Alessia Comis - MPI Iberian Chapter

When I was 18, I started working at Vicenza International Trade Fair, first as a hostess and then, after graduating, in the marketing and promotion department. I realized that I didn’t like the routine work at the fair, but I adored the adrenaline before and during events, and decided to undertake a master’s degree in communication and events. After working as communications director for TUI and as protocol manager at a town council, in 2003 I founded my own agency, Pidelaluna, on Mallorca.

As MPI Iberian Chapter president representing Spain and Portugal, I feel my mission is to lead the chapter towards innovation and professionalism through advanced training sessions and networking events and get the impact of our industry recognized broadly in our country and all over the world.

At Pidelaluna we do both incoming and outbound events, both corporate and institutional, not only MICE. We often help local institutions increase their visibility during tourist fairs or through FAM trips, and also produce our own trade events, such as Mallorca: Destino MICE.

My aim right now is persuading local institutions and the events sector that Mallorca must become and position itself as the most sustainable MICE destination in the Mediterranean. Real policies must be approved and actions taken in order to ensure responsible tourism on this amazing island menaced by overtourism.

Three years ago, our two kids arrived at the same time and made my professional career tumble. That summer leading my agency and dealing with my clients was a huge challenge. Some days I could devote just one hour to work—during the kids’ siesta! Things go much more smoothly now, but we do need to talk more about female leaders’ time management issues and share effective initiatives to foster women’s professional progress.

At MPI events there have been several sessions regarding women in leadership lately. I feel our association and our industry, in which far more women work than men, needs to lead the way towards real equality and work-life balance so that companies get more value by hiring the truly best professionals, not those cooking or ironing less at home.  

I got to know about MPI by attending an education session at a trade fair in 2010. I met the president of the MPI Spain Chapter (now MPI Iberian Chapter), and he invited me to be part of the board he was renovating as vice president of communications. Since then I have been an active member of the board and have enjoyed the teamwork. Last July, I was elected president of the Iberian Chapter. MPI in general and my colleagues on the board of directors—passionate eventprofs and incredible people—have broadened my perspective of the industry.

I’ve attended several MPI courses—on topics such as the measurement of event ROI and the #EventCanvas—that have contributed to increasing my professional expertise and the value I offer my clients, making creativity and innovation distinctive characteristics of my agency.

I have a deep passion for animals. If I were a millionaire, I’d invest in saving, protecting and caring for wild animals and nature. I’m in love with my two dogs and two cats—all girls, by the way—and wouldn’t mind having lots more if I could! Maybe I should have become a vet—but I would have missed nice catering at events!

BIO

Alessia Comis is managing director of Pidelaluna on Mallorca, Spain, and president of the MPI Iberian Chapter. She has been an MPI member since 2010.

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