When my mom said goodbye to my children, she looked at them with so much peace and said,
“I am going straight for Chachito, don’t you worry.”
And somehow… that was everything.
Now, I can only imagine Heaven rejoicing,
because Gigis and Chachito are back together again.
I couldn’t have hoped for a more beautiful goodbye.
One filled with love. With presence. With truth.
These past days gave me something I will carry forever.
Time with my brothers.
The chance to show my boys where I come from…
the streets, the memories, the roots that shaped me.
But above all, the gift of being there.
Fully there.
With my mom.
To sit beside her.
To feel her.
To honor her life not through words, but through presence.
Today, I celebrate her.
Not just for what she did… but for the energy and light that she is.
That doesn’t leave. That transforms.
Thank you, mamá.
For the love, for the life, and for the moments that made all of this… whole.
The day is finally here. I received my first copy of Conscious Hospitality, and it can now sit side by side with the original inspiration, my dad’s book. I’m beyond grateful for this moment. 🙏🏼🤍
Congratulations to Maison Vero author David Arraya on his new book “Conscious Hospitality” releasing as a #1 Bestseller!
In this groundbreaking book, David Arraya draws on more than two decades leading some of the world’s most iconic luxury hotels to uncover a profound truth: the principles that make hospitality extraordinary-presence, authenticity, intention, and empathy-are the very same principles that make leaders extraordinary.
Through deeply personal stories from a global career spanning Hawaii to Hong Kong, and timeless lessons shaped by resilience, vulnerability, and conscious leadership, David shows how these principles can transform not only organizations, but families, communities, and individuals. At its heart, hospitality is the art of making others feel seen, valued, and cared for. It transcends hotels and restaurants-it is a universal human language!
Conscious Hospitality releases this week and is available wherever books are sold!
One person can inspire you beyond your imagination.
And keep surprising you in the most beautiful ways.
That’s Jessica for me.
She makes me absolutely certain that love reigns and that miracles are real. ❤️✨
I still yell at my kids sometimes.
That hasn’t gone away.
What has changed is what happens immediately after.
Now, I feel it the moment it happens; the contraction, the impatience, the ego stepping forward.
And no matter the circumstance, what follows is always the same: an apology, and a hug.
Because nothing — no frustration, no behavior, no bad moment — is worth disrespecting the beings I love most.
That’s what Conscious Hospitality has given me.
Not perfection.
Awareness.
The ability to notice myself in real time.
To repair instead of defend.
To release the grip of ego and return to being human.
Yes, it means I still have kids, ages 14, 12, and 8, who want me to play with them at the park. Who ask me to push them on the swings.
But more importantly, it means something deeper.
It means they tell me when they’re struggling.
When they get in trouble.
When they don’t know what to do and need help.
That kind of openness doesn’t come from authority.
It comes from safety.
This is what integration looks like.
Leadership doesn’t stop at work.
Presence doesn’t turn off at the front door.
How we show up becomes the space others feel safe enough to tell the truth in.
#conscioushospitality #hospitality #leadership
My book, Conscious Hospitality, is now available for pre-order. I’m so grateful to you for your support, and I can’t wait to get your comments on the book! Release date is February 10
#hospitality #conscioushospitality
Over 20 years ago, I began my journey in hospitality as an intern at Myers Park Country Club, thanks to two extraordinary people, Tom and Patrick DeLozier, dear family friends who believed in me and opened the first door of my career.
This week, I returned to the very same club, beautifully renovated and more inspiring than ever, not as an intern, but as the keynote speaker for the Club Management Association of America Carolina’s Chapter Fall Conference.
To stand before the leaders of so many exceptional clubs and speak about leadership and Conscious Hospitality is truly a dream come true.
Life has a way of bringing us full circle… if we follow the path with heart, gratitude, and intention.
More to come after today’s presentation; I can’t wait to share the experience.
