In an industry often shaped by polished lobbies and urban skylines, Laura Robinson’s path into hospitality began somewhere very different: underwater.
A marine biologist by training and a dive instructor by trade, Laura spent her early career studying ecosystems, guiding divers and immersing herself in the rhythms of the natural world. Today, she brings that same scientific curiosity and environmental instinct to one of Asia’s most extraordinary luxury properties, Shinta Mani Wild deep in Cambodia’s Cardamom Jungle.
It’s an unconventional journey, but then again, Laura has never been drawn to the conventional. “I’m a scientist at heart,” she says. “Curious, observant, always looking beneath the surface.” That mindset has become her signature in hospitality – a field she entered almost by accident more than a decade ago, when her partner, Marc LeBlanc, encouraged her to join him in managing remote, high‑end lodges. Together, they’ve since run properties across multiple countries, blending Marc’s deep operational expertise with Laura’s grounding in conservation and the natural world.
Their latest chapter is perhaps their most ambitious. At Shinta Mani Wild, a tented luxury camp set along a private river valley, Laura’s world of science and Marc’s world of hospitality meet in perfect alignment. The property sits within one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse landscapes, a place where elephants roam, hornbills sweep overhead and anti‑poaching patrols operate daily. It’s a setting that demands more than traditional hotel management but stewardship.
For Laura, that responsibility is energising. “I’ve always been drawn to wild places,” she says. “First the ocean, now the jungle. What excites me is helping people connect more meaningfully with where they are.” At Shinta Mani Wild, that philosophy shapes everything from guest experiences to conservation partnerships. Visitors don’t just stay in the jungle; they learn how it works, why it matters and how fragile it can be.
Her scientific background gives her a perspective that’s rare in luxury travel. She approaches the property as an ecosystem one where guests, staff, wildlife and landscape are interconnected. It’s a lens that influences how she trains teams, designs experiences and communicates the story of the Cardamoms. Guests often arrive expecting adventure; they leave with a deeper understanding of the environment they’ve stepped into.
This March, Shinta Mani Wild joins The Set, a move that will bring the property into a global family of design‑led, culturally rooted hotels. For Laura, it’s an opportunity to amplify the camp’s mission on an international stage. “It’s exciting to see a brand known for urban icons embrace a place as wild and remote as this,” she says. “It shows that luxury can and should include nature, conservation and community.”
Her leadership style reflects the same blend of strength and softness that defines the landscape around her. She is hands‑on, deeply present and unafraid to get muddy, wet or mosquito‑bitten in the name of understanding the environment she works in. Yet she is also thoughtful, empathetic and quietly determined qualities that resonate strongly on International Women’s Day, especially in a sector where remote‑location leadership roles have historically skewed male.
Laura’s story is a reminder that hospitality is evolving. It’s no longer just about service; it’s about connection, purpose and place and women like her, scientists, explorers, and conservationists are reshaping what leadership looks like in the world’s most extraordinary destinations.
As Shinta Mani Wild enters its next chapter, Laura remains exactly where she thrives: in a wild place, guiding others to see its beauty, complexity and value. Her journey from ocean depths to jungle canopy is not just a career path it’s a testament to curiosity, courage and the power of following the places that call to you.