Hotel Effie Sandestin Appoints New Spa Director

Industry veteran Osa Mallo brings wealth of experience to Spa Lilliana

Hotel Effie, the boutique luxury hotel managed by Highgate at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, has announced the appointment of Osa Mallo as its new Spa Director. Mallo will oversee Spa Lilliana, the hotel’s serene wellness utopia featuring 10 spacious and well-appointed treatment rooms, the only coed relaxation lounge in the region, private men’s and women’s locker rooms and relaxation areas, a hair and nail salon, and a retail boutique.

“I am excited to be working with Hotel Effie and look forward to helping make Lilliana Spa the premier spa and wellness center on the Emerald Coast,” Mallo said. “Our goal is to provide guests with superior luxury service and exclusive quality treatments. I look forward to connecting with the local community and creating memorable journeys, offerings and retreats that enhance overall well-being.”

Mallo is a results-oriented director with over three decades of experience in the luxury wellness and hospitality industry. She spent 18 years working for Mandarin Oriental, Miami, most recently as its senior director of spa and wellness, where she led a team of over 50 colleagues to achieve the coveted Forbes five-star award for 12 consecutive years. She also initiated and actively participated in and contributed to several significant initiatives within the spa segment for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, including pre-opening planning and assistance for Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta; participating in major spa renovations, working closely with the design to focus on operational functions; conversion of underutilized retail space to a hair salon; and spearheading renovations to the lobby store, converting it into a profitable outlet.

“We are pleased to welcome Osa Mallo as our new spa director at Hotel Effie,” said Jim Marino, general manager at Hotel Effie. “Thanks to her strong problem-solving capabilities, a service-driven mindset and excellent mentoring skills, she will be focused on driving revenue and profitability through continuous enhancement of the guest experience and long-term client retention.”

As the spa director for Hotel Effie, Mallo will be focused on the daily operations of Spa Lilliana. She will oversee all aspects of the 10-treatment room spa, salon and retail boutique, including finances, operations, experiences and marketing.

Hotel Effie

Hotel Effie is a boutique luxury hotel at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort featuring 250 guest rooms and suites, four culinary concepts by acclaimed Chef Hugh Acheson, a luxury spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and the only rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast.

The hotel also features 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. Guests have access to the full complement of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort amenities, including more than seven miles of pristine beaches and bayfront, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, a 123-slip marina and an additional 65,000 square feet of meeting space.

Additionally, the Village of Baytowne Wharf, a charming pedestrian village with events, shopping, dining and nightlife, is located within walking distance of Hotel Effie. Visit hoteleffie.com to learn more and follow the hotel on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Highgate

Highgate is a leading global real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry.

Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing footprint in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.

The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen.

The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands.

Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Waikiki, London and Lisbon. www.highgate.com.