Celebrating Women in Travel
March 3, 2023 by Hidden Doorways
Hidden Doorways is excited to celebrate Celebrating International Women’s Day, on March 8th! Check -out our interviews with our extraordinary, trailblazing female General Managers and Owners from incredible properties worldwide.
Diana Stobo | Founder of The Retreat Costa Rica
Barrio Jesús de Atenas, Costa Rica
What is your favorite hidden gem of your hotel or insider tip of your destination?
There are so many little corners of the hotel to reflect and find solace, and I have retreated in all of them. At one point in time I was doing breath work in our temple, other times teaching yoga in the pavilion after my morning coffee with the birds chirping all around and even sometimes hiking down to the natural swings by the river. But for me, the coffee/tea lounge in our restaurant “Sol Terrace”, where everyone gathers in the morning, is the heart of the hotel where guests from all over the world meet to get to know each other and share in their wellness journeys. This is where community is built.
What contribution during your time at your property are you most proud of?
Without a doubt, the nurturing and teaching of my staff. A recent management hire sat with me to discuss the vision, purpose, and protocols of The Retreat. As we sat and processed through hours of inspiration, other staff walked by with questions for me, or some just to say hello or give a hug. The new hire looked at me with a big smile and said, “I’ve never seen an ‘owner’ so involved and so loved by her staff”. We have built a family here, as I have always said, you can teach a job, but you cannot teach love. That comes from within.
How do you, your team and your guests stay connected to your local community?
Community support and outreach are a very vital part of the hotel. It is a part of our sustainability, and community efforts to help the locals and also support them in their livelihoods. For the guests, we offer local tours, which are literally in people’s homes or farms to see how the authentic foods are made or how organic sustainable foods are grown. For our staff, we not only hire, but train locals to develop themselves here at the hotel. The team is involved in environmental clean ups as well as the local schools and orphanage. They take great pride in going beyond the hotel’s support, but also personally raising funds and volunteering for programs they believe in. We have also made great strides in helping the local artisans develop skills so we may hire them to make products for us. We educate them beyond their craft, bringing innovation to their humble businesses. It has been a great pleasure to see them thrive.
Any career advice for aspiring women to work in the travel and hospitality industry?
Any great endeavor has to be driven by passion and courage. My general manager recently said to me “hospitality is in your blood”, meaning it is not a career choice, it is a calling. Hospitality is of a giving nature, there is no room for “me”. The guest or traveler always comes first.
Carol Kohne | CEO of Ellerman House
Cape Town, South Africa
What contribution during your time at your property are you most proud of?
Being able to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others by encouraging people to grow and develop. Leading and building a successful team that adds value to an authentic guest experience.
How do you, your team and your guests stay connected to your local community?
We partner with Click Learning, a non-profit organization that was established by our owners, in particular Nicola Harris. It is dedicated to early learning literacy and numeracy in underprivileged communities, also equipping learners with technology skills required for future success and affording the best possible start in life.
Where is your go-to place to reset?
Being with my family really brings peace to my spirit and fills my soul. Our favorite place to be together is out in nature, where there are less distractions, and we find greater connection.
Rita Soares | Founder of Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
Alentejo, Portugal
What is your favorite hidden gem of your hotel or insider tip of your destination?
Malhadinha nova is located in the south of Alentejo one of the less populated regions in Europe, my favorite hidden gem is the untouched peace of nature of the property .
What contribution during your time at your property are you most proud of?
Creating a life project based on strong values of family, preservation, conservation, and regeneration with the clear vision of sharing and leaving a legacy for future generations.
How do you, your team and your guests stay connected to your local community?
We are strongly committed with the development of the region and for that among many other actions we bring the local artisans to share their activities trough creative workshops .
Any career advice for aspiring women to work in the travel and hospitality industry?
It’s very important to feel love and dedication to any career but even more when we talk about hospitality, it’s a “ labour of love “
Where is your go-to place to reset?
Nature
What lead you to work in the travel and hospitality industry?
You really have to love to host, and if you do you never feel like you are working but always having fun.
Karina Stewart | Founder of Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa
Koh Samui, Thailand
What is your favorite hidden gem of your hotel or insider tip of your destination?
Although not entirely hidden, at the heart of Kamalaya amidst our wellness facilities, tropical gardens, streams and diverse accommodations is a centuries-old Arjan cave once used by Buddhist hermit monks as a place for meditation and spiritual retreat, which emanates a discreet aura of spiritual and sacred serenity to the physical beauty of the land. The island of Koh Samui has been known through previous eras to have a special energy that enriches and enlightens our spiritual path and helps us connect more profoundly with universal energies. Perhaps this is due to the enormous granite boulders throughout the property which form the cave and are primarily composed of quartz. So when my husband, John, found the cave, he immediately knew that this was the right place for Kamalaya.
Most of our guests feel the healing power of our land and a flow of tranquil and positive energy which deepens their experience here. The monks’ cave is always open, and guests are welcome to enter this sacred space for quiet contemplation and meditation.
How do you, your team and your guests stay connected to your local community?
Before Kamalaya was conceived, John spent 17 years under the tutelage of an exceptional Himalayan master, deeply immersed in a traditional yogic monastic lifestyle in the ashram where we first met. We believe that community service is a path to happiness and true fulfillment, which has always been part of our vision. And our values are strongly integrated into Kamalaya’s culture. To help our guests connect with some of the local traditions we offer a weekly pilgrims’ trail which is set around 14 temples and spirit houses across our sanctuary. And offer year-round training and support in diverse activities to our hosts who form an integral part of the Kamalaya community.
Guests can also opt for a cultural tour around Samui where they learn more about the local traditions and lifestyle, as well as a Thai temple tour of seven major temples on the island. And every week there is a market night at Kamalaya where guests can interact with the local community and purchase authentic Thai souvenirs and produce from craftsmen and farmers.
What led you to work in the travel and hospitality industry?
My vision was always to create a better world through health and healing of body, heart, mind and spirit. Kamalaya is a Wellness sanctuary delivering 17 results-oriented wellness programs that address stress and burnout, detox, fitness, sleep, mental and emotional wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle. While we do have accommodations and facilities that support the guest’s stay and engagement in our wellness programs, Kamalaya is not a hotel or resort. The inspiration for Kamalaya was always my innate desire to enable and support people to heal and reconnect with their truest essence, the source of all healing, imagination and potential.
Katrin Cetin | General Manager of Son Net
Mallorca, Spain
What contribution during your time at your property are you most proud of?
Grand Hotel Son Net has always been improving and accepting new challenges. There is one aspect which always stayed the same and that is represented by the way we, as a family, interact with each other. What I have been trying to establish from my first days inside this amazingly beautiful Mallorcan property was given by a true sense of empathy, professionality and mutual care. We have a true bond, inside and outside of work.
Where is your go-to place to reset?
It has to be the seaside. How can you not take advantage of salty air, mind-blowing gulfs, romantic sunsets or crystal-clear water when you live on an island like Mallorca?
What led you to work in the travel and hospitality industry? What is your favorite advice that you received from a mentor that propelled you to move forward in your career?
Every existing person lives in a different world, everybody has their right opinion on what they see. One of the pieces of advice that I got was to believe in my creativity and boost my skills by always trying to achieve the most that I can in the process. There has to exist hunger for greatness and passion, otherwise what a senseless environment this would be.
Alexandra Levitskaya | General Manager of Mas d’en Bruno
Priorat, Spain
What is your favorite hidden gem of your hotel or insider tip of your destination?
I believe that what really makes Mas d’en Bruno unique is that as soon as you step inside it feels like home.
How do you, your team and your guests stay connected to your local community?
Aside from being Priorat’s wines, our menu is specially crafted around local products, and in our Boutique, you can find hand-made local presents and souvenirs our guests can take home, so they not only remember Mas d’en Bruno, but Priorat’s region as well.
But what’s most important is, that most of our team members are originally from Priorat’s region, and from my point of view, this really makes the difference, as they feel deeply connected to their roots, and deliver this connection to our guests.
Any career advice for aspiring women to work in the travel and hospitality industry?
What makes the difference is the passion that drives oneself. You really should love what you do. It requires lots of hard work, focusing on your goal and just listening to what you believe in. Don’t be afraid to stand out. And if you’re lucky enough, find a mentor that encourages you, believes in you, and gives you smart advices. But most importantly, never stop learning and experiencing the world, as the travel and hospitality industry holds so much adventure, excitement, and experience as no other industry does.
What led you to work in the travel and hospitality industry? What is your favorite advice that you received from a mentor that propelled you to move forward in your career?
I was 18 years old when I first stepped into a hotel. I was just finishing high school and wanted to study psychology, but a family friend owned some hotels in the city where I grew up and offered me a summer job working in reception. I worked in reception for some months that summer, and then decided I wanted to become a General Manager, as the one I had the pleasure to work with was my first mentor and really made me passionate about this industry. What I love most about it is that it gives you the opportunity to meet new people every day, from all around the world, with their own background, culture, and traditions.
I consider myself very lucky, as some great leaders have crossed my path during these 10 years, which have been a constant learning experience for me. If I had to choose the best advice that always resonates in my mind, it is that to be successful in anything we do, we must surround ourselves with the best team, ask a lot of questions, and always take into consideration the opinion of those you work with.
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