How many years have you been involved in the spa/hospitality industry?
Eleven.
What was the path that led you into the spa industry?
A bit of curiosity and a bit of destiny.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of working in the spa industry?
Healing people, either through a therapy or something as simple as an honest smile, helping others to relief physical and emotional pain is the best gift you can provide.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
In general, it is learning to communicate with so many different personalities, nationalities, men and women, always highlighting the positives in every situation, and encouraging co-workers to grow and become the best they can be. A specific accomplishment is working as a Luna y Mar spa director for The Resort at Pedregal, a project I fell in love with in 2009 when it was just blue prints. With the location, staff, and guests this spa holds, you could not ask for a better job.
What has surprised you most about working in the spa industry?
How selfless one can be when it comes to helping others.
What qualities do you look for in your spa staff?
Knowledge, the ability to communicate, technical skills, energy, but more than anything, passion for helping others and kindness, as we are people working for other people.
Where do you think the industry is heading?
Wellness all around, people are more aware than ever that everything you eat, put on your skin, the quantity of exercise, and sleeping properly affects us in a deep way, and we need to procure health and wellness in every way we can to leave a long and stress-free life. The population is changing the concept of a spa treatment being just pampering, and we are now realizing the emotional and physical benefits that provides.
What is the strangest client request you’ve fielded?
A massage with rock music!
What new spa treatment would you like to try?
23 Carat Gold Ceremony at Dolphin Square…totally decadent!
What’s your go-to spa treatment?
Deep tissue.
What’s your favorite skincare ingredient?
Sicilian lemon extract.
Which brands are your go-to favorites?
The organic pharmacy and OSEA Malibu.
Tell us two things about yourself we don’t know.
I love to travel and meet people from different cultures.
What positions have you worked in that you feel have been most influential to your career?
Spa concierge and massage therapist; it definitely helped me understand the best treatments for each person and that the best therapists are the ones who really care.
If you could work in any other profession in the world, what would it be?
TV travel show host!
How would you sum up your personal philosophy?
Do what makes you happy, and be considerate to others.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would make more time to exercise and try a new sport of discipline.
How do you like to spend your time away from work?
Going out with friends and family.
What are your three greatest priorities in life?
Travel, growth, and work.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Face your fears in order to learn and grow.