Xochitl Barboza

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2017
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Assistant Director of Engineering, Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Employment History

• Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica; Azucarera El Viejo S.A., Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree, Electromechanical Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica.

Birthplace

• San Jose, Costa Rica

Languages Spoken

• Spanish, English

Though the system that operates under the attentive eye of Xochitl Barboza is as elaborate as it is complex, the satisfaction she gets from making it fire on all pistons is simple. “Engineering ensures that every detail behind the scenes works in harmony,” she says of the objects of her expertise as Director of Engineering at Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas. “Our goal is to elevate the guest and resident experience to create an environment where comfort and excellence feel natural, and I find that extremely rewarding.”

The responsibilities of leading the Engineering Division of the beachfront property at the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula keep Barboza busy. Her role includes oversight of all aspects of engineering and maintenance, as well as ongoing evaluation and updating of the background processes that bring services and amenities to life. That includes electromechanical systems within the Hotel and Residences including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, laundry, pools, kitchen equipment, life and safety, as well as landscaping, furniture maintenance, and civil works. She also leads and optimizes engineers and technicians, aligning their skills and workflows to drive maximum performance.

It can all be quite engaging. “There´s rarely a dull moment,” Barboza says with a laugh indicative of the demands of her position as well as her ability handle on them. “I’m constantly multitasking, studying, and reviewing things to implement solutions when and where they’re needed. There can be a lot of challenges to engineering, but I enjoy overcoming them.”

Hailing originally from the capital of Costa Rica, Barboza grew up along the country’s Pacific coast in the province of Guanacaste, not far from where Four Seasons now welcomes guests. Always a good student of mathematics and the sciences, she chose to study electromechanics, in keeping with her natural interests.

After starting off as an electrical project manager at a sugar mill, Barboza rose to spend a decade leading the facility’s electrical generation department, achieving significant improvements in efficiency and productivity along the way. Yet soon enough, she nursed a desire to enter hospitality as much for the new experiences it offered as to broaden her skill set.

When she learned of an opening in engineering with Four Seasons on Peninsula Papagayo, she went for it, got it, and hasn’t looked back. “I learned a lot at the mill, but I knew I would’ve gotten stuck if I’d stayed too long. Four Seasons offered an opportunity for me to expand my knowledge and grow personally and professionally with a great team and brand.”

Grow she has. Barboza sees hospitality as another system to learn from, and Four Seasons as a great teacher with the highest standards of service and a management structure that’s designed for development. She applies those lessons, leading a team of over 120, whose expertise ranges as widely as the systems they engage onsite. Her role is technical as well as managerial, and she uses it to inspire everyone on her team to embrace excellence and feel valued for it. “I want all of them to know that their work is essential to our success and that they are truly part of a big engineering family.”

Barboza’s commitment to strong communication not only motivates team members, but also drives her professional and personal development. Where the industrial sector helped her build technical skills, Four Seasons has elevated her people skills. “Though I work behind the scenes, I invest in my team. Understanding their needs, empowering them to grow, and supporting their commitment to excellence.”

Meanwhile, Barboza finds the wilds of the desert and beachfront surrounding the Resort to be awe inspiring. “My father is a biologist and my mother studied tourism, so I have grown to appreciate the appeal and wonder of nature,” she says of the time she spends exploring the beauty of Los Cabos.