Join renowned Australian luxury hotel journalist Renae Leith-Manos in an enlightening podcast episode with Ruby Garcia, the esteemed General Manager of COMO Metropolitan Singapore. Ruby's career in luxury hotels began unexpectedly at the age of 21. As a single mother in need of a job close to home, she submitted resumes to various local companies, ultimately finding her path in the hospitality industry. Her journey started at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila, which offered her a chance to support herself and her one-year-old baby. Leaving her son in the care of her mother, who was also a single mother, was a heart-wrenching sacrifice. However, Ruby was determined to provide for her family. Working overseas added another layer of difficulty, especially in a traditionally male-dominated field. She faced ingrained prejudices and societal expectations, yet her determination only grew stronger with each challenge. A significant milestone in Ruby's career was becoming the General Manager of the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the world in 2018. This was a groundbreaking achievement, as she was the first Asian female General Manager since its opening. Reflecting on her journey, Ruby wishes she had known earlier about the sacrifices of time and effort required to succeed in the industry. She finds fulfillment and purpose in the memories of her career progression, the letters from her family, and the words of encouragement from colleagues. Looking back at photos from the early stages of her career and reading letters from her mother and son gives Ruby the drive to continue when faced with adversity. She is incredibly grateful for her progress and her ability to inspire those around her. She says, “my career brought me to places that I never knew I could get to.” Ruby has been greatly influenced by other strong women in her life. She says, “I have been fortunate to work with strong women above, below, and alongside me. They have taught me how to lead and be led. Resilience with grace was my takeaway from them, and that I live by.” To her past self and aspiring professionals, Ruby's advice is simple yet profound: “believe in yourself, stay true to your values, and never stop pursuing your dreams.” Chapter for interview between Ruby Garcia and Renae Leith Manos : 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Meet Ruby Garcia 02:20 Nutrition and Wellness Concept at Como 04:10 First Hyperbaric Lounge 04:22 Wellness Facility 06:25 Percentage of Guest using Wellness Facility 07:35 Wellness Equipment 08:10 Ice Bath Trends 08:45 Shambala 10:50 Red light therapy 11:40 Sleep Dream Experience 13:45 Client 14:48 Collaboration with Cedric Grolet 16:30 Ruby Garcia Job Experience 19:20 Changes in the Luxury Hotels 22:10 Technology in Singapore 23:25 The evolving of her roles and hotels 25:55 Where to from here 28:20 Club 21 28:58 Closing *** Subscribe above for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: [email protected] *** Host & Executive Producer: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: Muhammad Hamza Graphic & Design: Giang Nguyen For more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.au For Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.com