Wellness Journey

After years in competitive gymnastics, Camila Frederico is jumping at the chance to take part in Civana’s wellness classes, like this one, each

week. (Photo courtesy of Civana)

Camila Frederico takes the reins at Civana

By Alison Bailin Batz

n her second go-around in Arizona, Camila Frederico is taking it all in. “As the new general manager of Civana Wellness Resort & Spa, doing so has been easy,” Frederico says. “It has certainly lived up to the hype from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and USA Today — and then some — so far.”

Frederico oversees the resort’s 22 acres, 144 rooms and suites and its 20,000-square-foot spa and wellness center. An Airpark resident, Frederico has trained for this position since before she could read, but she didn’t know it yet.

Born and raised in São Paulo, Frederico competed in gymnastics at 4, going so far as to be named to the country’s national team at ages 13 and 15.

During this time, Frederico earned local celebrity status when she became the fi rst Brazilian female to do a triple rotation on the fl oor exercise.

“I competed until age 17, when I finished high school and after about a dozen broken bones,” Frederico says. “I was ready for a new challenge, but I took the lessons learned about wellness and exercise with me the rest of my life.”

Unlike the United States, after high school one must declare a major before entering college.

“My brother suggested I go into economics, and for some reason I did, but with a twist,” Frederico says. “In Brazil, one may work toward a master’s degree at the same time as a bachelor’s, so I did.”

Admittedly, she says she was falling asleep working toward a B.A. in economics from the University Mackenzie in São Paulo. Frederico also worked toward an M.A. in journalism from the University Casper-Libero, also in São Paulo, with the goal of being a movie critic.

“After graduating with both by 21, however, there were neither journalism nor economics jobs in my home country,” Frederico says. “As such, I accompanied my travel agent mother to a convention, where I learned about J-1 visas to work in the hospitality industry in the United States.”

Intrigued by travel, Frederico booked a one-way ticket for Orlando, packing just

Camila Frederico is the new general manager of Civana. (Photo courtesy of Civana)

one bag. life, starting from my first floor

“I laugh at that now,” Fred- routine at age 4, and built a resort erico says. “The Camila of today with me in mind,” Frederico says. would need 20 suitcases for “It was love at first sight with shoes alone.” everything Civana stands for

Armed with that one suitcase when it comes to wellness, health, and work ethic instilled by her relaxation, self-care and fun. I had family and years of gymnastics to come out and see it for myself training, Frederico earned a job in person.” as the front desk clerk at the then- The visit solidified it: In spring largest Marriott in the country. 2021, Frederico moved back to

She quickly fell in love with Arizona to be the resort’s general the pace and people of the indus- manager. try. Frederico worked her way Camila Frederico’s second stint in Arizona is made all the sweeter “Being on the property feels up in the industry over the next by office views like this. (Photo courtsy of Civana) like home, but a home with aerial few years before driving cross- yoga, sunset sound healing and country to Phoenix to accept a Her discipline was rewarded with a 25 spa treatment rooms,” she role as a meeting and event coordinator at promotion to director of rooms at the resort says. the then-Phoenix Ritz-Carlton in 2002. and then the opportunity to join the W Hotel She takes at least one wellness class per

“That iconic hotel became my home for in a leadership role upon the Marriott’s week on-site in addition to running the propthe next decade,” says Frederico, who left purchase of it in 2017. erty to fully immerse herself in the culture. the property as assistant director of meetings Life was moving along swimmingly “I am even working on my certification and events in 2012 to take on an even bigger for Frederico until 2020. As with the rest in aerial yoga, which I think will make me role, director of food and beverage, at the of the world, she was rocked by the global the first local hospitality leader who also Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay in California. pandemic. happens to be able to teach yoga in the air,

At Half Moon Bay, she successfully led a “It certainly was not the time to think about and to do so a full 25 years after retiring from $40 million culinary operation. a job change, yet here I am,” Frederico says. high-flying stunts in the first place.” 

“The first six months there were the At first, she ignored a headhunter’s toughest in my career, but doing something information about Civana and the idea of so far out of my comfort zone pushed me returning to Arizona. Civana Wellness Resort & Spa to learn, grow and accept new lessons in However, on a whim, she Googled the 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree an industry I thought I knew pretty darned resort, just to check it out. 480-653-9000, civanacarefree.com well,” Frederico says. “It was as if someone looked at my