This weeks interview series is with industry professionals Lesley Bacon from Handpicked hotels and Anna Ramsey from The Good Spa Guide. These interviews include details of how these professionals have climbed the ladder and what advice they would give to people starting out in their Spa and Wellness careers.
Let's hear what they have to say...
Name- Lesley Bacon
What is your current job role/position?
Group Health Club and Spa Manager at Hand Picked Hotels.
Please, could you give us a short overview of your career history/pathway?
I studied at Leisure Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, worked as a health club manager for Holiday Inn, then spent 7 year's running hotels in Europe for Mark Warner holiday resorts, I then became General Manager for Esporta health clubs the European Director for Esporta health clubs living in Spain. I then worked for Holmes Place health clubs as a regional manager before joining Hand Picked hotel 11 years ago.
Why do you love this position?
Its ever-evolving, I work with dynamic people in an industry I truly believe in and that brings benefit to those that visit our clubs and spas.
Do you have any future aspirations or a dream job?
I do love my job now and if it could add resorts overseas it would be perfect or an operations director for a large fitness club chain
What advice would you give to people starting out in this industry?
Make the most of all your experiences, travel as much as you can, talk to people you always learn new things be open minded, it’s a 7-day industry, so you need to put the hours in to get the rewards/ benefits.
What skills/qualities do you look for when recruiting staff for jobs within your spas?
Personality, flexibility, sense of understanding of people, obviously there are some basic certificates they would need to do certain jobs e.g NVQ’s but personality is really a big factor we like engaging fun staff.
Name- Anna Ramsey
Current Position- National Partnerships Manager at The Good Spa Guide.
Please, can you give us a short overview of your career history/pathway?
I have seen the industry from a few angles which is invaluable. Therapy, sales, marketing and management. Firstly, I trained to be a therapist and worked for Marriott before joining the Four Seasons Hampshires opening team. Stepping out of the UK I headed to the Maldives to One and Only Reethi Rah by ESPA, as a Treatments Manager before returning home to join the team at ESPA.
Over the following five years I was an International Trainer and then a Business Manager for the brand.
Ever conscious not to be out of operations for long, I headed up the pre-opening at The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket, before joining the Good Spa Guide in 2014.
Why do you love this position?
Connecting with so many spas and brands. Good Spa Guide is impartial which leaves most doors open. The spa industry has many passionate, creative and personable people who are a pleasure to work with.
Do you have any future aspirations or a dream job?
I love my job, but I miss being in a spa environment. There is something very special about a spa team, bringing healing expertise together and making a difference to consumers’ wellness.
I would like to have my own business in Norwich, where I live. A centre of wellbeing to help people own their own wellness. I have a passion for sustainability and bringing wellness and luxury together, which would be a dream to see come alive.
What advice would you give to people starting out in this industry?
I have chosen the jobs I wanted based on what I believed I could learn from doing them.
I also believe that you should choose your employers carefully, look for those that will invest in you and support you while you are with them.
Working for Four Seasons was the best decision I have made. Their training and working culture is second to none.
We work in a diverse industry that is more agile than ever. If you stay true to yourself and find the right roles for you, hard work won’t feel so hard.