As we could all imagine, working in the hotel industry requires both a strong mind and a strong heart.
Tough as it is, Daly Mariatte manages to excel in her role as general manager of Ladera Resort in Soufriere.
Daly is an experienced young professional who has worked in the airline industry with Virgin Atlantic for nearly ten years, before moving to the hospitality industry where she’s been for almost nine years.
She’s the mother of a young daughter, juggling her personal life and her career on a daily basis. Such a high-powered woman is bound to turn heads, and being the youngest general manager in Saint Lucia, Daly Mariatte is doing just that.
We wanted to know more about the enchanting and serene resort in the south that Daly manages, so we sat down with her to talk about her role as general manager, and the inner workings of Ladera.
Dazzle: How did you know that hospitality would turn out to be your career path?
Daly: I didn’t choose it, it chose me. I was essentially introduced to it while I was in the airline business and I decided that this would be the best move for me, professionally.
Dazzle: How do you manage both work and family life?
Daly: Essentially, my working hours are irregular but I try to get a couple of weekends off each month and I’m always off on a Sunday. I always try to set aside time for my daughter, and of course my mom and siblings.
Dazzle: What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Daly: My biggest accomplishment would probably be being at the top of my career professionally and having a very abundant professional and personal life. I feel extremely blessed because everything has just fallen into place.
Dazzle: Tell us about Ladera.
Daly: Ladera is actually Saint Lucia’s unspoken gem. This hotel has been around for thirty years. We’re actually celebrating thirty years this July. We’re going to be doing some fantastic promotions to commemorate the occasion.
This resort essentially has a unique essence. Even as a Saint Lucian who’s worked in another hotel and stayed at other hotels around the island, Ladera is one that is second to none. It’s a resort that encapsulates the true Saint Lucian essence. Everything that was built for the hotel was built locally by local artistes. Everything that was added to the rooms, with the exception of pots and pans, was done in Saint Lucia. There is a lot of Saint Lucian pride in it. In addition to that, you have quite a few employees who’ve been there almost ten years, so the loyalty to the resort is second to none. These employees see the resort as their home, so there’s a lot of pride. It really is an amazing resort and I am truly blessed to be working in such an establishment.
Dazzle: What can the guests expect while visiting?
Daly: We pioneer the open-wall concept in this part of the world, where the fourth wall is missing. So the guests can expect to get unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea and the Pitons from the comfort of their rooms. They can also expect amazing food. The culinary experience at Ladera is out of this world. Everything we prepare is local so you will not find an apple or a grape offered but you will find whatever local fruits are in season. The culinary experience celebrates Saint Lucian flavour prepared to an international standard. They should also expect to be treated like VIP and the resort is full concierge. Everyone is treated like VIP from start to finish.
Dazzle: How many staff do you manage on the property, and how do you cope with conflict in the workplace and keep your employees motivated?
Daly: Currently, we have 143 employees. Conflict is inevitable. You will get conflict everywhere because you’re bringing people in from different backgrounds with different upbringing to work in one place. However, conflict is not common at Ladera because our employees have been working with each other in excess of ten years, so they’ve had time to adjust and solve any problems that they might have had in the past. When we do have little hiccups, for me, my style is ‘let’s talk’. I’m always trying to figure out why someone does something because there’s always something driving you to make decisions, whether good or bad. We’ll have conflicts where the issue can be resolved quickly with a few apologies, and then there’s conflict where there has to be disciplinary action. I am very particular about giving employees the chance to be heard.
Dazzle: What are your future plans?
Daly: My immediate focus right now is getting the brand awareness out there. I think Ladera is a special place that a lot more people need to experience. Having experienced working there, I can tell you if I had to vacation anywhere, I would vacation at Ladera. I do want more Saint Lucians to experience Ladera. We have a fantastic staycation package that is offered all year round. It’s a fantastic place to reconnect with people. We have no televisions in the rooms so you really need to be there with someone you’re comfortable with. For me, it’s getting more people to experience it, as well as the restaurants. Dasheene Restaurant is a phenomenal dining experience, whether it’s for breakfast or lunch.
More recently, we embarked on a program for groups, so corporations who may want to have meetings, seminars, workshops … we do have a lovely venue that is now open for such. A lot of people are into yoga, and nowhere is more serene for such an experience. Considering we’re celebrating thirty years, there will be more information to come about what we’re offering at Ladera.
