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Success Story: Johanna Schneider

15 Mar 2017 Spa Johanna Schneider has been working at The Charles Spa in Munich since 2010. After her education as a certified beautician, make-up artist and podiatrist, she enrolled at The Charles Hotel as a trainee. Very quickly she worked her way up the ranks, becoming the hotel’s Spa Manager.

She has also become one of Rocco Forte’s Spa Trainers, being strongly involved in the development of the Forte Organics (Rocco Forte’s own bio-cosmetic line) and also training other hotels in the group in carrying out Forte Organics treatments.

How did you get your start in the spa industry?
After school I started to study at the University of Construction Engineering in Munich, but I quickly realized that my passion lied in the beauty industry and decided to quit university to pursue a career in beauty.

What roles have you held in the industry during your career?
After one year of Beauty School in Munich, I started at The Charles Hotel on October 1st 2010 as a trainee and quickly worked my way up. I became a Spa Attendant on February 1st 2011, then a Spa Supervisor on January 1st 2012, then the Assistant Spa Manager on April 1st 2014, Acting Spa Manager on March 1st 2015 and finally Spa Manager on December 1st 2016!

What's the hardest challenge you've had in your career, and what did you learn from it?
The hardest challenge is to have an engaged and motivated team at all times. Nevertheless, I’m proud to say that through learning to teach and respect every individual member of my team, and adhering to their needs, I have seen great improvements since taking over as Spa Manager! Looking at our engagement score, I am very proud to see that we have achieved amazing results this year. In addition, turnover has significantly dropped in my spa.

Another huge challenge is to always stay on top of trends in this constantly changing and developing industry. There are new techniques, devices and ideas coming out every week. Having to select what will work for a hotel spa and what will be long-lasting, and not a ‘fad’, is certainly not easy. Having made mistakes in the past, I have learnt to be more selective, trying to ensure that I choose things that will be successful in the long-term.

What professional achievement are you most proud of and why?
I am very proud that I became a Spa Manager at the age of 27. I’m also proud to have a place within the Rocco Forte Family, where I feel respected and have the opportunity to voice my opinion and the possibility to train other hotels. I am proud that I have managed to strongly increase spa revenue (with most of the revenue coming from local repeat spa guests), making The Charles Spa a strong-player in the city. This year, I have been nominated for the Spa Manager of the Year award by Beauty Düsseldorf, which is another achievement I’m proud of.

What is the best part of working in the spa and wellness industry?
The best part of working in this industry is that it never gets boring. The industry is constantly developing and moving and thus it is extremely dynamic and interesting. In addition, it is an industry in which you can work and meet a number of different people from different walks of life and cultures (guests and Team Members). Another great thing about working in the spa industry is that your job is about making individuals feel better and just be better.