LAGNIAPPE
ELODIA
HERRERA
GENERAL MANAGER , TRYP MEDELLIN , COLOMBIA
Elodia Herrera is an architect turned hotel general manager who designed the hotel she manages , the 140- room Tryp Medellin , which opened in 2011 in Medellin , Colombia . The hotel is a bit of a family affair , with three of her nine siblings pitching in with photography , graphic design and administrative consulting . Herrera says her work is driven by her passion and that she plans on taking her hotel to the next level as GM .
Your business card says you are passionate about books and gastronomy . Why ? I love historic novels and biographies . Recently , though , I read the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson . Although it ’ s not what I typically read , I really loved the first novel , “ The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo .”
For gastronomy , I like Italian and Mediterranean cuisines — those are my favorites . I love lighter pastas and seafood like lobster . I don ’ t like Mexican food and Indian food — too many spices . Also , I don ’ t like sushi .
Why did you enter the hotel industry ? I was an architect working for a construction company , and they hired me to direct this project . Then I was asked to design the interiors , as well . When it didn ’ t work out with the original GM , I was interested in the opportunity . Everything I do , I do with passion , and this contact with people , finding out what they want and serving them , is very interesting for me .
What is your best hotel memory or experience ? Staying at a simple beachfront eco-lodge , run by natives , on the island of Baru in Colombia . They cooked on the beach for you and played tamburas . You felt almost like you were in someone ’ s home rather than a hotel .
What is your hotel pet peeve ? Having to wait too long at check-in , especially after traveling a long time , and cheap shampoos that smell bad and don ’ t clean your hair properly .
What was your most embarrassing moment as a hotelier ? Alfredo Aguilar , who at the time was Meliá Hotels International ’ s America area vice president , arrived for a property visit , and we wanted to give him the best room . However , in the room we put him in the hot water and air conditioning weren ’ t working . We didn ’ t have full occupancy that night either , so it was just bad luck .
What do you wish you had more time for ? Dancing — I dance ballet and tango .
What music have you been listening to lately ? I like this Colombian group Monsieur Periné a lot . It ’ s a mix of 1920s style and Latin music .
What person , living or dead , would you most like to meet ? Because I love architecture , either Antoni Gaudí or Alvar Aalto . They were so innovative .
If you could fly off somewhere next week , where would you go ? To the south of Italy .
What is something most people don ’ t know about you ? That even though I love food , I don ’ t cook ! Also , I collect jigsaw puzzles .
72 HOTELS June 2013 www . hotelsmag . com