Love letter from a GM
“Working in hospitality has opened my eyes in so many ways. Started with living in amazing places like Tulum where the hashtag #ilivewhereyouvacation turns too little for all the things you can see and live. But the best part is meeting new people every day.
Each day is a new day to start a new relationship with a different soul. If it’s either a couple that just arrived because they are on their honeymoon and ask you for the most romantic suggestions, or a solo traveler looking for adventure. Each person is a wonderful story, and you get to help them write this chapter. For me that’s the best thing about hospitality and what makes me drive to work with a smile on my face every day.
In Dominican Republic, where I am from, the symbol of hospitality is a Pineapple. Our professors would teach us this symbol dates back to colonial America, where pineapple was related to friendship, welcome and hospitality in general. In fact, now I understand why such a special symbol: the pineapple represents that exactly what hospitality is - exotic, new and fresh.
We can’t say our journey is hospitality is always easy and fresh. It takes a lot of work to build and nourish the perfect spot for people to meet and connect. Especially when we try to make it in exotic destinations that would make the world marvel. But all this hassle is also part of our deal, and we gladly do it to see smiles in people’s faces.
With my Panamera Family I have lived through thick and thin. More experiences I thought I would live during my lifetime. From growing from a 14 room property to 27! Opening after COVID with many challenges and restrictions and not even knowing if people would want to come far from their homes to be here. To even enduring four hurricanes last raining season!
As a professional, this led me to learn and grow. Each challenge we took to make the best decision to protect not only our guests but also their vacations. Make the best out of their experience and help them find what they are seeking for on their journey. While also protecting our staff, helping them gain enough to share with their families and helping their communities.
I am beginning a new chapter in my life that will take me to other places away from Panamera. But I am so grateful with God and the Universe that allowed to find this place and grow so much in it. I am very thankful for Omar who believed in me and gave me the tools to sail this ship further out the horizon and to Natalia who put my feet on the ground in times when I needed to. I will be forever grateful to my team, who were there with me during thick and thin. They helped me move furniture during rainy afternoons, stay until late during events because we wanted to see our guests smile a little longer, woke up early the next day to receive our guests with fresh breakfast or gave me rides home after a long tough day. These are the memories I will cherish forever.
Panamera is and always will be my family, and will be visiting more times. Now as a guest, to continue and enjoy this place full of magic and all the special projects that are in the oven. But for the moment all I have to say is: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!”
––––– Fer