Monday motivation - Felix asks (S2E4)

Another Monday and another Month, February 1. In today’s episode, I have the great pleasure to introduce you to a good friend of mine and a wonderful travel companion, Ms. Alaina Monblatt, the Director of International Relations at The Plaza, a Fairmont managed Hotel, and one of the most legendary hotels in the world. Alaina has been representing the hotel since 2014. 

The Plaza opened its door on October 1, 1907, and underwent a $450 million restoration 100 years later, in 2008. Within the last 3 years, I had the pleasure of traveling with Alaina a couple of times to the Middle East. On these trips, it was impressive to hear all the stories travel agents and guests shared with us about their experiences during their stay at The Plaza. In almost every conversation, we had to talk about “Home alone 2” with Macaulay Culkin, who stayed at The Plaza while he was lost in New York, “The Great Gatsby” or “Sleepless in Seattle.” Everybody has a story to share about New York City and this Hotel. 

I also listened to these stories every time I was in Russia, Ukraine, or Azerbaijan with Markus Tscherner, Director of Luxury Sales at The Plaza.

Being in the Middle East, representing our hotels together with Alaina was something special. Due to her loyalty to the Hotel, she built a strong network that grew year after year. We had a lot of very early starts, either to catch a flight or to give a presentation for some of the great travel agents but on the other hand endless late nights, with fantastic clients and delicious & sumptuous dinners. But, no matter how late the night, Alaina was always the first in the morning at breakfast, with a schedule printed with information for our daily meetings in-hand.

During our trips, I benefited from her knowledge of international relations, her cultural understanding, and her way of connecting with people. 

For all these reasons, I am glad that Alaina took the time to answer my six questions. We talked about the beginning of her career within a small defense firm, hospitality, a group of clients from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attending a concert for The Weeknd at The Plaza, and advice from her mentor that she still follows. 

Happy Monday. I hope you enjoy this week’s article. 

Question 1: Where did you start your career? 

Alaina Monblatt (AM): “I started my career at American Science & Engineering, a small defense firm, where I first realized the role that hospitality plays in building relationships by hosting visits for foreign government officials visiting the US. My true hospitality career started at The Plaza Hotel!”

Question 2: What means hospitality to you? 

AM: “To me, hospitality is a very natural thing. I love welcoming people to my country, my city, my home. I love hosting and entertaining, recommending activities, restaurants, and just making travel a bit easier and more beautiful for my clients and friends.”

Question 3: Can you please share an anecdote you experienced, that shows the variety and beauty of our industry?

AM: “A few years ago, I was working on a very high-profile non-profit event with a big client. The client was from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their team was from all over the world. A few days before their event, we were all working late and getting to know each other, and I learned that many of the team were on their first visit to the US, and for several of them it was the first time out of their home country. That night, we happened to be hosting the Harper’s Bazaar Icon Awards in The Plaza’s Grand Ballroom, so I invited a few of the team to come and watch The Weeknd perform on the very same stage that two days later, would host to 50 heads of state and hundreds of CEOs for their conference. The next day, one of the clients told me that it was his first time attending a concert. Experiences like that are priceless!”

Question 4: Have you had a mentor in your career? Who was it, and did she/he give you any advice you still follow? 

AM: “I was really lucky to start my career working for Bob Goodhouse, who encouraged me to think outside of the box and take advantage of different opportunities that came my way. Thanks to him I was exposed to some amazing experiences very early in my career. Bob also taught me the value of building long-term relationships with clients; not to set your sights on one transaction, but to invest the time in truly getting to know a person and a project. Not only will this always lead you to greater success, but it will certainly build a richer life.”

Question 5: What would you like to say to a hospitality student/ a hospitality professional who recently started their career, right now? 

AM: “Last week I listened to Tom Barrack speak at FII (Future Investment Initiative), and he paraphrased an Arabic proverb: traders start their journey with their merchandise, their camels, and the road. On their return trip, the goods will be gone but the camels and the road are always there. This is a great time to invest in yourself, your skills, the tools that you need to be successful hospitality professional. The goods will come and go but educating yourself, learning new things, making connections in the industry, will pave your way to success in the future.”

Question 6: Do you have a book recommendation - this could be everything from a novel to an autobiography, etc.  

AM: “One of my favorite reads during quarantine was The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley. I grew up reading his columns in Vogue and I loved hearing about all of the small moments, small choices, and lucky chances in his life that added up to a phenomenal career.”

Dear Alaina, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with us. Happy Monday,

Felix