An Interview with Iva Ilic Sales and Marketing Director of Hyatt Regency Belgrade
Iva Ilić, Sales and Marketing Director of Hyatt Regency Belgrade, began her professional journey 13 years ago at this very hotel, where she discovered her great love for hospitality and her desire to continue her career here. Today, Iva not only successfully leads a team of 10 people but also motivates her colleagues in a fantastic way, helping them achieve unprecedented results.
How has your career path at Hyatt Regency Belgrade unfolded, and in which position did you find yourself most?
Istarted my career at Hyatt Regency Belgrade during my third year of college when I got an internship at the reception. From the first day, I realized that I had a lot to learn, and the beginning of my career was extremely dynamic and interesting, with new, unpredictable challenges every day.
Throughout my career at the hotel, I have held seven different positions, but I enjoyed myself most leading the Front Office department. My role called for embracing a dynamic and engaging approach to issue resolution with my team which made this position challenging but enjoyable. Transitioning to the Sales team in 2018 brought a completely different dynamic to my daily activities compared to my previous positions, requiring a period of adjustment and entirely new responsibilities.
By trying out different positions throughout my career, I continually fell in love with the hospitality industry. As my roles brought more responsibility, I relied more on leadership skills and less on technical skills. Each new position allowed me to see the beauty of the hotelier profession and experience new dimensions of this industry.
What drives you throughout your career, and do you consider the process or the ultimate destination more important?
Working within a positive team, incredible camaraderie and collaboration with colleagues bring me great satisfaction in my daily work. It's wonderful to see how colleagues support each other, have each other's backs and encourage one another for improvement, all with the goal of creating an extraordinary experience for every guest. Besides the fantastic team spirit, my main motivator is the feeling of fulfillment after successfully completing a task, establishing new collaborations and achieving desired results.
However, even though this feeling is great, I believe that the process is much more important than the destination. While the ultimate destination is what we strive for, there is a special charm in being present and enjoying daily business activities, aiming for continuous improvement and learning from personal challenges.
What challenges have you faced throughout your career, and how did you overcome them?
Through my career, I have learned that challenges are what make everyone's career path unique. Since challenges are an inherent part of each new day, I choose to approach them in a positive way and not let them hinder my team and myself from moving forward. The beauty of working in hospitality lies in the element of surprise that each new day brings.
To adapt to unpredictable circumstances, it was necessary for me to adjust my perspective and mindset on certain situations and the environment. I realized that we can extract valuable lessons from every experience, shaping and enhancing us as individuals.
What message would you like to send to young people at a career crossroads?
Reflecting on my professional development, I have come to the realization that at the beginning of almost every new position, I didn't feel fully prepared for it. Despite the challenges and lack of self-confidence in my youth, I embraced each new position and its responsibilities boldly. I want to support and motivate young people to dare, even when they're not entirely sure of themselves, and to start before they truly consider themselves ready. The secret to success lies in continuous effort and work, but self-belief is an essential factor in achieving professional goals.
Why do you repeatedly choose Hyatt Regency Belgrade? What makes this hotel special for professional development and growth?
Over the years, Hyatt Regency Belgrade has truly become my second home, and the hotel team is my second family. Apart from our hotel being highly esteemed worldwide and serving as a benchmark for other hotels, we can boast about our care for each individual employee.
The atmosphere at the hotel is such that employees look out for the well-being of their colleagues, showing empathy and respect through daily small gestures, which truly makes a difference. My experience at Hyatt Regency Belgrade has taught me that fulfilled and satisfied people share their positive energy selflessly, contributing to fantastic results. Taking care of people is what makes our hotel special for work, professional development and growth, and that's why I choose it repeatedly.
Hyatt Regency Belgrade
PO Box 067, Milentija Popovica 5, Belgrade, Serbia, 11070 +381 11 301 1234 hyattregencybelgrade.com