Meet Marc and Laura, a hospitality power couple with extensive international experience. Marc, a Canadian, has spent 17 years in senior roles across luxury destinations like the Cayman Islands, Sint Maarten, the Maldives, and Indonesia. Laura, from the UK, holds degrees in Marine Biology and Tropical Coastal Management, with hospitality management experience spanning Trinidad and Tobago, Malaysia, The Bahamas, Honduras, the Cayman Islands, and Indonesia.
After successfully managing Cap Karoso in Sumba, Indonesia, they are now transitioning from beachfront properties to their first jungle-based project, driven by their passion for conservation and sustainability. Marc will serve as General Manager, and Laura as Operations and Sustainability Manager.
What are the challenges for you working together as a couple in the same property? And how do you overcome them?
L: One of the harder challenges of working together as a couple is separating ourselves from the job! We are both very passionate about what we do, always striving to find ways we can innovate and develop guest experiences, and manage team welfare, which often means we spend most of our time discussing new ideas, rather than taking a bit of time to ourselves. It isn’t something we necessarily feel we need to overcome however, as we love what we do, but to ensure it isn’t all about work, we do ensure to set aside time on our travels together to enjoy things we don’t ordinarily have the chance to do in remote locations, such as bowling, cinema, and experiencing new restaurants (while possibly take notes at the same time!).
M: Finding time for ourselves. As we are so ingrained into the operation, morning, day, night, all we do is live, breath, talk about work! But this is quite normal when you ‘live’ at work, and often happens working in remote single properties. But we have made this a way of life. Also, typically as we work together, our areas of focus and our abilities are generally on two different paths. So coming together to recap everything so we are on the same page at the end of the day can prove to be difficult at times as our work schedules can stretch into the night. Aside from this and over time, we have found that we work extremely well together as we bring different traits, skill sets and viewpoints to the table. We have many differing opinions on how things should be implemented and run and both opinions are always valid. At the end of it, I win. (kidding..!). Mutual respect, mutual decisions.
Tell us a little bit about your journey before you two met?
L: From an early age, holidays spent rock-pooling with my father on Cornwall beaches sparked my passion for the ocean, leading me to pursue a career in Marine Biology. I worked diligently, earning a BSc in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology, and soon after graduation, I joined a volunteer program in Borneo, Malaysia, focusing on coral reef research and community work. This transformative experience solidified my commitment to conservation, prompting me to complete an MSc in Tropical Coastal Management. Over the years, I held various roles in the Caribbean, managing research centers and facilitating projects, with brief periods in the UK. My most significant move was to Little Cayman, where I managed a research center and developed educational programs for local schools. It was on this small island, over 15 years ago, that I met Marc, and we've been inseparable ever since, except for a brief time in Honduras where I obtained my Dive Instructor certification.
M: After working in various roles across Canada with Fairmont (now Accor) and Delta (now Marriott) hotel groups, I took a bold step to 1. work abroad for the first time, 2. join a small, independent hotel group, and 3. experience resort life in the Caribbean. This move profoundly impacted my career, igniting a passion for global travel, working with independent hoteliers, and embracing the dynamic environment of resorts. I discovered the value of nimble operations with less hierarchy, the thrill of connecting with guests during extended stays, and the excitement of adapting to rapid change. My journey began in high school, washing dishes in a city hotel, quickly progressing to bellman—a role that gave me a deep appreciation for both back-of-house and front-of-house operations. Over time, I focused on the rooms division, with experience in revenue and marketing. I've never looked back!
Tell us about an achievement as a power couple in the hotel industry? What project are you both most proud of?
L: Each project we have worked on together has a special place in my heart, for different reasons. Kandolhu Maldives was the first time we were hired as a couple, and given the responsibility to open and manage an island resort together. Over the course of nearly 7 years we built a team we came to see as family, welcomed guests back time and time again many of whom are now close friends, and won a number of Awards, the most exciting of which was #4 Top Hotel in the World by Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards in 2021. Our most recent posting on the island of Sumba, and the opening of Cap Karoso was an entirely different experience as we had the opportunity to be involved from very early stages, first stepping foot onto the project site in April 2022 when the bare bones of the buildings were in place and little else! To see the resort full of guests a year later, and our wonderful team full of pride (the majority of which were from Sumba) ,was a truly fulfilling experience.
M: A few things come to mind. The island we led in the Maldives, a small 30-key Small Luxury of the World resort, received the distinction of #11 Best Hotel in the World by TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards in 2017, followed by a even higher placement in 2021, to #4. The resort had an incredible reputation with a very high percentage of repeat guests, who’ve many have since become our good friends. The teams and hundreds of people behind those awards were the true winners and there were celebrations for days. An amazing sense of pride for everyone. The most recent project we worked on, on the island of Sumba in Indonesia, called Cap Karoso, was perhaps the most challenging yet rewarding. It was an achievement alone in executing the opening of such a beautiful product and assembling a wonderful team, in arduous business conditions (new destination, logistics) and rugged (yet beautiful) environment. It has gone to great acclaim upon opening and this will be a standout in years to come, in a truly remarkable destination.
What's your plan for Shinta Mani Wild? What do you want to improve and do better?
L: What the team at Shinta Mani Wild offers guests is already unique and very well done, and so I see this as less about improving, and more about getting creative to include more magical and authentic experiences, that are not only fun and exciting, but that offer educational opportunities for guests and team members alike. Shinta Mani Wild has recently become a member of The Long Run, an organisation supporting a global community of purpose-driven tourism businesses by providing a framework that integrates sustainable and regenerative practices, and so in my role as Sustainability Manager, I very much look forward to developing this and incorporating more of the incredible work that the Shinta Mani Foundation does, to help enhance the experiences we offer, for more meaningful interactions throughout.
M: How do you improve on something so magical? It needs to be experienced to see, feel what I mean. It’s a truly remarkable property already with a caring and joyous team but we feel its best (post-covid!) days are yet to come! Our immediate plans are to observe everything in operation and tweak (minimally) as necessary. We see incredible potential to increase our offering of nature-based experiences within the protected boundaries of our conserved area within the Cardamom mountains, but also further afield in the neighbouring areas which are often unexplored and show promise for unparallel discoveries. A very big factor in us choosing to work for Shinta Mani hotels was its promise on improving lives of Cambodians through its Shinta Mani Foundation, and protection of flora and fauna with its conservation initiatives. This is the first time we are based in a jungle forest – so these aspects are those in which we have dove into first. We’ll need to continue this good work. There is a lot to learn, and more importantly, a lot of good to do. And Shinta Mani hotels, the Bensley Collection, are true to this word. This is all done with the enthusiastic support and positive encouragement of Sokoun Chanpreda and Bill Bensley, joint proprietors of Shinta Mani Hotels in Cambodia.
Advice for those who work together in the same property?
L:Separate offices. And have fun!
M:I think a difference can be made between working ‘in the same property’ and working ‘in the same property remotely, and together’. This is far from the norm and not for everyone - we have seen many couples attempt this and come and go, often apart. These environments will test you personally and as a couple, but if you’re excited about the work, excited about the locations and cultures you’re immersing yourselves in and thrilled to get to know its people, passionate about doing and being good, then it could be a very good fit. Provided that you work in a complimentary manner, can respectfully disagree on points, and celebrate joint successes. (DON’T attempt this six months into your relationship.).
Most importantly: have lots of fun, ALWAYS laugh (occasionally cry), explore the world, embrace its people, and do it together.
Visit These powerful couple at Shinta Mani Wild