A Journey from Disney to Founding MDA Hospitality Solutions with Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez

In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, we sit down with Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez , President and Founder of MDA Hospitality Solutions. Mary shares her incredible journey from starting her hospitality career at Walt Disney World at 16 to now celebrating 10 years of success with her own company. Discover her insights on hospitality training, her transformative experiences at top brands like Walt Disney, Loew's Miami Beach, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental, and how she has helped elevate industry standards. Join us as we delve into the importance of training and staying passionate about what you do. Perfect for hospitality professionals looking for inspiration and actionable tips to boost team satisfaction and operational excellence!00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:32 Mary's Journey Begins at Disney03:18 Rising Through the Ranks at Disney12:18 Transition to Loew's Miami Beach Hotel15:49 Experience at Four Seasons Miami17:52 Joining Mandarin Oriental Miami22:36 Unexpected Job Offer23:16 First Executive Role24:13 Turning Around the Property26:06 Promotion to Hotel Manager28:16 Personal Tragedy and Career Shift29:44 Business Development Consultant31:47 Founding MDA Hospitality33:55 Expanding Clientele and Projects37:25 Current and Future Endeavors44:51 Advice for Young Professionals45:36 Conclusion and Contact Information