This summer Monastery had the absolute pleasure to travel to Belize to visit the two Coppola Family Hideaways properties to train their spa staff on the Monastery facial and also get to enjoy the property and beautiful country that the family has called home for over 40 years.
We started our trip at Blancaneaux Lodge, a property tucked in mountainous jungle, wrapped around a river. We explored ancient Mayan ruins, canoed through caves with skeleton sacrifices, swam into waterfalls, explored the property by horse and had delicious meal after delicious meal (my two boys even helped the Coppola team pick the veggies from the Blancaneaux farm). It was hard to say goodbye to the incredible staff of Blancaneaux but we knew that we had another amazing adventure awaiting for us.
Next, the beachside Turtle Inn. At Turtle Inn we enjoyed getting comfy in Sofia and Francis’ homes, which are bookable to guests at certain times of the year. We loved getting to know the incredible staff that I didn’t think could match Blancaneaux, but did. We swam with manta rays, turtles and nurse sharks, had private boat dinner cruises, hung at the private island, hunted around for jaguars at a preserve (we only saw paw prints, but did see hippos, crocodiles, and monkeys). We ate delicious meals from the garden on the property there as well and Mr. Monastery was even invited to help make pizza at the new fire roasted pizza restaurant. I managed to also find time to train the incredible spa staff of Turtle Inn and something worth mentioning is that Francis hand picked the spa teams and I can tell you that Francis has impeccable taste in a masseuse. I am excited that they will be switching to all Monastery products in the spa.
It's hard to put into words the level of hospitality at the Coppola Hideaways because it doesn't feel like hospitality in the general sense of the word. It feels like an extension of the Coppola family. After a while you start to realize that you haven't been wanting for anything – meals and drinks appear, sunblock applied to your children before you even have a chance to do it, thoughtful excursions appear on your schedule (while on those excursions a historian with you at every turn, but not in that annoying way, in that perfect way that the minute you wonder something, like what type of flower that might be… the answer presents itself). I found myself wishing that the staff would be joining at the dinner that night because I enjoyed their company so genuinely.
It's a very relaxing and calm understated type of luxury, and after getting to know Sofia, it all makes sense because that is exactly who the Coppolas are. They are a family first and foremost and secondly they are a family of artists. Artists that happen to be famously successful for the art that they have made but somehow in that celebrity status they have never developed any bit of pretension. It's obvious that the Coppola Hideaway teams feel like an extension of the Coppola family because they really are. I enjoyed listening to the culinary team talking about an upcoming inspiration trip out of the country or the wine team discussing their fall trip to Napa to Francis’ home to learn more intimately about wine. It felt as if I was listening to a family eagerly and excitedly plan their annual trip. The thoughtful care and humanity that was put into the staffing at these two amazing establishments was so obvious.
The first time I met Sofia in our spa in San Francisco, I noticed that she made little comments. Pointing out the small details in regard to the line, the spa, the music, etc. Details that typically no one notices but that I take pride in. I was pleased by her comments and obviously flattered just because of who she is but it wasn't until I experienced the properties that I understood why she really did appreciate these things. This was how her family businesses ran as well, Monastery (like the Coppola Hideaways) is a family owned business in the literal sense (me and my husband both work for Monastery full time) but also in who we employ. I care for the Monastery staff as my own family and the care and dedication they’ve contributed to the brand is something I do not take lightly – most employees who have been with me from the start. The experience was an unforgettable one and I am so proud that Monastery’s first ever spray is in collaboration with this family owned business.
