“I met Monica over 20 years ago at COMO Shambhala, the spa and wellness arm of the esteemed COMO Hotels Group. Monica is a well grounded woman with her finger on the sharp end of the business. She was involved in day to day operations, team management and organising various wellness retreats. She was exceptionally skillful at creative wellness strategies concepts and programmes. She has a very keen eye for staff training knowing exactly which members of the team could be guided to their best potential for further development and procurement. Monica was one of the key driving forces behind the success of the COMO Shambhala lifestyle brand which is testimony of her capabilities to understand the market, and develop a successful business within the wellness and luxury hospitality industry. Monica is person who leads by example and with passion; a great lady who is able to see beyond what seems obvious. There are many people in the wellness industry out there but none who has the educational background, the experience and who has been responsible for numerous business on a global basis. ”

“Monica was on my leadership team and we worked together for a decade and a half! I would say that the years of Monica’s work (from the inception of the COMO Shambhala brand) culminated with COMO owning and operating its first destination wellness retreat in Bali, where Monica project managed the pre-opening and over saw the complex wellness operations in her position as Global Spa Operations Director. Her scope of work also covered all properties worldwide namely in – The Caribbean, America, London, The Maldives, Thailand, Bhutan, Australia, Indonesia and Singapore. Bali’s flagship wellness estate operation was the most extensive and ahead of its time offering guests a true experience in respite and rejuvenation, educating guests on life-long lifestyle changes as well as launching COMO Shambhala Cuisine. Suffice to say, Monica’s career in hospitality, spa and wellness is accomplished and whole – she worked steadily within hotel and resort operations honing her skills on daily operations, oversaw the development of the spa teams globally, attended to the financial side of her business units as well as involved herself with product development and facilitating all the wishes of the Owners to a very high standard. She is a person who has foresight and deeply cares about causes supporting positive social impact and sustainability at large; a truly “whole”-listic approach to her style of leadership.”

“Monica and I worked at Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, where she was based since its opening in 1999. To commit fully for such a long period on a small island which contains nothing but the resort is testimony in itself to her dedication and strength of character. She fulfilled a number of roles, at the wishes of the Owner, that included Spa operations and development, Butler Service operations, Retail management, Private homes and estate management. On a wider scale she wore the main responsibility of COMO Shambhala regional director overseeing the growth of the brand in Asia at the time. Monica shows remarkable ability to lead and motivate her teams. Her training techniques were so successful that she was sought after by other hotels within COMO group, where she travelled to undertake training and workshops overseas. Monica is a perfectionist and demonstrates an unlikely good eye for aesthetics combined with a good head for figures! Her skills in accounting, requisition, inventory control, have coupled her proficiency in daily operations and management. Monica’s role at Parrot Cay was varied, and it would be impossible to write a comprehensive list of all duties undertaken. She was fully responsible for the organisation of many events and functions at the resort, including the specific and demanding needs of the homeowners on the island. Monica is able to see a task through to completion and ensure results whether by delegation or self motivation. In my years of working with Monica, I found her to be a reliable and trustworthy team member. She is widely read and very knowledgeable, she takes pride in having a full understanding of her work, even in unfamiliar areas. She is extremely well presented and an exceptional member of the team at Parrot Cay at a time when the property was new in the Turks and Caicos Islands and making its mark in the travel world. The private island concept for COMO went on to win multiple awards and I personally credit this to the work of pioneering leaders like Monica who trail blazed new ground, worked with the local community and trained the staff to deliver a level of service fit for the celebrity jet-set that featured prominently on this idyllic island in the Caribbean. ”