For many people who have lived and worked in Casa de Campo, this resort, which is to many just a heavenly vacation retreat, has become a major part of their life. One such person who feels passionate and very thankful to Casa de Campo, is Olga Fanjul, who has been living and working here since 1992. Here we bring you a wonderful tribute to Casa de Campo and short story of Olga’s life and times in Casa de Campo, as written by Olga herself.
My golden years at Casa de Campo – by Olga Fanjul
I have been “joined at the hip” to Casa de Campo, for practically my entire working career! I started working in 1985 at Premier World Marketing [the management company for Casa de Campo, now called “Premier Resorts and Hotels”] as Secretary and from there held various positions as Reservations Agent, Group Coordinator, Sports Promotions and Sales Manager. When Premier World Marketing took over the management of The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, I was sent there to get on site experience and held the positions of Sales Manager and was later promoted to Director of Group and Conventions. Three years later I went back to Premier World Marketing as Sales Manager.
In 1992 we moved to Casa de Campo and although I was initially hired to come down as Reservations Manager to work with Jeannette Sanchez-Lopez, I was asked to take over what was then called the Sports Center, now Concierge, to implement in-house sales strategies and increase in-house revenue thoroughout the various areas of the hotel; sports, activities restaurants, golf cart sales, etc. It was a great experience, but I was eager to get back into Sales and Marketing.
The Casa de Campo sales team cerca 1998
After two years I returned to sales as Sales Manager for the US Market, working very closely with all my friends back at Premier World Marketing and was later promoted to Director of Sales for the US and Dominican Markets.
In 2004, after adopting Anna and Max, I decided to step back to be able to dedicate more time to them and have been in Villa Administration ever since, first at Punta Aguila #11 working for Deena McKelvey and now at Punta Aguila #33 for Mr. and Mrs. Safa. I thoroughly enjoy what I am now doing, but am fully aware that this pleasure is derived from my many years of experience working at the Casa de Campo resort.
Olga with her children Anna and Max
I will be forever grateful to such people as Mr. Silvestri, Jeannette Sanchez-Lopez, Eliseo Cortes and Norma Garcia Rojas (and so many more) who shaped me into the person I am today. Not a day goes by when I am not thankful for the experiences gained both professionally and personally and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that these experiences, friendships and the 20 years I have lived here allow me to continue to grow!
If there is one thing I miss about not working for at Casa de Campo any more, it is the comeraderie, but to this day, every time I have to go to the hotel, it brings a smile to my face! Although many of the players have changed there are still some employees from the past and it feels wonderful to be greeted as though you never left!
It had been many years since most of us departed from Casa de Campo, taking with us a wealth of knowledge. A few of us got together in Santo Domingo for lunch about two months back and the idea of getting together for a day of laughs and memories was born! [Referring to the “Casa de Campo ex-employees reunion” Olga recently hosted at her villa] I think that day was very special all of us….we all picked up were we left off and many stories were shared! This expresion comes to find:
“Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold” – and I know that we would all agree that our years at Casa de Campo were GOLD!
I am happy to say that just yesterday Ariel Perez, Giovanna Gomez, Isabel Vasquez, Andree Forment and I got together again for three hour lunch in Santo Domingo, at Wok, a restaurant run by Michael Vega, also an ex Casa de Campo employee! Great Chinese cuisine and a MUST if you are in Santo Domingo!
We hope to get together in September….until then….THANK YOU Casa de Campo for being such an important part of my life!
And THANK YOU to you Olga for sharing this great story & memories with us!
Spanish
