Park Hyatt hotel executive Samuel Dabinett on where to stay in Puglia, Italy
This well-travelled hotel executive has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to making the most of his suitcase.
Samuel Dabinett was eight years old when he fell in love with the world of five-star hotels. Now general manager of the acclaimed Park Hyatt Sydney, the debonair Dabinett vividly recalls discovering the magic of premium properties as he travelled Europe with his parents for four months. While the family mainly stayed in pensions, they would step inside luxury hotels in cities such as London and Paris to marvel at their offerings. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is a whole other world!’ because I’d never really seen or experienced it before,” Dabinett says. “I just loved the performance and the drama of those hotels.”
Growing up in Adelaide, Dabinett learnt some valuable skills for his life in hospitality while working overnight shifts at the local McDonald’s restaurant during his high school years. “It was hard but it was a great culture. You learnt to work in a team and I think for hotels, regardless of which area you work in, you have to be a team player,” he says.
When he finished school, Dabinett joined the events division of Hyatt Regency Adelaide, setting a course on a path that soon took him to Asia. After working at Park Hyatt Saigon in Vietnam, Dabinett enjoyed a key role in the opening of the impressive Park Hyatt Shanghai in China, where he spent four years. From there he moved to his first GM role at Tokyo’s exclusive Roppongi Hills Club, then owned by Hyatt, before heading to South Korea as GM of Park Hyatt Busan and then Park Hyatt Seoul.
Dabinett took up his current position at the Park Hyatt Sydney in late 2021. Celebrating its 35th birthday next year, the property was the third to be established in the Park Hyatt stable, which now numbers about 50. Positioned beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the hotel has a prime waterfront location and an intimate, relaxed ambience. “Every time people walk in, they say it feels really good here. There’s a great energy flow down this part of the city,” Dabinett says. “Guests come in from New York and other busy places and you can just see them instantly decompress.”
How it feels to be back in Australia
I came home with a new appreciation of the beauty of our country and the amazing sense of space. The first thing I did upon returning was to drive all the way up the NSW North Coast via the Central Coast and back down to the South Coast. I just drove and drove because it was something I had missed … you can’t really do road trips like this in places where there’s a huge amount of traffic.”
Most memorable places I’ve been
I’ve been twice to Puglia in southern Italy and can’t wait to return. It has great beaches, delicious regional food and friendly people. There’s this interesting arid-meets-lush mix to the landscape and it has an aesthetic and feeling that reminds me a bit of South Australia. When I flew back from my first trip to Puglia, Helen Mirren was on the plane. Her husband has a bar in Puglia and she just loves it there. She said to me, “You need to go back; you should buy somewhere there.”
Where I stay in Puglia
There are some great old farmhouses and converted buildings, known as masserie, in Puglia and a lot have been converted to beautiful boutique-style accommodation. There’s one just out of Lecce called Masseria Trapana, which is exquisite, and another with wonderful design is Masseria Potenti in Manduria, which is run by a family that has a lot of style and showcases “field to fork” cuisine.
Japanese lessons
My time in Japan really opened my eyes to omotenashi, the art of hospitality, and the importance of detail. It taught me a lot and it was a nice balance after being in China where I learnt about being fast and being efficient. Plus there’s an amazing cocktail culture in Japan, especially Tokyo, and I learned a lot about mixology and presentation. I particularly recommend Star Bar Ginza and Gen Yamamoto in Azabu-Juban; the latter is tiny, and has been rated one of the 50 best in the world for its seasonal ingredients and original mixes.
Travel tips
I always travel with my latex pillow, which I’m very particular about. I use a vacuum bag and carry a little portable vacuum so my pillow easily deflates to fit in my carry-on luggage. My favourite luggage brand is Rimowa and I’m starting to pack my checked-in suitcase with vacuum bags too, which are very good, particularly when I’m travelling through different temperature zones and thus need appropriate clothing. Down jackets take up a lot of volume, but once vacuum-packed, they can be squashed down, too.
Favourite hotel
Somewhere I feel really comfortable and love going back to is Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. It’s a small hotel and I’ve been going there for many years. The team is so friendly and there’s a signature scent designed by French perfumer Blaise Mautin that’s sprayed in the hotel. It’s interesting how smells can take you straight back to a certain time and place.
Why the concierge is essential
I think savvy travellers know the benefit of staying in a hotel with a great concierge, because they are onto the city’s heartbeat of what’s happening and have the best contacts. A lot of our Park Hyatt guests travel often and have friends who give them recommendations. So they have a hit list of what they want to do and then they can use the expert services of a concierge to get access and tickets to events and shows, as well as the latest tips and tricks.
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