Pulse July 2017 | Page 25

The Oriental Cabin at YHI Spa allows couples to unwind together in a romantic, yet soothing setting. “One of the challenges is finding people with accurate skills. It takes months to fill just one position.” — ARABELLA DEL PILAR ROSARIO, SPA DIRECTOR, YHI SPA/MELIA HOTELS INTERNATIONAL, PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC “We’ve also created prescription cards in both English and Spanish for therapists to recommend products and daily home care routine,” says Rosario. “From there, the spa consultants can assist the therapist in the sales process to enhance the service and communication.” These cards are a great communication tool because they include both English and Spanish descriptions, allowing both therapist and guest to be on the same page. Staffing Shortages While language between staff and guests can create a huge barrier, finding qualified staff members in the first place has been a big challenge for Rosario. “One of the challenges is finding people with accurate skills. It takes months to fill just one po sition,” she notes. Since it can be so difficult to find staff members, Rosario takes extra steps to ensure her staff is happy, performing well, and sticks around for the long haul. “I make sure to evaluate the potential skill of each member of the team and, July 2017 ■ PULSE 23