good to miss. As Chris explains, “Murex’s reputation as a diving pioneer in North Sulawesi, combined with a commitment to local communities, conservation, and a family-run ethos, deeply resonated with me.” As an experienced and passionate diver, Chris jumped at the opportunity to work alongside industry leaders and contribute directly to their conservation efforts. “For me,” he adds, “the opportunity to work in partnership with local communities was incredibly compelling.”

Jade is also an experienced diver, in locations from Indonesia to South Africa, where Chris was born. But first and foremost, she is focused on supporting Murex Resorts with engaging communications and digital marketing, especially for the website, social media, and email marketing. “I hope to increase bookings, enhance social media engagement, and improve local and regional online visibility,” she says, before adding that “my immediate goal is also to refine our online reputation management.”

Together, Chris and Jade are working to establish Murex Resorts as a leading dive tourism brand and one of the region’s premier PADI dive resorts, by delivering exceptional experiences for guests. Along with the marketing team at Murex, Jade will be exploring new digital marketing technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), to create immersive experiences. “We’re currently using data analytics to optimize marketing campaigns and personalize the guest journey,” she says.

Exceptional Guest Experiences With a Personal Touch

Jade is originally from Manado in North Sulawesi, so working for Murex allows her to be closer to home and to play an active role in developing the diving scene there, while also contributing to conservation efforts. Chris and Jade also have a young daughter together, so living and working close to family and schools helps them balance their careers with family life. For guests at Murex Resorts, many of whom are traveling with their own children, having a family unit at the center of operations is an added bonus. 

At Murex Bangka, Chris provides an essential bridge between local and foreign perspectives, finding ways to blend both approaches to ensure smooth resort operations. “It’s essential to view everything through the eyes of the guest first,” he says, “then integrate those insights into daily operations in a consistent and seamless manner.” This approach enables him to come up with new and innovative ways to elevate the guest experience, so they leave with a truly special experience. “I want them to feel a genuine connection to the people and the region,” he explains, “while gaining a deeper appreciation for what makes diving in Bangka so extraordinary.”

For Chris and Jade, the Murex organization is like an extended family. Working together with guests, guides and everyone in the Murex team gives Chris and Jade Harvey the chance to celebrate nature and contribute to its preservation through responsible tourism. As Jade explains, “the tourism industry has granted us the privilege of experiencing the world’s natural wonders, both above and below the surface. This is why sustainability is so important to us – it’s about being part of a solution, ensuring our children and their children can share the same breath-taking beauty we have all been fortunate enough to enjoy.”

If you’re planning to visit Murex Resorts, Chris and Jade both look forward to welcoming you!