Exquisite Taste

Anna Mauri

Director of Food & Beverage at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

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: What are your responsibi­lities?

A: My main responsibi­lities are to look after the daily food and beverage operations making sure we as a team commit to delivering excellence, anticipati­ng our guests' needs and fulfilling their expectatio­ns.

: What makes a typical day?

A: Every day in F&B is different, and that is one of the things I like the most of my job, but I would say a typical day consists of meeting our guests to learn more about their needs and what they are looking for and making sure that they have an unforgetta­ble experience with us. Of course, this could not be possible without our team, who go above and beyond to please our guests.

: Your best attribute?

A: I am a people person; perhaps my best attribute would be that I connect with people very fast, whether it is with our guests or with our team members. I love talking to our guests, giving them advice when visiting our restaurant­s for the first time, suggesting things for them to do or places to visit when planning a day off-property, and that is something I encourage our team to do. When we create strong relationsh­ips with our guests is when we can surprise them!

: Team player or team leader?

A: I strongly believe it has to be both. It is very difficult to be a leader if you are not a player, and in my case it helped me tremendous­ly to start from the bottom and to play various F&B roles before becoming director of F&B. I still love taking orders and being at the pass!

: Who has been the most influentia­l figure in your career to date? A: I am lucky to have worked in very well-known properties with so many profession­als who helped me and guided me through my career, so I could name a few. But definitely Rivero Delgado, who was my general manager when I got my first job in hospitalit­y after finishing university; she has been a reference since then and she still is. The way she managed the property and her career evolution has been a huge inspiratio­n for me and for other women pursuing a career in hospitalit­y.

: Name one really special thing about your hotel?

A: For me, the most special thing of our property is, without doubt, our team. A very profession­al group of ladies and gentlemen who are genuinely taking care of our guests and making the impossible possible. We would not be the same without such a strong and committed team.

: How do you unwind?

A: Travelling the world – discoverin­g Southeast Asia during the last few years has been an unforgetta­ble experience, going out for lunch or dinner and practicing yoga.

: Dead or alive, who would you like to take out to dinner?

A: The list is endless but I would choose my friends from Barcelona. A nice and relaxed evening with some salads, fresh seafood and a good bottle of wine!

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

(mandapares­erve.com)

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