Luz Maria Torres

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Luz Maria Tbrres
Vacation
Visionarv
By SylviaMendoza
goeson vacation,shetakesnotes,She
henLuzMariaTorres
with spectacularviews,top-notchrestaurants,
and a ReesJonesgolf
knows that when dream vacationsexceedexpectations, course.The surroundingwatersare an uncommonbrilliantaqua,the
a customer'sexperiencecan be magical,As Presidentof
bay is pristine,the mountainsare breathtaking,and the five islands
AltamarInvestments
and co-ownerof The VillaGroup Fesorts,which
alongthe Sea of Cor16sform an ecologicalbarrierfor everyimaginable
specializes
in timeshares,
Torresworks hardto combinethe beautyof
sea creature.
a vacationspot with exceptional
seruiceand luxurioussensations.
That
approachbenefitstourrsmwhileprovidingpersonalsatisfaction,
"Loreto is such a wonderful place that deserves to be
discovered,"Torresbelieves."lt providesthe peoplewho wish to
"Vacationsare very impodant in peoples' lives,"says Torres."lt is
marvelat its beautywith comfortableaccommodations.lt is a place
necessaryfor all of us to restand enloysomeleisuretime at leastonce
where they can enjoy wonderful meals and have easy access to
a year.We functionbetteraftergreatholidays."
"lively"nature.The projectis big, over 40,000squaremiles,with
Raisedin Mazatlan,Sinaloa,she was just sixteenand studyingat
lots of reservedland to preserve.This is a very importanttask, as it
the tourismschoolwhen she firstjumped into the hotelbusinessas a
receptionist.
Shewanteda summerjob that wouldhelpherimproveher
benefitsMexico'stourism industry,its citizensand visitors."
The Loreto project is just the beginningfor this visionary,In
English."Havingbeenraisedin a touristtown, it becamealmostnormal
addition,she continuesto rise to successin this traditionallymale-
to work in the primaryindustryof the community."
dominatedbusiness.All along,however,other women influencedher
That hotelsubsequentlybecamea timeshareresoft."l movedto the
work ethicand groundedher,
salesdepartmentas a timesharestreetpromoter(OPC-outside
public
contact)-for lesshoursand more pay."
Her motherwas a forwardthinkerand, while havinga modest
education,alwayshad a strongdesireto learn.Her two daughtersare
The companyexpandedto Puedo Vallada,Jalisco,and asked independent,
happyindividuals
who followtheirinterestsbut makeher
her to move with them, After one year,she becameOPC manager. want to alwaysbe a good example,Theyhaveseenher praciicewhat
When the companybegansufferingparlnershipproblems,she and a
she preaches:"Workveryhard,be intuitiveand smar1."
co-workerjoinedforces,"l was workingwith Owen Perry,developing
As a young professional,
she learnedto respectolderpeoplebut
the sales infrastructure.
We decided to create our own marketinq did not thinkthey had allthe answers,weresmarteror knewmorethan
company."
her."Now that I am older,I keepthat clearso I can learnmore."
Torres has learned other valuable lessons on her journey:
They coJounded PromocionesTropicales,
They bought a small
hoteland convededit to a five-startimeshareresoft.Theirmagictouch
1.
Put in a lot of working hours.
e
o
.E
expandedto PuedoValladaand Cabo San Lucas.The companygrew
2,
Sunound yourself with talented people and let them do their jobs,
€
intoThe VillaGroup."We enteredinto more padnerships
that led us to
3.
Place the well-being of those you lead first in order to
create a team of successful people,
The investmentand passionpaid off,Today,The VillaGroup has
4.
Always keep your ego in check.
many five-startimeshareresods and nearly2,000 employees,"The
5,
Control the weakness of settling for the comfortable living
lrl
becomedevelopersand sellour own properties,"
o
E
=o
U
O
N
desireto sellsomethinggood to your customers,to providethem with
enabled by past $uccesses; always move onto the next
O
an excellentvacationexperience
and to givetrulyhonestleadership
are
challenge as if it's the first,
N
the fundamentals
of attractingmotivated,intelligent
and creativepeople
The lessonsseemto makeTorresa wiserleaderwho ultimatelyhas
e
that willhelpdevelopa good company."
to makethe best decisionsfor her company."Whenyou haveto makea
Sheworkson Federallegislation
to promotethe timesharelndustry decisionandthinkyou'vethoughtaboutit longenough,thinkaboutit one
J
-
and nationaltourism;it has kept her activelyinvolvedwith Chambersof
Commerce,time shareand touristassociations,
and the Secretaryof
F
'a
1.26
Tourismand ConsumerAffairs.
moretime.Oncethe decisionis made,the doingis effortless."
goodworkingrelationships
Developing
basedon respectand integrity
is also crucialto success,When askedwhat her greatestachievement
is
The VillaGroup is developinga 3,000 acre resod development to date,Torresseesbeyondthe scopeof business."Hopefully,
it'shavinga
in Loreto,BajaCaliforniaSur,blendingeleganceand warm hospitality positiveimpacton the peoplewho work closeto me.".
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