Celebrating Our Colleagues

Meet Miraval Resorts’ Area Reservations Sales Assistant Manager Alex Lee.

Learn how Alex believes in the power of support, inspiration, and community in the workplace.

Tell us about your journey at Miraval Resorts.

I started my journey with Miraval Austin in April 2019 as an experience planner. I was dedicated to my work and quickly received a promotion to area reservations supervisor in November 2019. I was able to learn, lead, and grow in my position. In July 2021, I was promoted to area reservations sales assistant manager and am still in my current role.

What do you enjoy most about being a Miraval Resorts colleague?

At Miraval Austin, we have amazing colleagues who go above and beyond for our guests and each other. These last two years have not been easy, and our team overcame the obstacles thrown at us by sticking together. Not only as a reservations team but resort-wide. We created a community, and I am very fortunate to work with them!

What brought you to Miraval?

When I moved to Austin, I worked at a telemarketing business where I sold digital marketing to lawyers and contractors but was laid off on February 1, 2019. I decided to take that time to evaluate what I wanted in life. I looked into different career paths where I could still be involved with one of my passions—helping people. My final decision was to jump into hospitality because the career options are endless. I started looking at hotels and resorts in the area when I came across Miraval Austin. I researched the brand, fell in love with the concept of guiding people to create a life in balance, and instantly applied. I originally applied for the front office agent position, but after a few interviews, the team saw me as a perfect fit as an experience planner.

What keeps you here?

One of the reasons I stay here is the growth opportunity. My director, Dena Orzolek, is invested in my growth at Miraval Resorts. By creating development plans, learning, and more, Miraval Resorts takes the time to help colleagues on when they should make that next step. Our leaders go the extra mile to help you succeed.

My second reason is the impact we make on our guests. We welcome guests who come at their highest points in life and—on the flip side—guests who are dealing with significant transitions. We offer services to help them connect to their authentic selves and get back on track to mental wellbeing and living a balanced life. It’s very easy to stand behind a brand that genuinely means this. We share the same values with our colleagues, which is very motivating.

Our jobs aren’t always easy, but I try to be resilient and lean on the support around me. I have been in tough positions when interacting with guests, and some challenges tempted me to walk out the door. The support I receive when dealing with challenges is unmatched and the words of encouragement from my team are why I decide to stay. I remain strong with my supervisor’s support, guidance, and the team behind me.

What have you learned from your time at Miraval?

I had the privilege of participating in Pravasana at Miraval Austin. It’s one of our Energy & Eastern spa services. You start the service by setting an intention. Mine was to go in with an open mind and let the universe tell me what I needed to hear. During my experience, I had a realization. My thoughts surrounded my cell phone, what was happening on it, its notifications, and my need to reach for it. I knew I didn’t have my phone on me, but I was still reaching for it. At that moment, I knew I needed to set boundaries and detach from my phone. When I left the service, I grabbed my phone and turned off about 60% of my notifications. Now I try to unplug, set boundaries, and live in the present moment as often as I can.

Learn more about Digital Mindfulness

Another thing that I’ve learned at Miraval is to work on communication. I am a person who will take on the world and put everything on my shoulders. There’s a meme that says, “what is harder to say? I love you, I’m sorry, Worcestershire, or I need help.” For me, it was “I need help.” I can get inside my head or feel overwhelmed, but I have learned to lean into my support at Miraval Austin. I’ve learned it’s okay to ask for help, ask for more time, or even say that I cannot complete a task—as long as the communication is there.

What is the best part of your day?

It is very rewarding to see guests get what they need from Miraval. I get my true fulfillment assisting my colleagues and ensuring they care for our guests. I strive not to make things transactional, especially if my colleagues reach out for guidance. It has been busy, so if a colleague reaches out, I try to ask an off-topic question to see how they are doing and catch up a bit. I’ll even send a message to lighten the mood or make someone smile.

How does Miraval help you create a work-life balance?

By constantly reminding colleagues to check in with how they are feeling. Sometimes I get so caught up in the busy flow of working that I forget to check in with myself, but my team continually reminds me to take time for myself, rest, and rejuvenate. Recently, I have told myself that I don’t need to tackle everything at once and that some tasks can wait until tomorrow. Miraval also encourages us to use our paid time off.

Is there a story you would like to share that people at work might not know about you?

Boxing & MMA fighting is my passion and a great way to destress! People think that fighters are always angry or have to be filled with rage to perform at a high level, but that is not always the case. Acting out of anger gets you nowhere. Even in a fight, you need to stay calm, cool, and collected, or you can get yourself into trouble quickly. My goal is to participate in at least one MMA or boxing match!

What is your Miraval “i am” word, and how did you choose this word to represent your essence?

“I am” inspirational.

I was inspired to choose this word because of the late Nipsey Hussle, a rap icon who tragically lost his life in 2019. He didn’t grow up in the best conditions, but he made the most of it, which truly inspired me. He focused on spreading positivity to the community and uplifting people who felt they did not have a chance. He overcame a lot during his short-lived life and used that to build his community and touch lives. When it’s all said and done, life is about inspiring others to want better for themselves, and I try to live like that every day.

Read about Miraval Resorts “i am” initiative here

Celebrating our Colleague “i am” Series

Stay tuned and keep checking back in this space for an ongoing celebration of our Miraval colleagues. We are excited to shine a light on our colleagues’ “i am” statements in the upcoming months as we share the stories of their unique talents, passions, and personalities. Learn more about how their word informs and balances their work and personal journeys.