By: Cristina Riveroll

Founder & CEO

NUBE HOSPITALITY

Such a broad yet brief sentence, times do fly and I would say many things to myself that I have lived and learned along the way. However, had I known them then; I would not be the person I am now.

My professional journey started as a teacher in my hometown, Mexico City. I loved being a preschool teacher and always strived to be the best as I was forming and touching many lives. It was a very rewarding profession as Children and elderly folks have always had a very special place in my heart.

I would say to myself, to enjoy and deeply cherish every single minute of that journey; which I did, up until the time I moved to the United States and fate pulled me away from education and invited me into Hospitality.

This transition was tough. I was not able to teach then due to not having a teaching credential in the States, and hospitality at the moment was quite my only option, due to many personal circumstances and my need to join the labor force back then. I remember having dreams which I called “nightmares” where, as I was opening hotel rooms there was an empty classroom behind each door. A subtle mental transition. It was the beginning of my Hospitality career and little by little the opening of those doors led to guest rooms.

I would say to myself to follow every step I did, but to stomp firmer and with more confidence, as these steps have led me to the right path. My passion and talent for Hospitality was unfolding during this journey.

The Hospitality industry is a very noble yet demanding one. Its doors never close and the demands that come with that nature of it, never stop as it is an industry that operates 24/7. I wore many, many hats to climb the ladder in this industry, and yes, I climbed it one step at a time. Always with dedication, focus and eagerness to do better; despite the many odds against me, such as learning a new language and the discrimination that comes with it, and more. I would say to myself to keep doing what I was doing without any fear and not to worry about the odds, as they one day, may be in your favor.

I have cleaned rooms, done laundry, checked guests in and out, made reservations, carried bags, picked-up and drop-off guests from and to their destination, served and bussed tables, taken guest compliments and complaints regarding their stay, and many more line duties that often go unappreciated by most.

I would say to myself that one day I will be very proud of what I have accomplished up until then, and acknowledge how these duties laid a very strong foundation for the next ladder steps I was yet to stomp up on. I would also say thank you!

The next phase of my career was more on the strategic side as I played many roles within the managerial team of the hotels I worked at. I would say to myself with no doubt, to loosen up a little and slow down to smell the roses.

I was at a given time, responsible for overall hotel performance, sales, leading teams, employees, management company, hotel owners, guest satisfaction, rate strategy, planning, hiring, firing, budgets, profit and loss, community relations, union relations, etcetera.

My first role in management within a hotel was in the Sales Department and my last role before I moved on to the corporate ladder was a General Manager. I would say thank you for grounding a very strong foundation to get me ready for what was coming next!

“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained that struggle against overwhelming odds.” ~Orison Swett Marden

I was recruited for a recognized Hotel operating company in Southern California as a Regional Director of Operations. It was a lengthy but worthwhile process to get hired. I was hired to oversee the development and operations of a portfolio of many hotels owned by a very important and prestigious group of family hotel developers in the United States. After a few years of having opened and operated many branded and independent hotels within this portfolio, I was promoted to a VP of Operations role where I was responsible for the oversight of all the openings of the company. It encompassed many brands, sizes, types of hotels, and ownership groups. I led hundreds of team members at once and enjoyed every minute of it. I was still touching lives in many different ways. I would say to myself that I have come a long way. Although it was not easy to get where I was, I am proud of it and would not change a thing. Emphasizing that this message is not coming from the ego stand point where we can easily believe that we could have or should have done something better or different, or that we have done everything right, but from the heart; knowing that I poured it into everything I did at all times.

At the beginning of the Pandemic, all of my projects were put on hold szwindefinitely.

Little did I know what was coming next. Had I known, would I have done something different when it came to managing up? Perhaps, but doing things differently may have led me to not following my dream of independence.

Being in development always allows you to learn more about upcoming trends and not necessarily what’s in now. I have mentally encouraged myself, prior to this event to start my own Glamping brand. I had gained the knowledge of brand development and this upcoming niche was very intriguing for me, so I applied myself to doing so full time. I could not have sat around while the pandemic passed, I am hyperactive and proactive. If I had done it successfully for others, why would not I do it for me?

Amidst the pandemic, I had developed a comprehensive Glamping brand that was ready to be promoted, NUBE. A brand that encompassed my bicultural background, love for the outdoors and hospitality. I knocked on many doors and although the pandemic came to accelerate the knowledge of glamping in the market, the lenders were not ready to embrace it as something that was here to stay. One of many doors I knocked on, led me to what was my next step on the ladder within the hospitality industry.

I accepted the role of Sr. VP of Operations for a leading glamping brand in the US and did it under a verbal agreement that my brand could eventually become a part of this portfolio.

The pandemic was coming to its second wave.

I agreed to put my dream on a “shelf”, and rolled up my sleeves again. I did what I know best, and put all my knowledge in leading teams, development of brand and standards, preopening, operating assets etc, into practice. During that time, the fire within to pursue my dream was a daily burning sensation that kept whispering in my ear to go back to it, so I did. I resigned from my role after having done it for almost a year. Would I now have said to myself not to do it? No, it was a great learning and growing experience for me. I would give myself kudos for going against all odds and follow my gut feeling, when I felt the timing was right despite this great opportunity.

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

~Stephen Covey

Four years have passed since the inception of NUBE. I have traveled hundreds of miles, met hundreds of people, knocked on many, many doors in the United States, Mexico, Spain, and the Dominican Republic. Despite the numerous complexities and challenges, my joy for NUBE allowed me to persevere through the journey, although from time to time I felt like giving up.

I am super excited to share that I have found the funding for my first NUBE resort (which will be the first of many), and will be located in Los Cabos, Mexico. I would say thank you to myself again for having the determination to not give up and keep going against the odds. The professional and personal growth and setbacks have made me who I am, and I am proud of the woman I have become. I would say thank you, again! Keep going Cristina, the best is yet to come.