Art Rodriguez Steeped in the proud traditions of Southern hospitality, Texan Art Rodriguez brings a can-do spirit and oodles of local knowledge to his role as Navigator at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Prior to settling in Dallas, Art lived and worked all across his home state, accruing 11 years of experience in various customer service roles. He believes his travels helped prepare him for the demands of being a Navigator, a position which, in his words, always keeps you on your toes. A stickler for organization, Art likes to have a place for everything and believes he has found his rightful place in the iconic Texas city. Dallas has that right mix of local flair and global appeal and that works just perfect for me, he reflects. Working from the Renaissance Dallas Hotel next door to the Dallas Market Center and close to the glitz of the West End Art is certainly at the heart of the action. Which is where he likes to be. He commends the colorful neighborhood for its ability to provide amazing food, a good drink and a great time. A typical day will see him go for tea on his way into work and enjoy a chicken and blue cheese brioche sandwich at his favorite lunch spot. On the whole, though, Art lives for spontaneity and likes to get out and experience as many different places as possible, using social media as his guide. Thankfully, his Southern hospitality extends to keeping guests and his fellow Navigators up to date on the best of his finds.

Prudence Cheng Navigator Prudence Cheng discovered her yearning for discovery at an early age. When she is not out exploring the streets of Hong Kong herself, she is probably helping others to do the same. It all comes perfectly naturally to her. A Hong Kong native, Prudence knows the local hotspots inside out and enthusiastically shares her knowledge with guests at the Harbour View Hotel; friends and family, too. A generous spirit, she loves nothing more than to hear the results of a tip-off. “I feel so fulfilled when they share their unique experiences with me and say they will recommend my suggestions to friends and family,” she explains. As you might imagine, she is particularly knowledgeable about Wan Chai, the neighborhood in which she works, and expresses fondness for its wealth of epicurean treasures and East-meets-West vibe. Prudence likes to begin her working day with a pineapple bun and Hong Kong-style milk tea and end it with drinks with work colleagues in a local bar. Wan Chai has her covered for both. Food is a big part of Prudence’s life and away from the hotel she likes to experiment in the kitchen. “I will share my new creations with friends and family, just like I share the hidden gems of Hong Kong with guests,” she says.

David Tapia Lopez David Tapia Lopez, Lead Navigator at our Renaissance Santiago Hotel, is a man of multiple talents and interests. And he harnesses them to help guests see the best of the Chilean capital. Originally he had set his sights on becoming a priest. “I have always been attracted to contacting people and making them feel at ease,” he explains. After attending seminary school though, David ultimately realized that his skills lay elsewhere. Interested in the service industry, he opted to take a job in the laundry room of a five-star hotel, eventually working his way up to the role of Navigator. Yet David never lost those early instincts. “I moved my way up, maintaining my fascination with service and helping others,” he says of his career trajectory. “To end up as a Navigator feels like a logical conclusion to my interests. "Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life," is one of his favorite sayings and David, eternally upbeat and passionate, seems to live out that maxim. It probably helps that he works in one of his favorite neighborhoods, which he describes as a “vibrant and modern part of the city, full of places to discover”. He spends his spare time with his family, playing video games with his daughters and picnicking in the mountains. Oh, and did we mention his penchant for mixed martial arts? “I started at the age of 12. I still practice Aikido Iwama-Ryu and Jiu-Jitsu. I even had the chance of travelling to Japan to perfect my training, where I learned that every little gesture can convey a deep meaning. That, thankfully, I have the chance to apply to my work every day.”