“When I think back of being in my mom’s salon when I was a little girl … my sister would always be the one behind the chair pretending to do people’s hair and I’d always be the one behind the desk pretending to book appointments,” says Shannon Mariani, director of the spa and nail bar at Four Seasons Hotel. “So, I knew early on I’d work in the industry.”
In fact, Mariani moved from her hometown in Colorado to Las Vegas in 2005 to pursue a degree in the field. After her graduation from UNLV’s hospitality program, her first spa job was at the Flamingo. From there, résumé highlights include the spa at Southern Highland’s private golf course and helping launch Vdara’s ESPA spa when CityCenter opened. She joined Four Seasons in 2014 as its spa director.
“At Four Seasons I help people realize, both guests and people that work here, what it means to take care of themselves in this day and age,” Mariani says. “… People then and now don’t take enough time for themselves, period. And it is the hardest thing to talk people into and the most rewarding.”
When it comes to her team, Mariani is proud to really know every single one of her employees, and they know her and relate on a personal level, she says. “Our staff, hands down, is the best staff in the city; highly trained individuals. There’s never a time that a guest has come in and we can’t do exactly what they’re looking for. I’m really lucky—the staff are like-minded, nice people and, at the end of the day, my favorite staff I’ve ever worked with.”
Specialty Products
Specialty Products
Mariani has carefully and thoughtfully curated the spa’s retail space with interesting and unique products. Three of her favorites include Freedom all-natural deodorant, which is made locally and actually works, says Mariani. The Hangover Soap Co. is also a local business of hand soap and bath bombs that are visually appealing. The third product line that Mariani highlights is the shea butter from Eu’Genia, a company run by a mother-daughter team that works with a co-op in Ghana. That co-op provides education to women and children who work on the farm. Plus, Mariani says the product—that can be used all over the body—completely changed and moisturized her skin.
