MAGGIE DIASINOS
Senior Director of Sales - MICE
Hyatt Sales Force Pacific
M: +61 413 053 445 E: maggie.diasinos@hyatt.com
What is your position at Hyatt? And how long have you been in this position for?
Senior Director of Sales – MICE (Meetings and Events). I have worked in the global sales office managing the events market for 4.5 years
Where did you work before Hyatt?
Previous to Hyatt I worked in the corporate sales offices for IHG and EVT (formally AHL) managing the meetings and events market.
What does a usual day look like for you?
I never have a usual day which is why I love what I do. I have days where I am meeting with event planners, to discuss how we can partner on a program to create a memorable experience for their delegates. The following day I could be on site with a hotel team watching an event in full flight. Working in the global sales offices, I also have days meeting with tourism bureaus to discuss a destination and review how we can curate programs, in that destination that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world.
What do you love about your job?
I love having the opportunity to create a memorable experience for clients on a daily basis. I love working in a creative industry, filled with industry professionals that are passionate at what they do, and we all have fun doing it!
What are some impressive and memorable events that Hyatt hotels in Australia have hosted?
We recently had an event at Hyatt Hotel Canberra to gather industry professionals across the country to discuss the meetings and events industry. The hotel worked with key local suppliers to take the attendees on a journey of Canberra as a destination as we didn’t have time to leave the hotel based on limited time for the program. Our guests started in a courtyard that was transformed into a farmer’s market where they could meet the owners of local brewery’s, distilleries and produce suppliers to discuss their local delicacies. We then moved into a ballroom for dinner were guests dined on an elevated stage and finished with dessert in the presidential suite. Take a moment to view our video of the evening to see the event in full flight here.
What are some interesting incentives ideas that clients could or have used at each hotel?
At Hyatt hotels we love working with agencies to push the envelope to deliver experiences unique to each destination. Some recent events we have curated is as follows:
o Dinner on the Great Wall of China
o Converting a warehouse in Shanghai for a luxury car launch
o Closing down a key boardwalk in Sydney in front of Park Hyatt Sydney to create a runway with views of the opera house for a fashion launch
o Barefoot gala dinner on the beach in Danang, Vietnam
What has been your favourite meeting or event to work on?
Recently the team at Park Hyatt Sydney created a dinner around the four elements, earth, wind, air and fire! The chefs created a floating amuse bouche where guests found their meals floating on helium balloons. Seafood dishes served on dry ice and entertaining dessert displays where guests were spoilt with an abundance of indulgence. Every course had a story and an element of surprise. It was enjoyable watching our guests’ reaction to every course and they could not wait to see what would be revealed next!
What are your 5 tips for planning an event?
1. Know your audience
2. Know your audience’s objective for meeting
3. Surround yourself with a strong team who understands the purpose of the event and the outcomes the end client wants to achieve
4. Partner with a venue who has the same desire to deliver a successful event and ensure they are aware of the key outcomes for the event.
5. Have fun during the process. By doing what you love you will inspire and awaken the hearts of others!
What is the most outrageous request from a client you have received and haven’t been able to deliver?
The beauty of having clients who are creative is they love to think out of the box, we love to work with most ideas where we can. As a company we try to accommodate all requests, the only limitations at time can be the budget for a project. I always think, imagine what we could create if we had endless budgets and time to play with!