Spa People in the News

Lynsey Roper: Spa Director / Marketing & Media Relations for Bob Pascal's St. Michaels Harbour Inn & Marina

Born in the North West of England, Lynsey's love of the Hospitality Industry blossomed at an early age. Before leaving high school, she had worked in all departments of a small hotel close to the family home. After her degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Blackpool & the Flyde College, Lynsey joined the prestigious Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel in Lake Windermere. A Small Luxury Hotels property that had acquired several awards for customer service, she spent five years working closely with the Proprietors, expanding her knowledge of marketing and fine dinning.

It was as Assistant Manager at Holbeck Ghyll that Lynsey met three gentlemen on a tour of SLH properties in the UK. As she likes to begin "An Englishman, Scotsman & American walked into Holbeck Ghyll and 1 year later I flew to the States" In March 1997 Lynsey became Restaurant Manager at the St. Michaels Crab & Steak House in St. Michaels, Maryland. Only intending to stay for 18 months, she fell in love with St. Michaels, and although she enjoyed the fast pace and relaxed atmosphere at the Crab House she missed the guest contact and experiences that came with the hotel business. In October 1998, 'The Englishman' she met at Holbeck Ghyll introduced her to the owners of Five Gables Inn & Spa in St. Michaels. The Inn had only opened in September 1998 and Lynsey knew this was the role and challenge she was looking for.

As Innkeeper, Lynsey managed all aspects of the now 14 room, Inn & Spa. She enjoyed a close relationship with the owners and saw the Inn excel and the Spa expand from 2 to 6 treatment rooms in 4 years. With an emphasis on customer service and a large number of repeat guests, the Inn soon became one of the favorite places to stay on the Chesapeake Bay. Lynsey relished all her roles at the Inn, from serving breakfast and chatting to the guests, to hosting Travel Writers, developing new Spa Services, Marketing and updating the website and designing packages to suit the ever changing travel market.

After 5 years, Lynsey decided to take a step back from the 'hands-on/live on property' position and look to buy a home and travel more. With several different opportunities to choose from it was during a trip to Florida that Lynsey decided to stay in St. Michaels and join Bob Pascal's St. Michaels Harbour Inn & Marina as their Spa Director and Marketing & Media Relations Coordinator. " It's an exciting opportunity to design, build and open a Spa, the travel & tourism industry is always changing and the Spa market is growing in the US. With beautiful surroundings and a relaxed, professional atmosphere The Spa at Harbour Inn will be a wonderful new addition to St. Michaels Harbour Inn & Marina"

Always with her mind on the industry Lynsey loves to travel, spend time with family & friends, experience new restaurants and has a passion for Rugby and her native country's team, England.