Hilton director on pushing herself to the limit

One of the most valuable lessons Sharon Barcock learned early in life was from her father, Brian, who owned a printing business in rural Leicestershire, UK. Even at a young age, she loved watching him at his craft and pestered him to give her odd jobs including gluing pages together to create books.

"I would get pocket money for completing these tasks, which instilled a work ethic in me. I found out about the value of money, learning not to expect things when I wanted them, but instead realising that I had to work for them,'' says Sharon, 42.

It's a lesson that has stayed with her. "I think my early training in being resourceful and completing jobs taught me to think out of the box, have passion and to look out for new experiences," she says. "I enjoy challenging myself and pushing myself to the limits.'' Those qualities have helped her become one of the most sought after spa experts in the region.

As a trained dancer and a former banker, Sharon uses her expertise in fitness and banking not just to scale the heights of the spa industry, but also to help people transform their lives by changing their outlook on health and fitness. "Ultimately it is about building and nurturing relationships with people and motivating them to believe in themselves, their abilities and understand that they can push their boundaries and themselves further - in all aspects of life," she says.

After a short stint in banking and finance, she decided to switch careers and follow her passion - health and wellbeing. Following her heart was a sensible move because today she has found success as the director of spa operations and development for Hilton Worldwide for the Middle East and Africa where she oversees the operation and development of spas for the Hilton Worldwide brand in the region. She tells Friday about her journey. 

Work

I love to get the most out of life and enjoy new experiences and learning about new cultures. Making the decision to leave everything behind in England was a challenge, but I had decided I wanted to experience a completely different part of the world, and coming to Dubai has certainly provided that experience.

I moved to the UAE in 2002 to work at the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Dubai.

When it comes to spa management I am largely self taught. While I have full qualifications in fitness management, when I moved into spas there were no structured spa management training courses available.

I was always very interested in arts. I also had a passion for fitness and dance. In fact, I loved dancing so much that I decided to graduate in dancing from Beauchamp College in my hometown of Leicestershire.

However, very soon I realised that to be a dancer is not only challenging, it's also a very short-lived career. In addition I would be required to sing and act. But I did not enjoy acting and I most definitely couldn't sing! So I moved towards fitness as a derivative of dance and thought of it as a perfect outlet for my creativity. I loved the intensity and euphoria of participating in a class workout and the variety of routines. I was thrilled that I could inspire people irrespective of gender, weight, shape or size to not only take part in a class, but to enjoy it. I could help them change their body shapes and stay fit.

After my graduation in the mid-Nineties, I began working in the banking and finance management sector and joined a Canadian bank, while I did fitness programmes in the evenings in my free time.

I got to a point where I realised that I enjoyed the job I did in my free time a lot more than my career, and I realised that I wanted to develop fitness into a full-time career rather than simply a hobby.

So I moved to a hotel in Leicestershire called Stapleford Park, a country house hotel and private-members' club with an exclusive Clarins Spa, where I joined as a personal trainer.

Despite my background in fitness, spas were a new territory altogether and I was eager to learn. I am a tenacious, stubborn girl, who can grit her teeth and get working in a new direction. And because I enjoyed my job so much, I was willing to accept the challenge.

Having a background in anatomy and physiology made it easier for me to understand the mechanics of spa treatments, and my experience in the banking sector provided me with the fiscal understanding of the spa's operations. It has been these skills that have enabled me to develop in this environment.

After two years working at the Stapleford Park, I moved to the prestigious Viverano Spa at the Five Lakes Hotel in Essex as its spa manager. I worked hard to develop the hotel as a spa destination creating new channels to market it, while enhancing the operation.

When I joined the Fairmont Dubai, I was able to drive revenue greatly making changes in several operational areas. I gained an understanding for the local environment and culture and having arrived very receptive to my new surroundings, I found it an easy transition.

Soon after I was headhunted to develop a 2,000-square metre exclusive ladies-only spa and health club called Jannati in Dubai. This was a project that required converting a shell of a building into a fully-fledged ladies-only facility offering a comprehensive range of services from hair salon, to lifestyle café, children's club, spa, thermal and fitness zones.

After the opening of Jannati I moved on and joined the world-renowned Asian spa operator Mandara Spa at the Monarch Dubai. Here I was also able to write a series of features on spa operations to help develop the knowledge of spa staff who wanted to learn more and move into management roles.

I took my current role as director of spa operations and development for Hilton Worldwide, Middle East and Africa in 2009.

I think the best thing about a job ultimately is the people - both the clients and the team members - and the main challenge is nurturing these relationships.

I believe that anyone can achieve their goals as long as they work hard and stay focused.

In hospitality it is about the relationships you create with your guests and the special experiences you provide that will ensure they visit again. I endeavour to give them something new or creative and at the same time maintain a rhythm of familiarity. 

Play

I grew up in Leicestershire, in rural Fleckney in the United Kingdom. I had a supportive family and was taught the joys of accomplishment and independence from a young age.

My home atmosphere was very secure. My grandparents, Irene and Martin, were very loving and always there to look after us and these close bonds helped to make me an emotionally centred person.

I enjoy my job immensely, particularly the interaction with so many different levels of knowledge and experience.

Travel has exposed me to many new experiences and I feel these can help me develop my team even more.

I like to think that I got to a certain position by learning on the job and I like to inspire my team to find their way too. I like to instill passion, commitment and the hunger to learn in my staff.

While most people come to relax at the spa, it is very hard for me to relax in this environment because I am still aware of my surroundings. Instead, I enjoy walking, particularly at the beach where I can be close to the water, something that I find very calming. I enjoy fitness and go to the gym and fitness classes. 

Dream

My most immediate focus is to continue developing the role that I hold and to see Hilton Worldwide recognised as the leading spa operator globally.

I would like to see the formation of a spa association for the Middle East, something that a number of colleagues and I have been working to establish.

For myself, I continue evolving my abilities and skills and experiencing new cultures and people. I would like to travel and experience all the cities in the world. I would like to get more involved in giving back to the community and support people in need.