business
women of
VANCOUVER
Elpie Marinakis Jackson Co-Owner & Managing Director WEDGEWOOD Hotel & Spa by Meagan Faye
The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is Vancouver’s only Relais & Châteaux property and often voted as one of the top luxury hotels in the world, by prestigious publications such as Travel & Leisure and Condé Nast. This luxury boutique hotel is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver and it is known for its elegance, charm and commitment to personalized service. With Elpie Marinakis Jackson at its helm as the Co-owner and Managing Director, the Hotel continues to achieve new heights in service and hospitality. Elpie’s late mother, Eleni Skalbania, founded the hotel in 1984 with the vision to create the first luxury boutique hotel in Vancouver. Elpie proudly continues her mother’s legacy while introducing her very own refined taste and educated expertise in managing every aspect of the family owned hotel. She was involved with the hotel right from the beginning, by working weekends and summer time alongside her mother at a very young age, and moved from department to department during her university years. Balancing her studies at UBC while working 6am shifts was no easy task, but the experience gained in this role helped Elpie build the foundation for her career in hospitality. It also molded her into the iconic leader she is today. While Elpie had studied law at university, her mother knew that she had the same love of people as herself and was determined that Elpie would follow in her footsteps. “Over time, my mother had me taking on more and more responsibilities, making it almost impossible for me to maintain the part-time role that I had. I think this was her plan all along, and it worked! I fell in love with every aspect of the hotel industry and after a short period of practicing law, I left to pursue my career at the Wedgewood Hotel.” Eleni herself was a very well-respected hotelier in Vancouver, paving the way for her daughter in the industry. “I was really fortunate to have someone like my mother as a role model. She could be tough when she needed to be, but was known for being fair and compassionate. I had the opportunity to learn from her and her years of experience and travel all over the world. That being said, she did not coddle me, she made me work hard and it helped me learn what it would take to be a leader in the hotel industry. I appreciated that she did not sugar-coat anything for me and I am truly a better manager for it.”
74
ICONIC CONCIERGE
Some may think that Eleni’s shoes would be hard to fill, but Elpie has already carved a path of her own during her time managing the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa. In her early days as the Managing Director, Elpie dedicated her time to listening to her staff and her clients alike. She wanted to make sure she heard all of their concerns and suggestions, so that she could do whatever it took to address them. It is this high level of commitment to her team that has helped create a feeling of family within the Wedgewood. A feeling that translates through the way her staff members interact with her, with each other and most importantly, with the hotel’s valued guests. “I wanted to really get to know my staff, and I wanted them to get to know me. I spend time with each of my managers every day and we always work as a team. We are proud to have many long term employees, a few going all the way back to when the hotel opened and others all the way to when our Spa opened in 2004. Our resident head aesthetician, Asuncion, is one of them. Clients, including some of the most well-known celebrities, come from all over the world to experience the Spa with Asuncion.” There is a level of commitment to each other at the Wedgewood, and a dedication to their valued clients that is unprecedented in the hotel industry. The doormen take pride in getting to know everyone who walks through their front doors. They want to know who you are, what you would like to see, and most importantly, how they can make your stay more enjoyable. The front desk staff remember the repeat guests’ detailed preferences. Bacchus is the heart of this elegant Hotel led by the talented Executive Chef, Montgomery Lau. Its patrons, both hotel guests and Vancouverites alike, enjoy not just its amazing food and extensive wine list, but most importantly, the warmth and genuine, welcoming service from both managers and waiting staff. In the short period since Elpie has taken the reins of the hotel, she has implemented many design changes throughout the hotel, restaurant and spa. Some are minor, while others are bigger, such as the recent introduction of two bedroom suites. Again, with her ear to the ground, she quickly became aware of the need for larger suites to accommodate the current trend for multi-generation travel. Always believing in being a step ahead, she is now starting to plan for the 3-5 year updating and refurbishing of the whole hotel. Elpie has already made an incredible impact on the Wedgewood, and plans to continue to elevate the hotel to new heights. It is Elpie’s dedication to her staff and clients, and the unparalleled level of service at the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa that has helped her build a name for herself in Vancouver’s ever-changing hotel industry. What sets her apart from other hotel leaders, however, is her love for people, passion for excellence, and high level of attention to detail in everything she does.