Spa and wellness veteran Shannon Malave has been named spa director at iconic US spa destination Mohonk Mountain House.

Based in New York’s verdant Hudson Valley and founded in 1869, Mohonk is a historic Victorian castle resort and spa which recently underwent a comprehensive revamp – check out Spa Business’ first-person review of the new-look spa here.

In her new role, Malave will lead the 30,000sq ft spa’s operations and guide 80 team members, leveraging her two decades of multifaceted expertise to enhance guest experiences and further enhance Mohonk’s established reputation.

With more than 20 years of experience under her belt, Malave has served in a range of leadership roles.

Most notably, she served as the corporate director of spas for Walt Disney World’s spas, salons and fitness centres worldwide, where she spearheaded major renovation projects and led the transition of all spa, salon and fitness centres to align with the company’s core values as it branched into the wellness space.

In addition to roles with Marriott International, Swissline Cosmetics, and Omni, Malave's positions have included director of wellness at Avatar Holdings and national director of skincare education at Steiner Education Group.

While with Steiner, she was an instructor for the Spa Business degree and skincare certification programme.

“I’m thrilled to join the Mohonk family and lead the spa into its next phase of growth,” said Malave.

“Mohonk’s legacy of excellence and commitment to sustainability resonates deeply with me, and I’m eager to work alongside the talented team here to introduce new wellness initiatives and cultivate rejuvenating and memorable experiences.”

Malave holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, licenses in Massage Therapy and Skincare/cosmetology, and is a certified Phlebotomist and Yoga Instructor.