Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2022
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis

Employment History

• Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado; Doran Properties Group

Education

• BS in Kinesiology, St. Catherine’s University; Colorado State University

Birthplace

• Stillwater, Minnesota, USA

Languages Spoken

• English

A love of adventure and a strong work ethic define Karina Agrimson’s career journey. In her 20s, she lived in Colorado before moving home to her native Minnesota, where she trained as a massage therapist and worked multiple jobs to figure out the best career path for her. “I’ve always done a mix of bartending, massage therapy and a day job,” she says. “I was like Cinderella, trying to find my glass slipper of jobs,” she says.

It was while working in property management that she found Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis. “I would drive down Washington and follow the progress of Four Seasons because I heard they had residences,” she says. “I took the leap and came to a job fair. While there wasn’t a position available in property management, there was a leadership role in The Spa, so I took it.”

After two years helping to build and grow The Spa, Karina now leads the fourth-floor space and program. In her role, she is expanding on the “nourishment through nature” approach while also crafting new offerings and developing seasonal events.

“People want fresh and new, but they also want holistic wellness,” Karina says. “I want people to know our spa isn’t just facials, body wraps and massages. We’re working on comprehensive wellness offerings through things such as sound baths, reiki and community partnerships.”

Above all, Karina wants to emphasize that despite the luxury distinction, Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis is a place for all. “Luxury brands can be intimidating,” she says. “I felt that too, wondering if I would I be accepted for who I am — a person of colour with piercings and tattoos. But it’s one of the most welcoming spaces I have ever been in. If you come here, you’re going to have a good time and you’re going to be safe. I want this to be a space for everybody.”

Ultimately caring for others is what drives her both as a practitioner and a team leader. “My passion is people,” she says. “We have the opportunity to care for people during the most special — and sometimes difficult — times of their lives. We get to be facilitators of these moments that are going to be lasting memories forever.”

While Karina took time to discover the right career path for her, now that she is with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, she feels like she’s home. “I love the support we get here, not only as leaders, but as line-level employees too. There’s an incredible amount of opportunity within this brand. You can grow and expand into so many roles and travel the world.”

In her off-hours, she can be found spending time with family, trying new restaurants, hanging with her pets — dogs Monty and Barb and cats Gigi and Peach — and enjoying the Minnesota outdoors any time of year. “I love the weather here, and that we have four seasons,” she says. As for hitting the slopes, this skier favours Afton Alps. “That’s where I learned how to ski, and they’ve had great upgrades since Vail Resorts bought them,” she says.