Below are some photos from Paco's visit to Washington. All photos courtesy Jerry Frishman.
Meet Paco Saldaña: The New Face of Travel!
Paco Saldaña, director of guest services at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla., was chosen by thousands of his peers to be the new 'Face of Travel.'
More than 16,000 people participated in the Faces of Travel contest creating and voting on hundreds of videos submitted from around the country. After we selected the finalists, you voted and picked Paco Saldaña as the industry spokesperson that embodies the vitality of travel and the importance of increasing travel to and within the United States. Unfortunately, when business meetings and events are cancelled, it's people like Saldaña - not corporate CEOs – who pay the highest price.
»Learn more about the Faces of Travel contest
»Faces of Travel YouTube channel
»Take action today to show your support for the 1 in 8 Americans who work in the travel industry.
Photo Gallery
Below are some photos from Paco's visit to Washington. All photos courtesy Jerry Frishman.
Saldaña’s Story
A native of Mexico City, Paco Saldaña moved to the United States in 1995 in search of a better life. After a brief stay in nearby Kingsland, Georgia, he moved to Amelia Island, Florida. Having worked in the hotel and restaurant business in Mexico City, Saldaña knew he wanted a career in the hospitality industry. In 1996, he began working at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Not yet fluent in English, Saldaña endured a rigorous interview process to earn a position as a bus boy in the property's fine dining restaurant. Despite the language barrier, he rapidly moved up the ranks within the company, serving in numerous positions and earning his current leadership role as the Director of Guest Services through hard work and sheer determination. Previous positions included supervisor, banquets associate, floor supervisor, club-level manager, concierge, housekeeping manager and overnight manager.
According to Saldaña, working in the hotel is like going to college. "It is a true learning experience, and I have a great family here," he says. Saldaña truly enjoys going to work every day and says his favorite part about working in the travel industry is making memories for his guests.
Saldaña’s work in the travel industry not only impacted his professional life, but also his personal life. Saldaña met his wife, Christina, when she worked as a hostess in a restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. They were married in September 2002. Christina also worked up the ranks at the hotel, serving as Senior Manager of Meetings and Special Events for the past three years. She now stays at home with their three children, Isabella Grace (age five), Nikolas Valentino (age four) and Sophia Claire (age one).
"I came to this country in search of the American dream," said Saldaña. "As an employee of The Ritz-Carlton, I’ve been given the opportunity to achieve it. But, like the millions of other ladies and gentlemen working in the travel industry, these aspirations will be cut short if we continue to suffer from a downturn in the meetings business."