A Hotel’s Diary

OPPORTUNITIES COME ONCE

2008-04-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

By Livier Lopez

Personnel Services Manager

I have no doubt that I am blessed by God. I feel fortunate about the family I have formed: my husband, whom I have shared 19 years of my life with and my two daughters for whom I give every effort, but also due to my friends, my family and my work.

I want to share a little of my life and the things I have gone through since I came in contact with Los Cabos, Mexico.

Five years ago I came for a family vacation and I just fell in love with the place; the mix of beach, desert and mountains plus the calm and tranquility – for those of us that come from a city with high crime rates, drug trafficking, overpopulation, etc. like Tijuana (TJ for friends), Cabo is just a paradise.

Even though it was not easy to convince my family to radically change our life, I have always achieved what I have planned and I intended to see my girls grow up on these beautiful beaches; nevertheless, once we arrived, I realized that starting over is not as easy as it may seem at first. After knocking on the doors of several companies, I had my chance: it was at a nudist resort as Assistant Human Resources Manger – a new experience for me – but as mentioned, opportunities come once.

I worked there for over a year with the hardships of living in a single room with my two kids and husband, with no air conditioning and in the farthest neighborhood in town -- and the transportation problems that ensue. But I had the clear hope that something better would come… and the day came.

A friend and colleague found a better work opportunity at a brand new resort, Casa Dorada, and eventually he let me know that his new company was looking for a Personnel Services Manager. I did not think twice and sent my resume; I was interviewed at approximately the same time as I was looking for a new house and a new car. My husband was highly skeptic that I could achieve any of these three goals, not to mention all of them at the same time. During a (nerve-racking) 15 day period, I was expecting a decision on a house loan, a car loan and a new job!

Suddenly, I received a call from the bank letting me know that my house loan had been authorized – on top of that, I did not need to put a single peso on down-payment and the house could be delivered immediately!! The following day I was advised that the car loan was approved and the car was on its way to Cabo!! I could not assimilate all that was happening, my family was shouting in joy! – but I was calm, waiting to see, feel and touch my house and car, for which I had worked so much. I felt as if dreaming and I did not want to wake up. But it was not over… I received yet another call from the company I had applied to – with a positive answer; the opportunity that I had craved for in Los Cabos was knocking on my door… and I obviously opened it!

Nowadays, I honesty believe that the risks you take when new opportunities arise, bear fruit: my daughters are enjoying the beaches, which is exactly what I was expecting of this place – and I made my American Dream in Mexico, which is exactly what many of us are looking when coming to Cabo. I thank God for working in a place where I have the chance to share my little story; and as odd as it may sound, many people think on realizing their dreams in Los Cabos, even after living in the United States… and they arrive just as me, looking for this precious opportunity.

2008-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

By Arq. Tania Zavala
Civil Works Manager

Hello Everybody!!! It’s a pleasure to be part of this blog.

I was born in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas – the southernmost of Mexican states, bordering with Guatemala. I am a 25 years old architect, the smallest of the family… for which you may think I am the most pampered, but its not so. He He.

When I was kid, my family used to visit some uncles. I loved talking with my older cousin, particularly because she was studying architecture; she used to tell me all the things that she did and how much fun she was having. I watched her work, watched her drawings, and her books. She had this special space in her house to do her homework and sometimes I saw my uncle helping her! I though that was so neat!

At some point, I don’t remember when, I said to my parents that I wanted to study architecture. Absolutely everybody, including my brothers and uncles, said to really think about it, since it is a very difficult and hard career.

This really set me going, it thrilled me to have such a challenge…

When High School was over, I started to prepare myself for the College entrance exam. I studied every single day with my cousin Cristina; it did not matter that we had selected different career paths, we helped each other.

In a blink of an eye, I was already in college, which I found out was not the hard part… in the end, the complicated part was remaining in school.

On the first year there were 3 groups with an average of 35 students per group, for a total class of 105 people; eventually only 25 of us graduated, of which, only 10 came from the original generation!

At the beginning of college, on the due date of a requested project, we were asking each other, did you actually have some sleep? It became a game, knowing who had deprived sleep on the night prior to due date. As time went by, the question changed to, How many hours did you sleep? Evidently, after 2 or 3 days of continuous work… it was great knowing who had slept the most with a neatly finished project.

When I started college, my dog Dingo was 9 months old; he was my roommate and took care of me during those long nights of work. |in the early days, he tried to be awake… he stared and was most probably asking himself, at what time will Tania go to sleep? It was funny looking how he was falling asleep, fighting himself… and he actually would not go to sleep until I did so.

As time went by and after long, long nights, Dingo understood that awake or asleep, he was still keeping me company.

Having studied architecture was difficult indeed, but not impossible.

And now I have a new challenge, here at Casa Dorada!

Personal Life Choices

2008-04-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

By Maria Villa, Executive Assistant

Aristotle Says, Anybody can become angry - that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is certainly not easy.

Part of the complexity of life is that we are, at the same time, individuals, family members, work colleagues and members of society. Indeed, it is almost arbitrary to separate these categories. But it is sometimes necessary to make such arbitrary distinctions in order to talk about anything in detail and depth. Therefore, let me first focus on what I believe to be the most critical of the many choices that we make as individuals in our heart and minds.

This morning in my way to Casa Dorada something came to my mind. It is something about consciousness

As always, consciousness precedes choice; without it, there is no choice. Thus, the single most important personal choice that we can make in our lives is the choice for ever-increasing consciousness. Consciousness, however, does not make choices easier. On the contrary, it multiplies the options.

To give an example of the complexity of choices, consider how we might deal with our anger. In our brain, there are collections of nerve cells or centers that not only govern but actually produce our powerful emotions. One of these is an anger center. The anger center in humans works in exactly the same way as it does in other creatures: it is basically a territorial mechanism, firing off when any other creature impinges upon our territory.

Since our anger center is firing much of the time, often very inappropriately, sometimes on the basis of perceived, rather that actual infringements, we need to be flexible in dealing with situations that easily provoke our wrath .We must learn a whole complex set of behaviors of dealing with anger. Sometimes we need to think, “My anger is silly and immature..” Or sometimes we should conclude: “This person did impinge upon my territory, but it was an accident and there’s no reason to get angry about it.” Or, well, he did a bit of wrong things, but it's no big deal; it’s not worth blowing up about. But every once in a while, after we think about it for a couple of days, we may discern that someone really did seriously awful things.

So there are at least five different ways to respond when we’re angry. And not only do we need to know them, we also have to learn which response is appropriate in any given situation. At times you are drawn to negative thoughts; do know that these thoughts are “the inner discouragement committee”. It is necessary to understand that you have the power to give them life, by how you respond to them; no wonder that very few people learn how deal well with their anger before they are into their thirties or forties, and many never learn to do so constructively.

We have to learn how to deal with all the problems and challenges of life in a constructive manner that defines psycho spiritual progress. Conversely, that which refuses progress is in opposition to our growth and ultimately self-destructive.

My personal choice is: do not waste time in doubt or despair, allow yourself enjoy every minute, every second of your life… be moved by the breeze of consciousness. Do not think that it must always be a strong wind or a hurricane.

From Big City to Saltwater

2008-04-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

By Gloria Reyes Spa Director

Hi my name is Gloria; I am the Saltwater Spa Director.

I was aware of the Casa Dorada Los Cabos project one and a half years ago when I recently had moved to Guadalajara (Mexico’s second largest city) from Puerto Vallarta with the idea of opening a family business: a Day Spa.

With my cherished friend Isela, I came to Cabo for the first time to celebrate a double birthday party (Isela’s and mine). That very same day Victor Gomez offered me the Spa Director position of this new project (Triple celebration!). We discussed about the position’s tasks and responsibilities and we set an appointment to look at the facilities. The Spa was under construction and didn’t look nearly as pretty as it looks now – you actually needed a great imagination to picture its final self! However, my experience was unforgettable, coming out of what would be The B Lounge, onto the soon-to-be pool… I was stunned seeing the infamous Los Cabos arch.

A last interview with Enrique Turcott was the final step to decide if I would be part of the opening team. Even though my prior experience in the Spa industry I was a really nervous because I had never actually worked for a hotel; so many thoughts came through my mind but I accepted and took the challenge!

Now that I am here I realize that this is what I like and that things happen for a reason. I made the best decision in coming to Cabo with only my 8 year old girl, Valentina. She loves living here – she really is a beach girl; in fact, she was born in Puerto Vallarta and didn’t move from the beach until she was 6.

We love spending our weekends playing on the sand while making some handcraft jewelry and snorkeling.

The experience at the Saltwater Spa has been very exciting and challenging… we have being working very hard to set everything up; I had forgot how painful it was to receive something from construction – al those ‘minor’ details. But all this stressful and complicated process has created a very bonded team… not without its toll though, since some of our therapists jumped ship in this first two months – a natural process, I’ll say.

We like to use our creativity in every field of the spa. For example, due to the fact that the Spa would not open at the same time than the hotel (in the end, it was one month afterwards!), we opened 3 temporary ‘Spa Villas’ on guest rooms at the 6^th floor, in order to offer the Spa services to guests. Ha! It was a blast! Now that we have the optimal facilities the happiness is there, all the therapists and staff members feel like they are at their second home when coming to work.

My everyday life has turned into a wellbeing journey to all! And after these months of running, stressing, worrying and else… I guess I need a massage myself!

Urban Growth / Baja California Sur.

2008-02-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

By German Herrera. Sales Manager

I would like to share my own experiences about the accelerated urban growth in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. This state is very rich on natural resources; many of them are unique in the entire world. Just to mention one of them, Jacques Cousteau –the world famous natural researcher—defined the Sea of Cortés as the largest living aquarium in the world. For this reason the authorities need to be mindful of the consequences or their future decisions. In particular, I am going to tell you something about the “ejidos”, rural property for collective use: for years, a paramount structure for the country’s agriculture.

Southern Baja residents in general and its environmental sector in particular, need to be aware of the risks involved on the concessions and selling of the ejido lands. The ejidos account over 60% of the state’s overall surface area. The developers and conservation organizations priorities often overlap in Baja California Sur –and almost everywhere else—. Sometimes developers make pressure to acquire coastal lands for tourism and residential zones against natural and water resources. Nevertheless, opportunities for sustainable development of these landscapes still exist and partnerships could certainly be developed to reach multiple goals. It will also be important for nonprofit organizations and government agencies to monitor the rural land tenure situation with respect to the ejidos to ensure that fair prices are established, and that rural communities are not pushed out of their traditional lands forever

In Mexico each state has many municipalities –counties—which are districts having corporate status and powers of self-government. For example, Los Cabos is a municipality which includes two towns: San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

The different regions of Southern Baja register significantly different population growth rates. The northern municipalities are emigration areas (i.e. Comondú and Mulegé), the southern municipalities (La Paz and Los Cabos) are in-migration areas receiving people from other regions of the state, the country and even from abroad.

Consequently, in the south we experience some violations or irregularities on the environment laws and permits due to land's high demand for commercial use: demands for consumer goods and services are very strong. On the other hand, in the north, problems are due to abandonment of regions and economic activities, leading to shortage and migration.

In the southern region, Los Cabos registered a yearly demographic growth rate of 9.7% from 1995 to 2000. According to estimations, if this trend is maintained, the municipality’s population will double in approximately seven years. Presently, the southern urban areas that are growing at an accelerated pace are Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, including their suburbs, such as Colonia del Sol. Although the facilities along that famous tourist corridor are currently tourism-related, in the future, residential and commercial settlements may be created further inland to provide services to these resorts and gated communities. If these settlements are not anticipated and planned for by the municipal and state government, irregular settlements could occur instead. This dramatic and potentially unplanned demographic growth raises extraordinary challenges for the municipalities’ and the state’s public administration to provide services and infrastructure to the population. It is important for Counties to have the support of the private investment. New developers must be engaged to supply some benefits for the local communities and work with the government to find the best way to avoid environmental damages.

I am glad to finish this first chapter with a great example of commitment with the community and Los Cabo’s environment. Casa Dorada at Medano Beach, offers great job opportunities for people with disabilities. When I learned this, I couldn’t believe it, because very few companies in Mexico offer something like this. Another important contribution of this new project is the street pavement. On the Medano area there were no paved streets, just dirty roads. Casa Dorada invested in giving to that area a new look. This company is making history in the hotel industry helping dreams become truth, not just the visitor’s dreams but the local’s too, they are creating a whole world of memories.

The Butterfly effect

2008-02-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

By Oziel Garibay. Front Office manager

The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or prevent a tornado from appearing). Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.

There are no coincidences in life… as far as I know, in the universe only change is constant, which is a very clichéd sentence, however, it becomes relevant when certain events change your world, when life comes into an evident routine and suddenly something arrives and creates a revolution all around you. That’s the story of what occurred to me when I was offered to be part of the opening team of Casa Dorada.

Before I knew I would be working here, I had no immediate plans for my personal life. It was in the very same moment that I received the formal job offer when I decided to break with tediousness. I informed my ex-boss that at would be leaving in 4 weeks, I went to the internet and then I took one of the most instinctive and fortunate decisions of my life… I bought a plane ticket to Cali, Colombia.

I do not know anybody in Cali, I do not have any friends there, it is not a popular destination, it’s not the typical place that would capture the interest of a traditional tourist… so then, why Cali? I’m still wondering why. Was it fate? Was it Fortune? I don’t know what it was, but I just don’t want to start a debate out of it, either way you think is fine with me.

I checked in, I asked Alejandro –the Front Desk guy—to give me a room with a balcony since I wanted to smoke outside the room. I took a shower, went to sleep for a couple of hours… waked up and ordered room service. It was a little late at night to go anywhere and besides, I didn’t knew anyone there, so I decided to go for the Lobby Bar…..I didn’t know at that time, but fate/fortune/destiny was about to change my life!

Once at the Bar, I inquired about the Colombian beer, so I asked for a Club Colombia, “excellent choice” said the waiter. He brought the beer and that’s when I saw her… I was static, amazed, stunned looking at her face; I wondered if it was worth it to make a move. She was completely ignoring me and was very concentrated on her conversation with her girlfriend. I thought I would never have a chance with her; moreover, I’d never been good to approach women… but that night, something deep inside inspired me and I made my move, and then…

I reserve my right to preserve my intimacy, and not reveal how the scene was set, but I can honestly say that I have no doubt that I hit the mark by doing so. She’s now the woman of my life, and it’s clear for me that we found each other at the exact moment… for us, it is more than just a coincidence. Coincidences do not exist, causalities do. Now she’s here with me in Mexico, we are tremendously happy, we share a life project and we’ll be together forever and ever (well, that’s the plan).

If I had not chosen to work for Casa Dorada, I wouldn’t have gone to Cali, I just wouldn’t have had the time to do it, and I wouldn’t have met her; it may also happen that I wouldn’t have these weird ideas in my mind and I wouldn’t be sharing them with you… therefore, you wouldn’t be reading these lines and you would have done something different right now, your day would be slightly different for good or bad; maybe that little change will make you find someone special or perhaps, by taking these two extra minutes reading this, your position in the middle of the traffic will be different and your car will not be crashed by another one as it was supposed to… if you understand it, then, the Butterfly Effect may make sense to you, because my experience would have affected the whole course of your life.

My Dream Team

2008-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

By Maria Luisa Santiago General Controller

Hello, I feel very touched for the opportunity to write in this blog. I want to share all that I have learned on the personal and professional fields during the 5 years I’ve been living in Los Cabos. I think I don’t need to tell you that this is a true paradise.

My experience on accounting and finances started many years ago, but I never had the opportunity to work on the hospitality industry until I arrived here. I am surprised and thankful for all that I have learned during this time.

Eighteen months ago, I took the decision to join the Casa Dorada Los Cabos project. I have experienced day by day the transformation and evolution of the construction. The opening date looked so far away back then: we were just 7 people on the team! Time flies by and today we are about to receive our first guests and suddenly, without warning, I am surrounded by more of 150 coworkers. I feel really proud and satisfied to be part of Casa Dorada, and strongly feel about our team’s motto “Emotions are paramount”.

Thanks to these emotions we live every single day with new ideas, laughs, jokes, etc. Earlier this month my colleagues surprised me with a delicious birthday cake. I don’t ever remember having heard before in my life the ‘Las Mañanitas’ and Happy Birthday songs sung more than five times in one single day and particularly in different languages! I laughed all day long; I received a lot of hugs and a beautiful bouquet. This is just an example of what’s considered here a celebration.

On top of everything I have told, I’ve been very fortunate to be part of this project since the beginning, as I had the opportunity to create an accounting dream team. In fact, more than a team it’s like my family, because I have all their support and we spend together more than 9 hours per day 6 days per week.

I would like to show you one of the Los Cabos best attractions: The whale watching tour. Last time I took it, it made me feel great because I share every beautiful moment it transmits me and it’s just great.

I personally try to enjoy it every year, it is fascinating and unforgettable. I also invite you to admire an unbeatable Cabo sunset.

I recommend you to visit our blog it will be available for you to know and learn more of Casa Dorada.

http://www.casadoradaloscabos.blogsport.com

Live & Work

2008-02-08T08:38:00.001-08:00

By Yenicey Aguilar Housekeeper

Hello everyone! This is a great opportunity to share with you my experiences of freshly arriving to this city to live & work and also tell you about the natural wonders that I have just discovered.

But let’s start with some background… I was born a few years ago –not that many— (he he!) in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Due to family matters, I moved to Puerto Vallarta, a paradise Jalisco beach hot-spot, where I grew professionally in the hospitality Industry. Suddenly, one day I received a proposal that would change my life -- it was an invitation to work as an Executive Housekeeper for a hotel that was being built at the heart of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur. I Accepted!!!! And that is how this adventure began….

I cannot describe the perfection of this place, it is Magical (capital M) and full of opportunities; it has the peacefulness of a small town and the partying of big cities, it shares Vegas’ motto: “What happens in Cabo, stays in Cabo” Do you think?

I’m not going to lie though, when I first got here, I was very surprised. This is very different, towns by the desert, its hills have a yellowish color and the sun is much more intense than where I come from.

When I first came to mi new job, Casa Dorada at Medano Beach, I was stunned -- its location is the best of the best! its facilities are up to the standards of the big Brand Chains, but most importantly and what really makes the difference, is my teammates’ human quality. Since Ulises (my 8 year old son) and me arrived here, they automatically embraced us in their group and became our new family –as corny as it may sound—for me Casa Dorada is one of the few places where you feel blissful working! I wake up in a good mood every morning, come to work and have fun in the process.

I want to share with you some of the most amazing natural wonders of this place; it was a real surprise for me to discover them! These rocks are a spectacular frame to the sunset viewed from the hotel. It’s funny to notice that I saw them every day and did not appreciate how majestic they are.

San Andrés Cave (two go in, three come out – he he!)

“La Playa del Amor” (The Love Beach) were the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean meet

This stone looks as if hand sculpted, recreating the Baja peninsula

The otters that live in the area

And the emblematic Arc that represents Cabo San Lucas worldwide.

At Casa Dorada Los Cabos the emotions are central

2008-02-02T15:34:00.000-08:00

Luis Calderón Gaxiola, Director de Recursos Humanos

We can say that this sentence is quite popular in our business, the service industry; however, I would like to share with you my personal experience on this topic.

I started to apply the service philosophy as a life style a while ago; a lifestyle where sentences such as “we need to exceed our client’s expectations” become reality. I had the opportunity to work for several service specialized companies and I experienced several philosophies. During all these years I always felt that something was missing on the process.

There was a gap on the basics, not on the standards, not in the process and not on the quality control. I learned the many different ways and systems to control quality and service efficiency. After a while, I felt that those procedures were too mechanized or complicated; the “simple” was missing and the “wow effect” was absent

I tried to learn more about this topic to fulfill my personal needs for answers and new options. I have to admit that I never thought the answer to my questions would be the understanding of one of human’s foundations: emotions. Mankind is per nature a sensitive living being.

When I first read the sentence “80% of our decisions are taken based on emotions and just 20% based on intellect” I couldn’t believe it. That helped me to open my mind to a new marvelous dimension; I understood that our memories, experiences and wishes, are the result of an emotional impact generated by someone or something. We all look to create emotional links with something or someone: friends, music, a specific aroma or fragrance, a unique product or just an outstanding service experience.

Six months ago I joined a new endeavor. Since day 1 I have felt that I am really bringing a piece of my life to the project. I have received the opportunity to share and develop my ideals and experiences. Our team is starting this project from zero, creating the foundations for a solid and successful business. We live with full intensity, giving the best of our soul and sharing all our profession and emotional experiences. I am sure these opportunities just come once in your lifetime and it is priceless.

I am an example that at Casa Dorada the emotions are central; each one of us that have to operate this wonderful resort, every corner of the building, every single room, all our back of the house, etc. is emotionally linked to every one of us; if you ask me if this will be noticed by our guests, associates and customers I would answer: “I guarantee it”.

THE MAKING OF A TEAM!

2008-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

Leonardo I. Perli I., Director of Maintenance

As a first collaboration for this blog I wanted to proudly talk about my team and the way we are structuring the organization of the Maintenance Department and maybe get feedback from all of you good’ol readers about our organizational concept.

The key goal is to build a solid and efficient team, capable of growing and adapting to a cyclical business, that we know will start slow and grow by the day. We hire attitude and train knowledge.

This is my team:

All the people we hired were ‘stolen’ from their previous jobs… or as we say in Mexico – we ‘pirated’ them (Arrgh!). It is very different to hire people with little to no previous knowledge --- but the current concept gives us the advantage to hire very spirited people; as these guys have ample experience on property maintenance in the hospitality industry, my responsibility is to empower and inspire them so they can reach their highest potential.

In order to achieve the key goal we have found challenges and opportunities. The challenges are:

Building structures and systems from scratch without clear framework or boundaries

Welding together a cohesive high performing team

Create momentum and build behavioral patterns oriented to excellence

Exceed budgetary estimations

The opportunities are:

We can mold and create from the beginning

People are energized by the possibilities

There is no preexisting rigidity in people’s thinking

Our atmosphere from corporate and passing thru our GM is courageous and energized

http://www.youtube.com/v/GQ97LPDLsnY

A wonderful experience

2008-01-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

By Enrique Turcott (Operation Director)

It’s a wonderful experience to share with you my adventures in the Hotel Industry and all what this involves. I have been working in the hospitality for many years and I still consider it an exciting world. Today, in my new journey at Casa Dorada I am more exited than ever and I fill thankful for so many things.

Just to mention one of these things: A few months ago, we prepared a cocktail party for a very important travel agency for Los Cabos area: Earth, Sea & Sky. This was a very important event for us as we needed to show how impressive our new hotel is. Just imagine the setting: the hotel was still under construction, we didn’t have any operation staff, no kitchens, no equipment, no nothing but spectacular views and a wonderful team. Believe me, that day I was really inspired and thank to my dream team we made a wonderful cocktail out of nothing. This kind of things can only happen when people is happy and enjoy life, just as us in Cabo.

I’ve been living in Los Cabos for 11 years now, every time I met a new comer they agree that they have not seen sunsets as beautiful as ours anywhere else in Mexico. That reminds me that sometimes we can get lost in routine. People with fresh eyes had to come and remind me how lucky I am to live where I live and have the opportunity to enjoy such spectacular landscapes.

If I wasn’t in the Hotel business, I think I would be photographer, a good one for sure. I usually carry my digital camera everywhere I go; taking pictures of all that I consider it could be a good shot. I am particularly fond of landscapes and I must confess I do have really good photos.

I invite you to see the pictures and the colors I can capture in Cabo. It’s amazing. Nature and I are a good team.

This is a photo that I love. This is the view from one of the terraces, which by the way, is the same view I will enjoy from my office starting next week!!

This is a shot on the same evening, a little bit earlier. I was discussing something about the 12 Tribes menu with the Chef. I am the one who is not dressed like a Chef, sounds logic, don’t you think?

This one was taken from my house, it’s one of my favorites and I use it every now and then as a desktop background, it brings me some calm.

With a spot like this you can easily understand why I feel like a professional photographer.

I want to send my regards to all my friends from Los Cabos and I invite them to visit this blog and add a comment. I would also like to send my best regards to my friends from Casa Dorada. They know how much I love them.

By the way… I have a new camera. I lost my last one a few months ago, here you can see how…

http://www.youtube.com/v/o92lA--YtdA

The incredible experience of traveling.

2008-01-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

By Thierry Baurez (Dir. Sales & Marketing)

Whether you travel for leisure, business or any other reason, there is always an enriching experience in each of your journeys.

Traveling enables you to live parallel lives. Your day by day life is placed on hold while you start a new traveler’s one. You bring with your thoughts, concerns, responsibilities, cultural baggage but you will experience them in a different background. A new version of yourself will come up and act in a slightly different way than the “home” you.

If you travel for leisure you will do all those things you never have the time to do back home: wake up late, enjoy a real breakfast, spend a whole afternoon reading a book, pamper yourself with a good massage for 2 hours, explore and exchange anecdotes with new people and many other activities which are not in your regular schedule.

If you are traveling for business, you will experience a completely different routine. Even if at night, back to the hotel, you need to touch base with your regular life through the emails and office phone calls, your mind is freed from any possible monotony, you become more efficient and your creativity is enriched.

Traveling requires some sacrifices but enables you to discover and value more easily the little details that you wouldn’t notice in your ordinary life because they are it is part of your routine.

For example, I live in Los Cabos Mexico. I work for a new resort located in Cabo San Lucas with stunning views of the calm waters of the Medano bay and Los Cabos’ landmark:

On a regular day I hardly take the time to enjoy those views. I hardly enjoy the fact that the weather down here is just perfect: not to warm and not too cool.

I don’t value the fact that on my way to my office I drive with no traffic for 20 minutes, on a perfect road with outstanding color contrasts between the green Golf courses, the red desert rocks and the blue turquoise of the Pacific.

I don’t notice that very few people in the world might see a whale on their way to work http://www.youtube.com/v/P_EwTNPAE08. I don’t remember that people here live free of smog, crime, stress… I realize how lucky I am to live in Cabo and work for Casa Dorada Los Cabos when I come back home after some weeks out on business trips.

On the spiritual and intellectual side, traveling helps you to find the time you never have on your regular day to be with your inner self. Being in a plane, bus or train for more than two hours enables you to clear your ideas, put some peace in your mind and meditate on those projects you put on hold because you are always busy.

I personally love to enjoy the views of the clouds while I hear new age music to free my mind, when I’m away for a long time and I fly back home I love to hear “life for rent” from Dido (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D80B0HCyQpQ)

When I arrive to Cabo, I find out that I don’t have a “life for rent” but a “life in paradise”.

The parallel life you live on a trip causes positive changes on the “home-you”. You come back full of new experiences that help you to become a richer person. You learn new cultures, new ways of working, acting, eating, enjoying, playing, praying, etc. You become a more complete person and that will benefit your behavior, your personal life, your work quality and your relations with all who surround you.
Once you start traveling you will never want to stop.

A Hotel’s Diary-The guys behind the curtains

2008-01-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

It is with these lines that I give the official start of our blog. This is going to be a collaborative effort from several individuals who are passionate about the hospitality industry and who have something else in common… we work in the same hotel, he he.

For a little over 12 months we have worked hand in hand (fist to fist on some occasions) in the pre-opening process of an independent luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It has been exciting!

The opening of any business must be exciting and fun, I guess. But in hotels in particular – it’s just something else. Not only the gazillion things that need to be coordinated in order to open your doors (our critical path list has over 1,224 points – from hiring, to budgeting, to selecting the napkins – and these are just the general ones!) but most importantly the commitment to the client – that is, with those that have reservations on the first few days & weeks after opening date; this leaves very little, if any, room for mistakes.

For example, opening a retail outlet, or a bookshop for that matter, must also entail lots of stuff to coordinate; but if you postpone opening for, let’s say, two weeks… well, the owner’s checkbook may be the only one really affected and probably a few disappointed folks who were expecting the store to open, but can certainly wait a few more days. But in a hotel… well, one might imagine how frustrating it is to have a reservation done with weeks or months ahead – a well planned vacation –not being honored by a property. Yikes!

Another way to underscore the complexity of a hotel opening is how big-hospitality faces it; err… big-hospitality being the folks at Marriot, Hilton, Starwood, IHG, etc. Corporations, particularly in the U.S., have whole departments dedicated to this process: not only on the design & development side, but actual operating teams (Housekeeping, Front Desk, Accounting) that go from hotel opening to hotel opening to prepare and set-up things according to their own corporate standards, in combination with the local guys. Now, that is what I call love for the business, huh? As I say, it is known that openings are highly stressful, full of tension with long, long hours – and these guys do it for a living! Wow! Go get’em guys! He He.

So, most of what we will write here – at least in the next few weeks – relates to the opening of a resort. Now, being an independent hotel with no corporate-brand affiliation makes it a bit more difficult, since we are alone in this process, with no hospitality-SWAT teams that will zip from helicopters and lend a hand. But it also gives us lots of more space to maneuver (MOAHA HA HA!!) and be really creative. Which is most of the fun has come from.

So… getting back to subject, the idea behind our little blog is to talk about the life in a hotel – from the (overly stressful) pre-opening days, to the opening, to the day to day operations – told from the guys behind the curtains… which is yours truly and my fellow co-workers. Ergo the name, A Hotel’s Diary. This is our story of how the Casa Dorada at Médano Beach came to happen, and actually happens on a daily basis, he he.

Thus… with 10 days to go to for opening day, lots of coffee and 12 hour days, we will write a blog!!