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From the Maldives to Bali to the Cayman Islands Marc LeBlanc and Laura Robinson have lived and worked in places that bulk people dream of visiting They work in the hospitality industry a journey that LeBlanc who is Canadian began at years old when he accepted a job as a dishwasher at a hotel He worked his way up to bellman then to the reservations desk before pursuing a degree in hotel management Robinson who is British studied marine biology and worked as a diving instructor before transitioning to hotel leadership The couple met while working in the Cayman Islands and have since lived and worked on several islands in Asia including the small eastern Indonesian island of Sumba Now they reside in Shinta Mani Wild a luxury resort tucked away in Cambodia s Cardamom Mountains where LeBlanc serves as the hotel s general manager and Robinson oversees operations and sustainability Source Laura RobinsonRobinson and LeBlanc preparing to zipline more than feet across the Cambodia jungle into Shinta Mani Wild the majority of popular way to enter the resort The couple frequently speak with hotel guests multiple of whom are super curious to know about our story stated LeBlanc For starters working in places like the Maldives which is known for its one island one resort concept is different from visiting it he communicated CNBC Tour You re locked on that island surrounded by water LeBlanc noted You re not really going anywhere you re kind of stuck there for long periods of time For employees resort life centers on a staff village where workers sleep eat and do laundry a situation LeBlanc likened to a summer camp It becomes a little society of its own Robinson noted You still have the same challenges that having a large group of people living together can present There are differences in personalities and opinions Managing those differences is critical she mentioned especially in places like the Maldives which has a multicultural workforce That has been easier at Shinta Mani Wild because except a minimal of us everyone is Cambodian she revealed A great number of people think that working in hospitality is about ensuring guests are having a good time But you ve got employees that you ve got to make sure are happy too she noted Robinson disclosed she and LeBlanc celebrate staff birthdays and other events at the hotel Marc sometimes gets his decks out and DJs for them which they adore she revealed While island life spells sun and fun for majority travelers saltwater creates maintenance issues for those working behind the scenes Robinson commented Source Laura RobinsonRobinson pictured in the Cayman Islands says her past work as a diving instructor prepared her to handle exercises and experiences at the hotels that she and LeBlanc manage In the Cambodian forest the environmental challenges are different Here you ve got the humidity and the forest trying to reclaim itself she announced Shinta Mani Wild has guest tents but the resort sits on land that is the size of Central Park and it requires a very high level of attention to detail in terms of product and operation but also the conservation work that we do LeBlanc declared He explained staff patrol the property including a large farm on the land while also maintaining the trails that run through it It s new for us he mentioned We re learning Far from family Life in several of the world s majority coveted movement destinations has its perks but LeBlanc and Robinson also contend with living far from their families When they lived in the Maldives their parents visited them yearly and they returned home every other year to see siblings revealed Robinson Now the couple passage home every year she explained My brother and sister started having kids and our parents are getting older The couple do not have children so schooling a big consideration for a great number of expatriates isn t an issue They lately adopted two dogs from the Cardamom Mountains forest they reported Working together for nearly two decades LeBlanc and Robinson discussed another challenge living and working in remote locations as a couple Initially you don t know how it s going to go declared LeBlanc But we work quite well together Source Laura RobinsonHiring couples to manage hotels makes sense for remote destinations reported LeBlanc We have each other he declared We re still doing it Robinson noted with a laugh adding that separate offices are key As the general manager of Shinta Mani LeBlanc oversees matters related to human tools finance shield and engineering at the hotel while Robinson handles more front of house matters she noted Laura is highly organized highly efficient and I m more on the creative side LeBlanc reported Robinson stated LeBlanc comes up with bold ideas and is skilled at executing them The couple spend time even on personal holidays brainstorming ideas often finding inspiration from their travels she revealed There s no shortage of places looking for managing couples LeBlanc commented There are recruitment firms that specialize in hiring couples not only for hotels but also for private islands for ultra-high net worth individuals The job opportunities are out there In remote destinations having a companion can ease loneliness too revealed LeBlanc It makes sense we have each other he disclosed
