Emma Darby is taking on a newly-created role of global VP for spa and wellness at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, a luxury brand in the Accor portfolio.

Darby has stepped away from her role as global operations director at spa management consultancy Resense to assume overall responsibility for spa and wellness operations across Fairmont’s international portfolio of 93 properties.

She will work at group level, based in Dubai, with internal stakeholders such as marketing, sales and public relations departments, as well as external partners and owners.

In the new role, Darby will create systems for the 30,000 staff employed by Fairmont around the world to deliver consistent, yet innovative, guest experiences. One of her main goals will be to drive revenue and increase income.

Darby has two decades of senior leadership experience in the luxury spa and wellness industry. She has been chosen by Fairmont for her in-depth knowledge of the market and proven track record driving operational excellence, strategic growth and guest experiences.

Darby is well-known for her most recent 12-year tenure at Resense, which manages more than 90 luxury spa and wellness sites globally. She joined in 2012 as an operations manager after being a spa director for both Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Group. She moved up at Resense to become global operations director before taking on this new position at Fairmont.

Other Accor luxury brands include Sofitel, Raffles, Orient Express and Banyan Tree, in which it holds a minority stake.

Read an interview with Darby in Spa Business here.