People of
Villa Monticello
Charles G. Meares, General Manager
Originally from Zimbabwe, Charles G. Meares has experienced tremendous success in the hospitality field. With an incredible sense of pride for what he does, he has led a career that’s seen him earn numerous awards and respect as one of the finest Hotel Managers in all of Ghana, the country he and his young family now call home.
As a young boy, Charles spent a few years in Kwekwe, followed by Bulawayo, and eventually attended high school in the coal-mining town of Hwange. After completing his studies, Charles initially began his professional career working as a jeweler in 1992, gaining valuable experience in close customer service relationships in the world of high-end luxury. He joined the hospitality industry in 1999 when he signed on to work at the newly opened Stanley and Livingstone Hotel, Rani Resort’s flagship hotel in Zimbabwe. He spent the next decade helping the hotel win several national and regional awards before setting off on his next challenge.
With ten successful years under his belt working as the Resident Manager and Deputy General Manager, Charles left The Stanley and Livingstone Hotel to become the General Manager of the Zambezi Queen, a luxury safari cruise ship. Charles joined the Zambezi Queen’s team at the project stage and helped manage an aggressive schedule to see the boat launch in November. He recruited and trained a local staff, most of who had never worked in a hotel before, quickly elevating the service and expectations to a five-star standard.
Charles’ ability to see new and complex projects through at an extremely high level is rare and highly coveted. So once the Villa Monticello project was underway, Charles was the ideal candidate. After achieving quick success with the Zambezi Queen, he accepted a position as the Hotel Manager of the Villa Monticello boutique hotel and spa. He brought with him a wealth of experience and passion for the hospitality industry, as well as a keen love for Ghana and her people, her cultural diversity and her freedom.
If you happen to spot Charles around the halls of the Villa Monticello, feel free to say hello. Ask him any questions you may have about the hotel, the city of Accra or if he has any recommendations for where to play golf, go bowling or even if you’re simply looking for a good book to read. He’s here to make sure that your stay is as pleasant as it can possibly be.
Valeria Dettori, Spa Manager
There are beauticians and then there is Valeria Dettori. Known for her dedicated research on the latest beauty treatments and skin insights, Valeria has acquired the kind of noted expertise that keeps her clients coming back year after year. Having pampered the skin of countless A-list actresses, footballers, soon-to-be brides as well as people who simply want to be well groomed, Valeria is now celebrated in the industry as a “super-beautician”.
Valeria Dettori was born in a small provincial town on the island of Sardinia. She grew up fascinated with beauty treatments, often whipping up original “moisturizers” using raw eggs and other ingredients from her mother’s kitchen, and testing them on her younger sister. Luckily for her sister, Valeria was serious about what she was doing, pursuing what would eventually turn out to be a wildly successful career in the beauty field.
Valeria started working as an apprentice at a chic spa in Italy where she eventually qualified in beauty therapy before moving to England and doing the same. For years, she worked with acclaimed industry specialists, evolving her own philosophy and approach to creating specialised treatments. Spreading her time equally between London and the Emerald Coast in Sardinia, Valeria soon gained a devoted clientele who would travel from all destinations for one of her treatments. A founding member of the Villa Monticello happened to be one of those clients, often visiting London to see Valeria at her salon. When Valeria was told about the plans to open the luxurious Villa Monticello hotel in Accra, she enthusiastically came up with innovative ideas for a spectacular spa and beauty clinic. What started out as a small conversation quickly grew into a large idea, and it became apparent that not only did the Villa Monticello have to have its own luxury spa, but also that Valeria Dettori had to be the driving force behind it.
Not one to stand still for long, Valeria embraced this exciting new venture and immediately moved to Accra. She helped oversee the creation of the Spa at Villa Monticello, a full service luxury spa and an oasis of calm offering treatments for the body, mind and spirit. As the Spa Manager, Valeria is dedicated to creating a wide range of treatments to help restore the natural harmony that is the essence of life itself. The spa’s Zen ambience is relaxed and stress-free. And with a highly skilled therapeutic staff, it draws upon a full complement of the most effective treatments from East and West, harnessing both the wisdom of the ages and modern innovation.
Valeria has always believed that a person’s appearance and health is directly related to the way they feel and that allowing yourself to indulge in spa treatments every now and then will leave you feeling younger, healthier and happier. She says ”It’s all about balance: balancing work, home, family and of course yourself. Spoiling yourself to a treatment with the outcome of you feeling good, will lead to you enjoying life.”
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