inCROWD: Rosewood Hotels' Lisa Selvin Aparicio
In our latest inCROWD interview, we catch up with Lisa Selvin Aparicio, Director of Global Sales, UK at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts on her love for skiing, favourite event moments, Dr Seuss, and secret beaches in Mexico.
A self-confessed hotelier enthusiast, Lisa graduated from Glion Hotel School and has worked everywhere from Florida and Mexico to London, for brands including Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental. Since 2013, she has been based in London, working for the Global Sales Office for luxury brand Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.
My very first inVOYAGE experience was… at the Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai. From the very first instance, I felt a sense of belonging. The relationships I’ve built throughout the shows have been priceless. Since my first inVOYAGE, the show has really grown consistently in strength throughout the years. It is always very well-crafted and planned to allow participants to optimise the time together and connect with fellow hoteliers and clients. All of events have been incredibly memorable.
The thing I most love about working in events is… seeing how you can transform an event from the initial planning on paper to something extraordinary on the day of the event. I am incredibly lucky to be working for a brand with properties in the most spectacular locations.
The creativity of the event spaces is endless, and the memories we can create at each of our hotels are fantastic. It makes me extremely proud what we can deliver.
Luxury for me is… time. To be able to embrace the intangible aspects of life and being able to step back and enjoy the beauty around you.
My earliest travel memory is… the summer holidays that we used to spend with my cousins on a small island just outside Danmark, Laso. We packed our car the day after we broke up from school, took two ferries from Sweden to Denmark, and came back home the day before school started. It was the ultimate feeling of freedom.
City slicker or beach bum? Neither. I am a ski bum through and through! I love the mountains, snow, and skiing.
If I could get on a plane right now, I would fly to… Sweden and see my family. I haven’t seen in over a year and a half, and I miss them terribly.
Suitcase essentials?
I always need to travel with a good book. I don’t often have much spare time to read a book between work and family life, so I love a good book whilst travelling.
Favourite hidden gem?
When I lived in Playa de Carmen, Mexico, we found a secret beach, which we still go to when we go back. It’s nestled in between the hotels along the Mayan Riviera, but you wouldn’t know it was there. It’s has a secret entrance from the motorway, and you drive a few minutes along a dirt road until you arrive at this beautiful private beach. It’s a hidden sanctuary, there are no restaurants or shops, so you need to bring your own gear and picnic etc. It’s just you and the turtles!
Most memorable event moment?
Gosh there are so many, but one that springs to mind is when we first went to see Rosewood Castilglion del Bosco for the very first time – it is out of this world. It’s set on a medieval estate, in the heart of Tuscany surrounded by 2,000 hectares of UNESCO protected farmland. The estate features a vineyard where the team had set up a “casual” picnic on top of the rolling hills with views over Montalcino and the winery. It took my picnic experience to a different level! In the evening, we had a pizza party, which is one of the staple activities for groups when they stay there. I still dream of that Truffle Pizza!
Do you have a mantra you live and work by? I am a big fan of Dr Seuss and have read his books since my own childhood and have also read them to my children since they were little. Being a citizen of the world and as we are opening new hotels around the world, I like to read and learn about the new locations and cultures. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
When I’m not working, I’m most likely to be… enjoying time with my family, exploring new things and destinations together.
When the pandemic is over, I am most looking forward to… Seeing my friends and family. I also cannot wait to get together with my incredible colleagues around the world – it’s been tough to be away from everyone this long. It’s been a great alternative catching up virtually, but there is nothing like seeing each other face to face.