lagniappe
When I was a front-desk agent my first week at a new hotel , I checked in Joe Montana . He was my idol growing up , so it was very exciting . I checked the person he was traveling with into the suite reserved for him , and Joe received a standard room . It was quickly remedied , but just the thought of letting down your idol doesn ’ t sit well .
What celebrity would you most like to meet ? [ Major League Baseball player , manager and executive ] Joe Torre . I would love to pick his brain about team-building and chemistry along with his leadership style .
John Esainko
general manager , madera , a Kimpton Hotel , WasHington , d . C .
Before settling into his current role this past May , John Esainko spent more than 13 years in various positions at Hyatt properties in locales ranging from New York to California . Nowadays he is busy keeping Dupont Circle ’ s 82-room Hotel Madera one of the neighborhood ’ s most beloved boutique properties , but on the rare occasion Esainko can take a break , he loves to head to San Diego with his wife and two daughters , where they enjoy the fabulous weather and unbeatable Mexican food .
What is one thing most people don ’ t know about you ? I absolutely love to cook . I gravitate toward anything spicy , especially Mexican-style cuisine . My friends say I make a mean fish taco .
What is your favorite travel item ? I never leave home without my iPod . Music is a great release for me .
What is on your nightstand ? My iPhone . I can ’ t help but stay connected .
What was your favorite childhood hobby ? I loved collecting baseball cards as a kid . I have a pretty healthy stock !
What was your most embarrassing moment on the job ?
Joy Asico
Why did you choose to work in hotels ? I grew up in hotels as a kid while traveling to different cities playing baseball , and I fell in love with them . Having grown up playing baseball , I learned the value of teamwork , and I really admire the teamwork necessary for a hotel to be successful .
If you weren ’ t a hotelier , what would you be ? I would be a chef or restaurateur of a Mexican restaurant . Our specialty would be fish tacos , of course !
Who taught you your biggest lesson , and what was it ? My parents . It sounds cliché , but they always told me what doesn ’ t kill you makes you stronger . I live by that every day .
What is your favorite hotel ( other than your own )? The Hyatt Dorado Beach . It has beautiful and romantic casitas that lead to a private backyard with hammocks steps from the ocean .
Where did you have your best hotel experience ? The La Manga Club Resort in Cartagena , Spain . It has six restaurants , two golf courses and a casino . And , oh yeah , it was my honeymoon .
64 HOTELS December 2014 www . hotelsmag . com