Spa Spotlight – November 2019

LAURA MARTINEZ, Director of Spa, Four Seasons at The Surf Club

Inspired by the entrepreneurial background in the Fitness and Wellness Industry at young age and an accomplished career as Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor, Laura was introduced to the Five-Star hospitality industry in the year 2000, hired as fitness instructor and quickly developing in a leadership role for the Recreation Department. Laura developed her expertise in the Spa Industry as Spa Manager and Spa Director at premier luxury spa properties in the Miami area such as Turnberry Isles Resort & Spa, Trump International Beach Resort, InterContinental Miami, The Ritz Carlton, The Delano, and Red Door Day Spa by Elizabeth Arden.

In her role as Regional Director of Operations in Florida for Innovative Spa Management, during her 4 years with ISM, Laura’s contributions escalated to a higher level while being in charge of 7 Luxury Boutique Spa locations and retaining relations with establishments such as: KSL Capital Partners, Marriott International; Kessler Collection, Starwood Hotels, Benchmark, Hospitality.

Her ability and experience in opening and transitioning new spa operations has made her an expert in creating thriving teams, a positive spa environment and successful businesses. Laura’s contributions and spa management achievements were recognized when she received the “America’s Best” Hotel & Resorts Spas Award by Mobil Travel Guide for three consecutive years, 2005, 2006 and 2007; and LNE & Spa Award in 2011. Laura has been invited as a speaker at The International Congress of Esthetics & Spa in Dallas, TX. She also participated as expert panelist on the subject of “The Gold Standard in Customer Experience” at The International Congress of Esthetic & Spa in Miami Beach, FL. She has also collaborated with published articles for Les Nouvelle Esthetique & Spa Magazine. Her most recent publication was in May 2018 on “Service Customization”.

In May 2018, Laura joined her forever home at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida as the new Director of Spa where she has already accomplished incredible financial results thru her effective leadership.

“I found home! It is an honor to join the Four Seasons Family. In its 2nd year after opening, this spa is still a hidden gem in where world-inspired treatments paired up with a talented team are providing personalized experiences with result oriented treatments. Our environment is conducive to self-reflection, wellness, self-care and indulgence. My goal is to bring success to The Spa at Four Season Hotel and Residences at The Surf Club while embracing the teams individual talents and providing exclusive and unique ways to encourage wellbeing to our hotel, residents, and local guests”.

Laura is married to a Chef whose passion is fishing. “Although I have the opposite personality-type of a fisher man, I enjoy going with him to take-in the beautiful water views. The ocean brings a unique feeling of appreciation for life and love”

When you meet Laura, you would not believe she has a daughter in College. She laughed and said: “Yes, I am indeed that age and I did not have my daughter when I was too young. I might thanked the results to the genetic factor, my career and to my humble life’s point of view. I’ve always and only worked in the Wellness and Fitness Industry since I was 16 years old”. With Laura’s husband being a Chef, all three are total foodies and share a passion for music. “Last year alone, we went to 13 Live Concerts #musicmakesushappy.”