Farah Shammas: Overcoming Business Challenges With Years Of Wisdom & Determination
Farah Shammas
Managing Director
Farah Shammas, Managing Director of St. Raphael Resort and Marina, is striving to create an unforgettable holiday experience for all guests by leading a team of dedicated employees. Through thorough knowledge of the industry and a unique leadership style she is elevating her resort from amazing to extraordinary.
Here are some highlights from our interaction with her.
Tell us about your professional background and experiences. What inspired you to take up the role of MD at St Raphael Resort and Marina?
Hotel runs through my blood. I was five years old when we moved to Cyprus, and I grew up observing hotel life, hearing stories, and learning business trends. My father began investing in hotels in the UK, and from an early age, I was able to feel involved by expressing my ideas on which playground items would be appropriate for kids or by sketching the design for a stained glass window. I've always known that I wanted to run a hotel. I started out
as a sales executive after earning my master's degree in tourism marketing. Observing the department's various facets and the development of the business was a wonderful experience, and great base for my future.
What is the impact you have been making in your current role? What is the uniqueness in your style of leadership?
I believe that my leadership style has evolved. I also believe that by picturing your objectives and your route, you might actually realize them. Building your product and style requires effort and consideration. Definitely a hands-on leader, but hopefully one with sensitivity and compassion. I like new challenges and ideas, but I also believe in my team's and my own abilities. I also try to add a little humour to our everyday routine and not take life too seriously.
Define St Raphael Resort and Marina as an organization and its service portfolio that keeps it afloat in the industry.
The key to St Raphael Resort and Marina's success is not just that it is 100% family owned, but that all employees are part of that family. Our culture extends past the holding company and board room. Our staff are our proudest asset, with over 40% being with us for over 15 years. We had an even higher number before the pandemic but since covid and the European crisis, many left the industry or had to relocate countries. However, even our newer team members feel part of our family and understand the culture where our aim is to radiate kindness to everyone.
What has been your success mantra that constantly helps you arrive at positive outcomes?
Every problem has a solution’, is my personal quote that I seem to use almost daily, both at work and at
What is the impact you have been making in your current role? What is the uniqueness in your style of leadership?
I believe that my leadership style has evolved. I also believe that by picturing your objectives and your route, you might actually realize them. Building your product and style requires effort and consideration. Definitely a hands-on leader, but hopefully one with sensitivity and compassion. I like new challenges and ideas, but I also believe in my team's and my own abilities. I also try to add a little humour to our everyday routine and not take life too seriously.
Everyone should recognize their own strengths, and surround themselves with people who compliment it
Define St Raphael Resort and Marina as an organization and its service portfolio that keeps it afloat in the industry.
The key to St Raphael Resort and Marina's success is not just that it is 100% family owned, but that all employees are part of that family. Our culture extends past the holding company and board room. Our staff are our proudest asset, with over 40% being with us for over 15 years. We had an even higher number before the pandemic but since covid and the European crisis, many left the industry or had to relocate countries. However, even our newer team members feel part of our family and understand the culture where our aim is to radiate kindness to everyone.
What has been your success mantra that constantly helps you arrive at positive outcomes?
Every problem has a solution’, is my personal quote that I seem to use almost daily, both at work and at
home. I believe the secret is to never over react to situations. There are always ways to weather the storm, and recent events have shown that a lot of what happens is just beyond our control and also is not personal it is not aimed especially at one organization or person. Its some times necessary to think creatively to think outside of the box and simply ride the wave.
What are your goals for the future and why do you strive to achieve them? What advice would you give to the upcoming leaders in the same industry?
My objective is to continue improving people's lives, whether it be our staff members by offering them fulfilling roles within the company, our clients and guests by making their vacations memorable and enjoyable, and lastly our shareholders by giving them a positive return on investment. I am determined that we need to find a sustainable solution and am on a quest to demonstrate that even sizable resorts can embrace an ecofriendly approach that lessens our carbon footprint.
My advice would be to invest time in yourselves, your education and to never stop learning. Don't be afraid of mistakes or of hard times failure makes you learn, and learning keeps you alive. Believe in yourself and do not wait for others approval. This notion of self-worth has really been my driving force. Everyone should recognize their own strengths, and surround themselves with people who compliment that and support their weaknesses.
Farah Shammas, St Raphael Resort & Marina
Farah Shammas is a proactive and dynamic individual, and MD of St Raphael Resort and Marina. She is also a brilliant painter, and an advocate of vegan lifestyle. Encouraging people to take time out be kind to them selves and adopt veganism she is an environmentally conscious woman on a mission to find ways of reducing our carbon foot print and being kind to all kinds.
•Favorite cuisine: Anything Vegan!Especially Thai food.
•Favorite book: ’I am I am I am‘ by Maggie O’Farrell,‘How Not to Die’ by Michael Greger MD,‘They F**k you up: How to Survive Family Life’ by Oliver James.
•Favourite Travel Destination: Greece, London and the New Forest
What are your goals for the future and why do you strive to achieve them? What advice would you give to the upcoming leaders in the same industry?
My objective is to continue improving people's lives, whether it be our staff members by offering them fulfilling roles within the company, our clients and guests by making their vacations memorable and enjoyable, and lastly our shareholders by giving them a positive return on investment. I am determined that we need to find a sustainable solution and am on a quest to demonstrate that even sizable resorts can embrace an ecofriendly approach that lessens our carbon footprint.
My advice would be to invest time in yourselves, your education and to never stop learning. Don't be afraid of mistakes or of hard times failure makes you learn, and learning keeps you alive. Believe in yourself and do not wait for others approval. This notion of self-worth has really been my driving force. Everyone should recognize their own strengths, and surround themselves with people who compliment that and support their weaknesses.
Farah Shammas, St Raphael Resort & Marina
Farah Shammas is a proactive and dynamic individual, and MD of St Raphael Resort and Marina. She is also a brilliant painter, and an advocate of vegan lifestyle. Encouraging people to take time out be kind to them selves and adopt veganism she is an environmentally conscious woman on a mission to find ways of reducing our carbon foot print and being kind to all kinds.
•Favorite cuisine: Anything Vegan!Especially Thai food.
•Favorite book: ’I am I am I am‘ by Maggie O’Farrell,‘How Not to Die’ by Michael Greger MD,‘They F**k you up: How to Survive Family Life’ by Oliver James.
•Favourite Travel Destination: Greece, London and the New Forest