Q&A with Lita Moreno, SLH’s Sales Manager for Southeast USA

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I was born in Malaga, Spain. My mom and her parents moved to Southern Spain’s Costa del Sol from Sweden in 1960 to build and run a small bed and breakfast by the beach. We lived on property during my childhood so as a little girl I would drink soda at our restaurant or bar and mingle with our hotel guests after school. I was fascinated by meeting people from different parts of the world. Both my grandparents were actors in Sweden before moving to Spain so most of our guests were Swedes who knew them from theatre or the movies they made. Our little hotel had a very artsy vibe and this is how I developed a strong interest for the hotel and travel industry.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT SLH AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT IT?

As a sales person my mission is to promote our hotels, create brand awareness and work closely with our community of travel advisors. The relationships that are created through these interactions are what I enjoy the most.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST EXPERIENCE WHEN VISITING AN SLH HOTEL?

I always enjoy staying at SLH hotels because of the intimate experience. The Pillars Hotel in Florida is a wonderful example. The staff know who you are and make you feel at home. They are not just hotels or a place to spend the night, they are part of the travel experience.

WHAT SLH HOTEL DO YOU MOST WANT TO VISIT?

Castle Hot Springs in Arizona is the perfect escape for a long weekend away to disconnect under the stars, Hôtel Crillon le Brave and Villa La Madonna for their dreamy atmosphere, Canaves Oia Suites and Santorini Secret Suites for their stunning sea views, Villa Orsula Dubrovnik for its intriguing location, Terra Dominicata for its peaceful surroundings, food and wine, and the list goes on and on…

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE CITY AND WHY?

I fell in love with Cape Town, I found it beautiful and fascinating.

WHICH DESTINATION DO YOU MOST WANT TO VISIT AND WHY?

I want to go back to Africa for their safaris, there is nothing like it. There are also places I have not been to that I would love to visit like the Balkans, Israel and Greece.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBY, OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Travel, discovering new places and getting lost in them, spending the day on a beautiful beach, or enjoying a delicious dinner with friends.

DESCRIBE AN AVERAGE DAY WORKING AT SLH

With the current situation I spend a lot of time in zoom meetings, webinars, on the phone or emailing back and forth…but normally I would be doing sales calls, visiting my dear travel advisor friends, organising and hosting events, and assisting hoteliers in promoting their properties in any way I can. I am beginning to visit SLH hotels in my area and we are creating videos which we will later post on our SLH sales YouTube channel. I have recently visited the lovely Chesterfield in Palm Beach and plan to visit The Pillars and The Lennox in Miami Beach next. What I hear from travel agents in my territory is that they are interested in domestic hotels, especially those in remote or rural areas. There is also high demand for many offerings SLH hotels are able to provide, including private villas and long-term stays, since most people are working remotely these days.

HOW DO YOU BRING A PIECE OF YOU TO SLH?

Because of my international upbringing and love for hotels, I think I am able to positively contribute to the SLH ethos and our independently minded community.