PHOTO: © THE LANGHAM HUNTINGTON, PASADENA

THE BASICS
Name: Emilo Padilla-Larios
Title: Director of Operations
Company, City: The Langham Huntington, Pasadena; Pasadena, California
First job: Housekeeping at Four Seasons Punta Minta; I was 18 years old.
Where to next: I’ll be traveling to Puerto Vallarta, my hometown, in the summer to visit family.

A LITTLE BIT MORE
What actor or actress would play you in a movie of your life?
Tom Cruise, especially as the character Maverick in Top Gun

What would you be doing professionally if you weren’t in your current industry?
I would be in aviation as an Air Force pilot.

What is your favorite book, movie or television show?
Top Gun, the first movie. It inspired my love of aviation and dream of becoming an Air Force pilot!

What historical figure, dead or alive, would you love to have dinner with?
Henry Huntington, a founder of Huntington Hotel, which eventually became The Langham Huntington, Pasadena. He also founded Huntington Library and Gardens. I would love to get his thoughts on how his hotel morphed over the years into what it is today.

THE BUSINESS
What is your most recent project, and what was the inspiration behind it?
My most recent project is construction of our new resort pool, the second one on property. The inspiration was to increase the value of the Langham property and offer a second, quieter pool option to our guests. It will open later this year.

What is your favorite aspect of the job? My favorite aspect of the job is interacting with employees, guests and visitors every day. I love working side by side with our employees, speaking to our guests and meeting visitors. It’s part of the reason I love the hospitality business.

What’s the biggest business risk you’ve ever taken?
After working at Four Seasons for 18 years, I joined the Langham Hotel brand. I was first hired as Director of Rooms. In July of 2022 I was promoted to Director of Operations. I have been here now for five years and four months.

Who is someone you admire professionally in the travel industry?
Christian Clerc, former president of Worldwide Operations for Four Seasons Worldwide. He was an inspiration and mentor to me.

AS A TRAVELER
Tell us about a travel nightmare. I was stuck at the Tijuana, Mexico, airport for 14 hours due to a massive storm in 2022 that affected Mexico and the United States, grounding us and many other airports.

Share a comical travel experience. Driving down the road on a visit to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we were forced to stop because two moose were fighting right in front of us in the middle of the road. It was fun to watch. They are enormous (and dangerous) up close.

What is your preferred method of travel — planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ships — and why? I prefer flying, mainly because of my love for all things aviation. I also enjoy road trips; it was an exciting, beautiful drive from Austin to Jackson Hole, one I will remember for a long time.

What has been the best example of customer service you’ve experienced during your travels? On our way from Austin to Jackson Hole, we stopped in the middle of Texas near Amarillo. We stayed in a small town, in a small hotel, owned and operated by an elderly lady who took us in as family and even surprised us by ordering a pizza for us. It was a comfortable, cozy place.