Fo Shizzle, Living That Island Life Ain't Always Easy: Snoop Dogg on Hospitality Hustle

From Dishwasher Dreams to Island Schemes: My Kind of Story

Aight lemme tell you somethin' this story 'bout Marc LeBlanc and Laura Robinson is kinda like my own journey ya dig? They went from scrubbin' dishes to chillin' in the Maldives Bali and Cambodia runnin' spots that folks only dream about visitin'. Hospitality that's the name of the game and these two ain't playin'. LeBlanc started young washin' dishes at 16 just tryin' to make a dolla. Next thing you know he's climbin' the ladder bellman reservations the whole nine yards. He even got that fancy hotel management degree. Robinson she a marine biology wiz divin' instructor turned hotel boss. These two met in the Cayman Islands and been livin' that jet set life ever since. Now they kickin' it in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains at Shinta Mani Wild where LeBlanc is the big cheese and Robinson keeps things sustainable. Fo shizzle that’s my kind of hustle.

Trapped in Paradise: Island Living Ain't Always What It Seems

Now don't get it twisted livin' on these islands ain't always sunshine and rainbows. LeBlanc was droppin' knowledge on CNBC Travel explainin' how bein' locked on one of those 'one island one resort' spots in the Maldives is way different than just visitin'. "You're not really going anywhere… you're kind of stuck there for long periods of time," he said. Man sounds like bein' on tour! But for the staff it's like summer camp Robinson said. Sleepin' eatin' laundry all in one place. It's a whole community but even then you get personality clashes and disagreements. Gotta manage that especially with a multicultural workforce. Shinta Mani Wild is easier 'cause it's mostly Cambodian staff keeps the drama low key ya know?

Happy Staff Happy Life: Keepin' It 100

People think hospitality is all about makin' the guests happy but Robinson dropped some realness. "You've got 100 [employees] that you've got to make sure are happy" too. Real talk! Gotta keep the crew motivated. Robinson mentioned how they celebrate birthdays and events at the hotel. "Mark sometimes gets his decks out and DJs for them which they adore," she said. Now that's how you run a tight ship. I might need to hit up one of these parties drop some beats and see what's crackalackin'.

Saltwater Blues and Forest Hues: The Real Challenges

While the tourists are sippin' on fruity drinks those workin' behind the scenes are dealin' with real problems. Saltwater messin' up the maintenance humidity and forests tryin' to reclaim everything. Shinta Mani Wild got 15 guest tents but the land is HUGE like Central Park huge. Gotta pay attention to detail product service and conservation. Staff be patrolin' the property maintainin' the farm and trails. "It's new for us," LeBlanc said. "We're learning." Always gotta stay teachable even when you're on top of your game G.

Family Ties and Furry Friends: Missin' Home

Livin' the dream in paradise comes with a price. Bein' far from family is tough. In the Maldives their parents visited yearly and they went home every other year. Now they try to get back every year see the siblings watch the parents get older. They ain't got kids so schoolin' ain't an issue but they did adopt two dogs from the forest. That's what I'm talkin' about spreadin' the love even in the jungle.

Couple Goals: Workin' Together Stayin' Together

LeBlanc and Robinson also talked about the challenge of livin' and workin' together in remote locations. "Initially you don't know how it's going to go," said LeBlanc. But "we work quite well together." Separate offices are key Robinson said with a laugh. LeBlanc handles HR finance security and engineering while Robinson deals with the "front of house" stuff. "[Laura is] highly organized highly efficient and I'm more on the creative side," LeBlanc said. Sounds like a perfect match doggystyle! They even brainstorm on vacation findin' inspiration from their travels. "There's no shortage of places looking for managing couples," LeBlanc said. "There are recruitment firms that specialize in hiring couples… The job opportunities are out there." And havin' a companion in a remote place eases the loneliness. "It makes sense we have each other," he said. That's what I'm talkin' about keepin' it real keepin' it together and keepin' it G.