Besides being an arrival junkie – please impress me with your style by The Arrival to your hotel property, set the stage for my visit. I’m always wowed by enthusiastic passionate staff and after the dreary stay at home pandemic, everyone wants to be warmly welcomed back to ‘real life’. I prefer to look at it as the opening act of a play and each experience builds to the final check out.

I anonymously wander properties on my own and I talk to everyone. I didn’t need to initiate any conversations at Chileno Bay; every gardener, housekeeper, and the bellman in buggy’s all heartily greeted me: Hola! Buenas Tardes! Buenas Noches! Quantifiable research documents the motto: Happy employees = happy guests. The pandemic has been a challenge for every hotel whether city hotel or beach resort…staff has been furloughed, released and some have returned for a while to then be let go again. There was no sign of stress or weary staff at Chileno Bay Resort in Cabo. First impression matters. The first three minutes at a hotel will inform guests if they made the correct decision to stay there (buyer’s remorse), and they learn what to expect over the course of the stay,

My hotel site inspections typically include a member from management, but I also mosey on my own to get a personal flavor and take hundreds of photos.

Meandering through the spa entrance, two lovely women, Vanessa and Karina offered me a cucumber flavored bottle of water – how they knew my name is a mystery – but both reminded me to hydrate in the heat. Vanessa asked me if I owned a luxury travel firm and said she had seen my ‘Magazine’, I was very surprised and flattered! Consider me a dedicated member of the Tribe of the Spa Girl; I consider it my utmost duty to share all hotel amenities with my clients.

Vanessa suggested a tour. She eagerly showed me the entire spa and expertly explained treatment techniques, product and proudly shared the extensive local art collection. She had favorite locations as she described the massive live plant wall, the moody meditation room lined with pink Himalayan salt, she truly knew her spa! She was a natural! Chileno Bay has a stunning collection of local art, Vanessa knew the artists names and provenance; we crept through the secret garden and the numerous peaceful spaces before we ended back in the boutique.

Research has shown that the employees’ level of knowledge is a key factor in satisfying the needs of the customer. It’s worth noting that the same research demonstrates that the longer an employee works at a hotel, the more a customer is satisfied, which can point to the importance of employee retention and expertise.

Vanesa and Karina were beyond charming and professional. And yes, I promised to feature them in a post – but that was after their kindness and enthusiastic sharing of their spa! Vanessa and Karina excel in the Art of Hospitality at Chileno Bay Resort and Spa.

Gracias!