Image courtesy of Diego Padula
Growing up in Uruguay, Diego Padula was tapped for a career in hotel management early on. At the age of 10, his mother’s friend (who was a teacher in hospitality) mentioned that Diego would do well working in the hotel industry. At the time, he didn’t understand what she meant, but the idea stuck.
By the age of 18, Diego was one of the first students in Uruguay to enroll in a university hospitality program, and by age 19, he had his first hotel internship.
“They put me on as a doorman for the first three months — just opening doors and welcoming guests every day,” Diego said. And now that he’s General Manager at the Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort in Honduras, he remembers that first job, and how it showed him how hospitality is connected to the surrounding community.
The international path to general manager
Images courtesy of Diego Padula
After his internship, Diego moved into the hotel food and beverage sector, starting in banquet service and progressing to management. By the time he was 24, he won an award for maître d'hôtel of the year and gained the confidence to continue toward his ultimate goal — to become a hotel general manager.
Part of what energized Diego about a career in hospitality was the chance to experience new places. As his career advanced, he was tasked with opening food and beverage programs at hotels across the globe. He contributed to the openings of hotels in Barcelona, Brazil, Oman and Dubai — even working with the famed chef José Andrés at a hotel opening in Mexico City.
“I move quite a lot, but that's my personality,” Diego said. “I love new adventures and want to grow.”
Along the way, Diego had people he trusted to help guide his career. One such mentor is Miguel Piñero, who worked for sbe Lifestyle Hospitality at the time.
“Miguel was somebody who was always there for me; somebody I could always call who would give me feedback and guidance,” Diego said.
Miguel advised Diego which positions to take that would help him reach his career goals, ultimately pairing Diego with his first general manager job. And it was not an easy one. Not only would Diego be the General Manager of Mondrian Mexico City Condesa, but he would be opening the new hotel — the brand’s first-ever location in Latin America.
“One thing that’s the key to my career success was that I was always open to try new things,” he said. “To get the next opportunity, you need to be ready.”
Building a luxury experience by connecting with the community
Image courtesy of Diego Padula
Diego’s first taste of a luxury brand was at the Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal in northern Spain. Still at the beginning of his career, he observed how an upscale property was run and how people reacted to experiencing new destinations.
When he began his post at Mondrian Mexico City Condesa, he intentionally thought about how to inspire people through connecting them to the community. He believed that if he created a place that locals enjoyed, then travelers would naturally be drawn to the hotel as well.
“I think all our new customers are moving from a transactional experience to an inspirational experience,” Diego said.
“I understand the importance of (the food and beverage industry) on this business,” he said. “So when you launch a new hotel, you are positioning your restaurants for the locals to be there.”
With the successful opening of the Mondrian and a second brand in Mexico City, Diego was looking for his next opportunity. So when he got a call about a community-focused resort in Roatan, he didn’t hesitate to say yes.
Kimpton’s mission in Roatan
Image courtesy of Kimpton Grand Roatan
Opened in September 2023, the Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa is more than a tropical destination. The owner has intentionally focused on bringing the community into the process of launching the area’s first high-end luxury resort.
Diego proudly shared that of the 267 people employed by the resort, only five (including himself) are not from Honduras. And this is part of a larger plan to make a positive difference in the Roatan area.
Another part of that plan is the Abundant Life Foundation (ALF), a nonprofit organization the hotel’s owner founded to better equip the community. ALF works with island residents to provide education, gathering places for meaningful connection and improved housing.
Diego described that part of the hotel’s mission is to give back to the community, which is why he employs so many local people.
“I'm very proud,” Diego said. “This is the first time in my career that I have an owner where we are actually part of a bigger plan for a destination.”
One of the challenges of starting an upscale resort in a destination that is up and coming is name recognition. Diego shared how advisors like the Fora community are key to bringing awareness to Roatan as a luxury destination.
“You (Fora) are a key player for us to position this as a new destination because nobody in the luxury space has Roatan in their mind as a place where they can come,” he said.
About a two-hour flight from Miami, Roatan is known for its incredible diving and gorgeous white sand beaches. The Roatan Barrier Reef is right off the hotel’s beach and is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef. To bring awareness to this amazing natural resource, Diego is developing a dive program.
For guests who want to do land activities, the hotel has full concierge services. Diego noted that having local employees brings a level of knowledge that’s hard to teach. Because most of the staff grew up in the area, any one of them can recommend where to go for local bites, secret beaches and exciting activities.
As for Diego, on his days off he and his wife like to take long walks, exploring different beaches and locally run restaurants.
“I'm very happy about the path of my career,” he said. “I think I found the place for me — the perfect mixture between fun, relaxation and nature.”
