Spa Spotlight – May – June 2018

Alena Stavnjak, Spa Director, Bamford Haybarn Spa at 1Hotel Miami Beach

Alena has more than 17 years of global experience with luxury brands and trends in the spa and wellness industry. Specializing in innovative strategic planning and hospitality management, Alena began her career at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2003. (read more) While employed by The Ritz Carlton she worked at several of the company’s locations including Key Biscayne, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota and St. Thomas, USVI.

In 2010, adding to her accomplishments, Alena opened the 20,000 sq ft ESPA at The Istanbul EDITION Hotel as Executive Spa Director.

In September 2013 Alena joined Viceroy Hotel Group as Director of Spa and Wellness overseeing operations in 3 departments: Spa, Fitness and Pool Resort. Alena’s leadership helped secure the World’s Best Spa Award for the 28,000 sq ft Viceroy Miami Spa in 2015 in two different categories: Florida’s Best Hotel Spa and North America’s Best Hotel Spa.

Alena was recruited in the fall of 2016 to oversee the pre-opening and opening of Bamford Haybarn Spa, the first Bamford Haybarn Spa in the United States. Within one year of opening the spa has already won American Spa Professional Choice Award in the Best New Spa category and has been a top finalist for the Global Spa and Wellness Awards.

Sharing her knowledge of the industry is very important to Alena and she is a co-founder of Spa Hope. Spa Hope is a nonprofit organization founded to help underprivileged men, women and children with personal hygiene by introducing them to the importance of wellness and self-care.

After living and working in the Caribbean,  Alena was exposed to all of the challenges the islands face, and contributes to the growth and expansion of the Caribbean connecting the Caribbean Spa Industry to the International Community by providing invaluable research, marketing, educational, and networking opportunities. Alena’s newest project are the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Events connecting buyers and suppliers.

Alena has also served on the Florida Spa Association Board for almost 3 years.

In her personal life, when Alena is not busy working, she is mom to this adorable 3 year old little boy, Nikola and passionately dedicated to him.   Can you blame her…..this is cuteness overload!!