Whether it was the Maldives, Bali, or the Cayman Islands, Marc LeBlanc and Laura Robinson have resided and operated businesses in locations that many only aspire to visit.
They operate within the hospitality sector—a path that LeBlanc, who hails from Canada, embarked upon at age 16 when he took a position as a dish washer at a hotel. From there, he progressed to becoming a bellman, moved on to the reservations department, and eventually pursued a degree in hotel management.
Robinson, who hails from Britain, pursued studies in marine biology and served as a diving instructor prior to moving into hotel management.
The pair connected while employed in the Cayman Islands and have subsequently resided and worked across multiple islands in Asia, such as the petite eastern Indonesian outpost of Sumba.
Currently, they are based at Shinta Mani Wild, an upscale retreat nestled within Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains. Here, LeBlanc acts as the hotel’s general manager, while Robinson manages day-to-day operations and focuses on sustainable practices.
The couple often engage in conversations with hotel guests who “are extremely interested in learning more about our journey,” according to LeBlanc.
To begin with, working in locations such as the Maldives – famous for its “one island, one resort” approach – differs significantly from merely visiting it, he explained.
Travel
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Once you’re on that island, you’re encircled by water,” LeBlanc stated. “It’s not like you can go anywhere quickly… you tend to remain there for extended durations.
For employees, the resort lifestyle revolves around a worker village where they sleep, eat, and do their laundry—a scenario LeBlanc compared to being at summer camp.
it forms its own small community,” Robinson stated. “you still face the typical issues that come with many individuals residing together. personality and opinion disparities are inevitable.
She emphasized that handling these differences is crucial, particularly in locations such as the Maldives, where the staff comprises multiple cultures. At Shinta Mani Wild, however, this hasn’t been as challenging since “with just a handful of exceptions, all employees are Cambodian,” according to her remarks.
A lot of individuals believe that working in hospitality revolves around making sure guests have an enjoyable experience. However, as she pointed out, it also involves guaranteeing that your 100 employees are content.
Robinson mentioned that both she and LeBlanc mark staff birthdays and various occasions at the hotel. She added, “Occasionally Marc puts his decks into use and DJ’s for these events, and everyone really enjoys it.”
Although island life means sunshine and enjoyment for many tourists, saltwater poses maintenance challenges for those operating behind the scenes, according to Robinson.
In the Cambodian woodland, the ecological challenges vary. As she stated, “Here you face high humidity along with the forest attempting to restore its original state.”
Shinta Mani Wild features 15 guest tents, yet the property spans an area as vast as Central Park. It demands exceptional focus on both product quality and customer service at very high standards.
as well as the preservation efforts that we carry out
,” LeBlanc said.
He said staff patrol the property, including a large farm on the land, while also maintaining the trails that run through it.
This is something new for us,” he stated. “We are still in the process of learning.
Far from family
Living in some of the globe’s most desirable travel spots comes with advantages, yet both LeBlanc and Robinson face the challenge of being distant from their loved ones.
While living in the Maldives, their parents would visit annually, and they came back home each alternate year to meet with their brothers and sisters, as mentioned by Robinson.
She mentioned that the pair now journey back annually. “As my siblings began having children… and our parents are advancing in age.”
The pair doesn’t have kids, making school—a major concern for numerous expats—an irrelevant factor. Recently, they welcomed two rescue dogs from the forests of the Cardamom Mountains into their home, as they mentioned.
Collaborating for almost twenty years
LeBlanc and Robinson talked about an additional hurdle: how to live and work together in isolated places.
Initially, it’s uncertain how things will progress,” stated LeBlanc. However, “we get along really well as a team.”
Robinson chuckled as he mentioned they were still at it, emphasizing that individual workspaces play a crucial role.
As the general manager of Shinta Mani, LeBlanc manages aspects such as human resources, finance, security, and engineering for the hotel, whereas Robinson focuses on “front-of-house” responsibilities, according to her statement.
LeBlanc mentioned that Laura is very organized and efficient, whereas he leans more towards being creative.
Robinson mentioned that LeBlanc proposes daring concepts and excels at implementing them. The pair dedicate time during their personal vacations to engage in idea generation—frequently drawing inspiration from their adventures together, as Robinson pointed out.
LeBlanc stated, “There’s an abundance of locations seeking management couples.” He added, “Several recruiting agencies focus specifically on placing pairs, whether it be for hotel positions, exclusive private islands, or roles with extremely wealthy individuals. The chances are plentiful.”
LeBlanc mentioned that having a travel partner can also help alleviate feelings of solitude in distant places.
He remarked, ‘It’s logical since we’ve got one another.’
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