Behind the scenes of the Paris Olympics: Hospitality in action

In July, I embarked on the 27-hour journey to Paris to join a renowned event management company, iLUKA, as part of a crack team delivering partnership activations for a variety of clients and Olympic sponsors. iLUKA boasts 17 Olympic and Paralympic Games, 16 global football events, and 150 other events in its portfolio. The head office is based in London, UK, with a core team that swells tenfold for major events.

This was my seventh Olympics or Commonwealth Games undertaking since 2000. It began at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where I worked for iLUKA with one of the Games’ major sponsors. My role involved working in accreditation and showcasing areas of the venue. From that experience, I continued to work in various hospitality roles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, the 2012 London Summer Olympics, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The Paris Olympic experience was extraordinary. The city itself was spectacular, with many Olympic venues centred around iconic landmarks. Security was robust, with police and army personnel drafted in from Belgium, Germany, and across France. Friendly, helpful security staff were stationed on nearly every street corner, making the area feel very safe. Outside the tourist hotspots, Paris was quiet; many locals had left, which was a pity as the city had transformed into an Olympic wonderland.

My role at the Olympics

So, what was I doing? A “Housekeeping Management Consultant” amid the Paris Olympics? My role in this Sponsorship Hospitality Programme was “Hotel Manager.” The programme involved the major sponsor client inviting their special guests to Paris. These guests attended Olympic events and participated in a business-working component of the programme. Every part of their experience was designed to share our client’s story and create lifelong memories.

Event management companies such as iLUKA specialise in these programmes. The preparation is handled by the advance management team. This includes all aspects of the programme: arrival at the airport or train station, transfer to the hotel, check-in, lounge and food and beverage at the hotel, event tickets, transport to and from the events with event hosts accompanying guests every step of the way. Hosts also provided hospitality at the events, managed transport to and from the business component of the programme, and oversaw final departures on the last day.

On this programme, we had 10 “waves” of guests checking in and out, often back-to-back. The programme was relatively small, with our client occupying 40 of the 80 hotel rooms. This is where my hotel team came in. We welcomed guests at our dedicated arrival lounge, guided them through their itineraries, and introduced them to the hospitality lounges. We liaised with housekeeping and front office teams to ensure the rooms were ready and immaculate. The team set up all the giveaway goodies in the rooms before arrival and performed a final check. My challenging role also involved coordinating all the food and beverage options in the lounges—including all-day grazing, pre-function receptions, and late-night hospitality. The lounge was open daily from 7 am. to 1 am. art of the challenge was that I arrived three weeks before the start, while the rest of the team joined only a week before the Olympics began. It took meticulous effort to train the team, prepare the venues and lounges, and coordinate effectively with the hotel.

Challenges and rewards

What skills are needed to take on such a role? You need to think on your feet, adapt quickly to change, and solve problems calmly and efficiently. This was put to the test when, on day two, I tripped and fell, breaking my wrist. Working in a high-adrenaline environment with little sleep and collaborating with multicultural and diverse teams is tough. The payoff, however, is immense—meeting a huge range of people, attending incredible sporting events, and sharing the buzz of being part of the Olympic Games.

I was fortunate to attend some wonderful events: beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower, athletics and the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, and the highlight for me—the modern pentathlon finals at Château de Versailles.

Looking ahead

Brisbane 2032 will be here before we know it, and there’s a massive amount of work to do to ensure it’s an Olympics to remember. Reflecting on my experiences in Paris, I’m inspired by the incredible potential Brisbane holds to deliver a Games that will captivate the world and leave an unforgettable legacy.

Here’s to being part of another chapter in Olympic history! I’m inspired by the incredible potential Brisbane holds to deliver a Games that will captivate the world