Meet Alina Medyanikova, spa director at Conrad Spa at Conrad Los Angeles, who started her career working in the spa industry when she was 17.
How many years have you been involved in the spa/hospitality industry?
I started my first spa job when I was 17 years old as spa concierge in a day spa. Then, in 2015, I started at my first hotel property at Hotel del Coronado (CA). My spa journey started when I was still a child in Ukraine as both my grandma and my mom owned their own spas and were both medical estheticians.
What was the path that led you into the spa industry?
Going into the spa industry always felt quite natural to me. Both my grandma and mom were in the industry, so growing up with two strong female business owners inspired me to follow in their footsteps.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of being in the spa industry?
Every day is rewarding, from meeting amazing people to working with incredible talent and seeing your business grow. Challenges would be staffing.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is opening the Conrad Spa at Conrad Los Angeles and working with the team to develop an innovative menu.
What has surprised you most about working in the spa industry?
That it’s such a support system. There are always so many people willing to support me. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful team because all of this wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Where do you think the industry is heading?
With our daily lives moving at such a fast pace, I can see spa merging with mental health to focus on whole body and mind instead of just a luxurious experience. Spa and wellness are becoming a necessity and I see corporations starting to offer that as part of their benefits as well. We’re already starting to do this at Conrad Spa with services like NuCalm and Normatec Compression Therapy.
What’s your favorite skincare ingredient?
My favorite skincare ingredient is rosehip for it’s hydrating and calming properties.
What positions have you worked in that you feel have been most influential to your career?
I have worked in spas my whole career ranging from reception to management positions, including some hotel front office experience. My task forces and experience growing up in Ukraine in a city full of medical resorts really helped me understand the industry on a deeper level. I also come from a privately owned spa background to view each business from an ownership point of view.
If you could work in any other profession in the world, what would you be?
Psychology. I have been fascinated with the human brain and have been reading and studying about it for a while. If I were to ever leave the spa industry, I would become a psychologist.
How would you sum up your personal philosophy?
I would describe my personal philosophy as the following: No matter how hard or how long the journey is, enjoy the process and don’t force anything. Everything falls into place the way it is meant to be.
How do you like to spend your time away from work?
I like to spend my free time traveling and in nature to recharge my batteries and get inspired.
What are your three greatest priorities in life?
My greatest priorities in life are my family (my mom), being a good daughter and friend, and being kind.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is short and sweet: “you got this.”