What makes Selina Momen the perfect Director of Public Relations and Liaison for The Westin Dhaka, is her courteous nature and her ability to receive her guests with a pleasant smile.
Handling clients and networking at events, it goes without a saying that Selina’s job keeps her on her toes. “I maintain a very close relation with my media fellows; whenever we host an event, we promote it through comprehensively planned activities to both media and guests.” She also mentions that PR is not only with the media but extensively with guests as well. “We try to give publicity to our events by getting the word across through various activities. For example, to promote our Wedding Festival this year, we organised a press conference prior to the event, had both print and electronic medias cover the event live during the festival, sent pictures and video clips to those who could not make. Alongside that we also held entertainment breaks with fashion shows to keep the people engaged while hosting the two-day exhibition of premium wedding related brands. Apart from the media coverage, we also invited our corporate clients and other guests to join in as well,” she adds.
Selina says that The Westin Dhaka constantly tries to cater to people of various mindsets, “We try to deliver our best in order to prioritise the needs of our guests.” Moreover, she explains that as a business hotel, The Westin Dhaka ensures that the brand’s six pillars of Well-Being Movement, is being offered not only to hotel guests but also to employees worldwide. All of the related programs and partnerships through it is based on the “six pillars”of The Westin which emphasises factors in essentials like ‘feel well,’ ‘work well,’ ‘move well,’ ‘eat well,’ ‘sleep well’ and ‘play well.’A nostalgic Selina recalls the time when she first joined the hotel, “One of the many things I found striking was that the hotel pays close attention to their customers’ health. Once I was acquainted with the brand, I learnt how to address customers’ needs as best as I could. Hence we always say that The Westin Dhaka is your second home.”
She elaborates that being part of an international brand comes with many challenges as the team has to meet the standards set internationally by the Marriott. “However, they are actually fun to accomplish because through these we get to learn and experience something new every day,” she added, “there is always a scope for improving the services and learn to incorporate it to our culture.”
According to Selina, the management conducts workshops and special training by experts from home and abroad. Such initiatives provide a platform to learn, interact and exchange ideas. “Unlike online sessions and resources, when people fly in, the training sessions get more exciting and interactive,” Selina says with enthusiasm.
By the end of the conversation, Selina shares that she is concerned about the lack of women associates in the hospitality industry. “When applicants pour in, only a few appear to be women, which needs to change,” she expresses with disappointment, There’s such a diversity of career choices for women who come from a sound educational background and this industry is the safest place for women to work in. I hope that more women consider this industry for their career,” concludes a hopeful Selina.
Westin Dhaka’s Selina Momen is setting new standards of PR and Networking
