Hyatt Regency Minneapolis’ Samson Desta receives a Meet Minneapolis Hospitality Hero Award

MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 22, 2017) – Samson Desta, a room service attendant at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis has been named a Hospitality Hero award winner by Meet Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association. The award is given quarterly to members of the Minneapolis hospitality community who have been nominated by their colleagues. The award honors an individual or company that has made valuable contributions to the image and culture of Minneapolis through outstanding hospitality and service.

Desta’s colleagues say he takes a lot of pride in his city and hotel, doing his best to help make great experiences possible at the Hyatt. Director of Sales and Marketing Vince Vito says Desta comes to work with “an amazing attitude and a genuineness that cannot be taught.” Giving examples of Desta’s tendency to go above and beyond for those around him, Vito says, “his approach to service delights guests every day and his actions are an example for others to follow.”

The hotel’s newest Meeting Connections Sales Manager, Michael Rudy, recalls the positive encounters with Desta that stood out to him most when he first arrived at the Hyatt. At the time, Rudy was looking for a place to live in town, and Rudy helped him make connections to find just the right location. “Samson listened and understood my needs and delivered more than just a meal, he delivered an experience that made me feel special and welcome. It was Samson’s effort in taking the extra few minutes to have a conversation that truly reinforced our commitment to the Hyatt’s purpose through the foundation of care,” said Rudy.

Vito also shares a time when a hotel guest had fallen ill, requesting only soup to be left outside her door. The guest later wrote to the General Manager that Desta’s service had been exemplary. He delivered the soup quickly with a kind note to get well, and later followed up with tea and more well-wishes for her recovery. “He certainly exceeded my expectations by providing a caring and thoughtful gesture and sentiment at a time when I was feeling pretty crummy,” the guest wrote. “This is truly an example of exemplary service that WOWed this customer.”

He “embodies authentic hospitality and is a great ambassador for Hyatt and for Minneapolis,” says Vito. Desta’s optimistic attitude and kind-hearted personality go a long way in ensuring a positive interaction with those whom he encounters on the job. He is a great example of the genuine courtesy and goodwill that the Minneapolis hospitality community values.

Samson Desta, Meet Minneapolis 2016 third quarter Hospitality Hero Award winner and room service attendant for Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.

Online: www.minneapolis.org and http://go.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/meetminneapolis/

MEDIA CONTACT

Matt Laible, Meet Minneapolis Director of Public Relations & Communications 612.767.8220, mattl@minneapolis.org