On one of my recent trips to the beautiful Mayan Riviera in Mexico, I had the opportunity to sit down with Stephanie Farr, co-founder of Maya Luxe, an elite vacation brokerage offering a collection of the most private and luxurious villa rentals in the exclusive Riviera Maya.
Sitting by the pool at one of her fabulous villas, Casa Nikki in Playa del Carmen, we savoured a glass of Sichel white Bordeaux from France.
We agreed white wine from Bordeaux is a bit of a secret as 90% of wine from the region is red. Predominantly made from sauvignon blanc, the Sichel paired perfectly with the warm, receding late afternoon Mexican sun.
Shari Mogk-Edwards
How would you describe what you do for a living?
Stephanie Farr
Well, technically I’d say I lead an experiential travel company that offers luxury villas to guests who are seeking superior experiences. But what I really think I do is make people’s dreams come true. That’s my reason for being.
SME
That’s a great reason! It’s also a beautiful place. How did you end up here?
SF
I’m originally from Montreal – where I did my undergrad in Commerce, Marketing and Finance. I had the chance to spend some time in Mexico during my university years and it stuck with me. After school I cut my teeth in this industry working for a Montreal based global luxury villa broker for about five years. After taking about a year off for personal travel around the world, I landed right back here in the Mayan Riviera
SME
Wow that sounds adventurous – and it sounds like this really feels like home.
SF
Definitely. When I returned I recognized that, while the Riviera, and particularly Playa del Carmen was becoming a booming vacation destination, the travel experiences were inconsistent and fragmented. There were no standards for delivering first class experiences. I saw this niche segment as an opportunity.
SME
So, what do you like about what you are doing?
SF
I’ve never been a 9-5 office person – I have a passion for discovering the world and I want my guests to feel they’re fulfilling their own passions. Too many travel experiences are transactional in nature. I believe they should be personal. I want to help people make connections, immerse themselves and learn and come out of their vacation with an incredible story. My latest passion is to focus on sustainability and leveraging our business to help clean up our beaches, respect mother nature, and give back to the community while including our guests with these projects It’s a chance for Maya Luxe to make an impact and give back.
SME
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in building your business?
SF
Certainly, as a woman it can be challenging to run a business and be taken seriously in Mexico. This is still a patriarchal society.
It’s most definitely a bonus when I get the opportunity to work with women business leaders here – I find the EQ and IQ are often superior and decisions are made from both insights and compassion.
Also, what’s more challenging in any vacation destination, not just Mexico is that nothing really gets done in timely manner. In the front end with our guests we strive to deliver uncompromising guest experiences where there is no room for error or delays, however in the back end we are faced with “manana, manana, manana”
SME
Did you experience a pivot point in your career – or an “aha” moment that influenced your direction?
SF
I’ve been running Maya Luxe for 10 years now and I wouldn’t say I’ve had a pivot point. Although, I’ve never viewed myself as an entrepreneur! It certainly strikes me when I think of how we’ve grown – we now have 50 employees and counting. I see myself as more of a visionary. I like to think big and create a demand by fulfilling a need – in this case to enable people to live their dreams.
There are certainly times where it’s tough to stay motivated in this business and it’s occurred to me at times that maybe I should be doing something else. But I’m inspired by helping people and giving back and it’s important to me to bring that inspiration and motivation back to the office for my team.
SME
It sounds fulfilling and a lot of work! This beautiful setting is making me think of leisure. What do you do to relax?
SE
Oh, relaxation is very important. It helps sustain an optimal level of performance. I love to take time for myself. Yoga and meditation are my go-to’s. Having said that I’m also in the middle of getting my motorcycle licence so and am planning a riding trip to the US.
SME
What a balance! You’ve travelled quite a bit – do you have a favourite destination?
SE
That’s easy. I’ve been around the world, but my heart is in India.
SME
Since we’re enjoying this fabulous wine together, do you have a favourite wine yourself?
SE
I love white wines and the best I’ve had have been in Sardinia. Not a bad setting either!
SME
Do you have any advice or wise words for other women as they forge their business success?
SF
I don’t believe there’s a division between business and personal when you are running your own company. My company is absolutely a reflection of me as a person. I think it’s important to create an impact. Think big. Dream big. And don’t chase the dollars.
Cheers,
Shari 🥂
.jpg)
