This season’s event planning: Tips & tricks Interview with Christina Rentis, InterContinental Director of Sales, Adelaide & Jason McGowan, Accor General Manager, Melbourne. Christina Rentis, InterContinental Director of Sales, Adelaide How did you get into hospitality? Tell us about your career path The seed was sewn when I was in high school. I’ve always had a passion for food and was hoping my future employment would allow me to demonstrate my social & creative skills. The Hotel Management course at Le Cordon Bleu allowed me to understand all aspects of operating a hotel and I became particularly interested in the events and sales side of the business. The Club Lounge department within the Hyatt Hotel in 2008 was the start of my journey, and after progressing through various other divisions, I successfully secured a sales position as a Weddings Executive at the InterContinental Hotel in 2013. A move into the Conference & Events Manager role followed, where I was able to covert my acquired experiences & people skills toward securing and managing large corporate events and this in turn led to my appointment as Director of Sales.
What are your “top tips” for a smooth event planning in the context of Christmas and New Year’s? 1
Events can be very stressful so always take time to plan your events whether it’s a small get together or a formal large event.
2
Events can become expensive, so always create a detailed budget for what you want, determine the final cost, ideally having some allowance for extras.
What do you love about your work? I enjoy that every day is different and that I have the opportunity to create memorable moments for my clients. What were your Christmas’s like growing up? I have a Greek background which means large family celebrations that always include lots of food and great wine. What does your typical Christmas look like now? My husband & I try to maintain the same Christmas traditions of presents in the morning followed by a long lunch however now this has extended over two days including a relaxed Boxing Day lunch.
6
3
Create a menu that is fun and comfortable for you to achieve without stress, make sure to order any special ingredients in advance so as not to miss out and always use the freshest produce.
4
Always have a backup plan in case of any kitchen disaster, weather change or additional people coming you forgot to write down on your guest list.
5
Enjoy the moment - sometimes you can get carried away with the event, so plan well and then make sure you enjoy the day yourself.
6
Don’t Leave everything until the last minute. Use the day before the event for preparation in terms of meal preparation, table settings & styling.
