‘More than ever it has become important to invest time in yourself’ – Johanna Marshall

Making room for relaxation and self-improvement can prove to be a tough task for many business leaders, with many putting all their eggs in one basket by solely focusing on their professional lives.

This can be detrimental to the individual’s personal life, particularly their mental health, and as a result, there has been a widespread push for more focus on a healthier work-life balance.

Johanna Marshall, Director of Events at The Westin Dragonara Resort, is aiming to give greater priority to this, and has sought to do so over the course of the summer, the time when the hospitality industry is arguably at its peak.

In the latest instalment of this year’s MaltaCEOs.mt summer interview series, we caught up with Johanna to learn how she has invested more in herself this summer, together with the holiday experiences that remain etched in her memory.

Johanna has worked in the hospitality industry for over 18 years and has served as Director of Events at the St Julian’s hotel for the past 11 months. Working in hospitality might be tough and hectic during the hotter months, yet she still makes it a point to find some “me-time”.

1. Are you a summer person, or do you prefer winter? Why?

I am more of a summer person. I love the fact that days are longer and you get so much more out of your day!

2. How has this summer been?

This summer has been busier than usual. Following the pandemic there was a backlog of events that all happened in the span of the last few months, so I did not enjoy it as much as I usually would have, but it is always great to be busy!

3. What’s your favourite thing to do in the summer season? Why?

One of my absolute favourite things to do is have some ‘me-time’ reading a good book at the beach. I am also a foodie, so I always enjoy eating out especially at outdoorsy places.

4. Do you prefer going out or staying inside during the summer season?

Because of my busy schedule I do not get a lot of time at home, so I still like staying in sometimes and just enjoy some indoor relaxation.

5. Do you have any travel plans? If yes, where to and why?

I will be traveling later on this summer; we will venture to the south of Spain exploring different destinations along the coast. Spain is one of my favourite places to travel to as it is so rich in culture, offers amazing food, beautiful locations and the people are very friendly and warm.

6. What’s your dream summer destination? Why?

Somewhere where you can both relax and explore, offering sea and sun. For this reason, Spain is one of those places I keep going back to.

7. What’s your best holiday experience?

The best holidays that stay imprinted in my memory are always those that offer fantastic food, beautiful sights, and great hospitality. If I had to mention one of the very best, it has to be Hawaii. It truly lives up to the expectation in its offerings. It is unique and just so special.

8. What’s your worst holiday experience?

Since I work in the hospitality industry it is no wonder that one of the most crucial aspects of my holiday is the hotel I choose to stay at. I don’t recall any ‘bad destinations’ but unfortunately there have been a few ‘bad hotels’ which leave a sour taste on your overall experience.

9. Companies are encouraged to invest to stay ahead of the curve. As a business leader, how will you be investing in yourself this summer?

More than ever it has become important to invest time in yourself above anything else. This is vital not only for your own health benefits but also because relaxation and self-fulfilment prove to enable better overall productivity and enhance performance.

10. From recharging your batteries to taking on a huge task – do you have any particular goals for the summer?

It has been a busy first half of the year so I hope that for the remaining couple of weeks I slow down and relax before we take on the next busy four months.