Alena Stavnjak

Alena has more than 19 years of global experience with luxury brands and trends in the spa and wellness industries. Specializing in innovative strategic planning and hospitality management, Alena began her career at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2003. While with Ritz Carlton she worked at several of the company’s locations including Key Biscayne, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Tayson’s Corner, Sarasota and St. Thomas, USVI. In 2010, Alena opened the 20,000 square-foot ESPA at The Istanbul EDITION hotel as Executive Spa Director. In September 2013 Alena joined Viceroy Hotel Group as Executive Director of Spa and Wellness overseeing: spa, fitness and recreations. Alena’s leadership helped secure the World’s Best Spa Award for the 28,000 sq ft Viceroy Miami Spa in 2015 in two different categories: Florida’s Best Hotel Spa and North America’s Best Hotel Spa.

Alena was recruited in the fall of 2016 to oversee the pre-opening and opening of the first 1 Hotels spa, Bamford Wellness Spa at 1 Hotel South Beach, and assisted with the opening of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge spa. Within one year of opening the spa has already won American Spa Professional Choice Award in the Best New Spa category and has been a top finalist for the Global Spa and Wellness Awards. In 2019 1 Hotel South Beach Spa has won the World’s Best Spa Award in Florida’s Best Hotel Spa category. This is Alena’s 3rd World’s Best Spa Awards recognition within 4 years. Currently Alena has been involved on development of the Starwood Capital 1 Hotels spa projects and has opened 1 Hotel Haitang Bay, China in January 2020, and is working on future 2021-2024 1 Hotels projects.

Alena is Co-Founder of Spa Wellness Events, an event company connecting spa and retail buyers and suppliers from the Caribbean, Mexico and Southeast US region. Alena has also served 4 year term as a Board Director on the Florida Spa Association board, and co-founded Caribbean Spa Association in 2014.

Liliana Grajales

Liliana has a passion for all things spa, wellness, health and beauty. As a 20+ year veteran in Hospitality, Liliana has held several management positions at Four Seasons, Hyatt, The Ritz-Carlton, and the Biltmore hotels in capacities of Rooms, Food and Beverage, Spa, Fitness as well as Human Resources Departments. Her journey with Spa and Wellness Started in 1999 with Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach, CA. During her time with Four Seasons she assisted in openings and interim support in several properties including Nevis, where she fell in love with the Caribbean. In 2003 Liliana was recruited to The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, FL where she managed a 20,000 sq. ft. Spa to include a full service gym. In 2005 she assisting in reopening the Spa after the hurricane at the Biltmore hotel in Coral Gables, FL. In 2007 Liliana was again recruited back with the Ritz-Carlton and quickly promoted to Executive Spa Director with The Ritz-Carlton South Beach where she would oversee the Pool, Fitness Center and Spa. Liliana and her team created several services that were unique and indigenous to South Beach and were acknowledged in several social platforms including Ocean Drive Magazine and The Insider. In 2008, Liliana’s strength in finance were quickly noted as the Spa continued to profit year over year while the majority of spas in the company were not making budget during the recession. Liliana created a Spa Members Club that is still being used today within the Marriott Brand.

In 2011, with a desire to learn and grow with Spa, she transitioned into a Product Sales position with the luxury skincare brand Carita and Decleor. She was later recruited to VP of Sales with Soleil Toujours and has been working on independent consulting projects to include Medical Spas, Day Spas, Boutique Hotel Spas and even Glamping. Liliana has recently dedicated her time to Pop-up Spas, Events, Training Seminars as well as opening her Fitness Clubs in Colombia. Liliana understands that being well versed in several departments in hospitality are key to consulting on projects that demand: time, people skills, product expertise as well as experience.

Liliana is Co-Founder of Spa Wellness Events, an event company connecting spa and retail buyers and suppliers from the Caribbean, Mexico and Southeast US region. Liliana is one of the founding board members of the Florida Spa Association serving on the Board for 2 years. In 2014 Liliana co-founded Caribbean Spa Association.