What happens when you turn one of New York City’s most iconic ballrooms into a tennis court? The answer is the Ballroom Tennis Invitational, a spectacular collision of sport, style and hospitality brought to life by the Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club at Waldorf Astoria New York. The hotel’s historic Grand Ballroom became an unexpected arena for an unforgettable night of racquet sport, elite players and plenty of excitement both on and off the court while supporting a worthy cause.
Among the reporters covering the event was Gabi, a 16-year-old Little with Big Brothers Big Sisters’ New York City chapter who held the special role of ‘Little Reporter’ through Hilton’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Gabi had the opportunity to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to transform the legendary ballroom into a one-of-a-kind sporting event. As the evening’s charitable partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America received 5% of ticket proceeds, matched by the Hilton Global Foundation to help expand mentorship and immersive career exploration opportunities for young people across the U.S.
For Gabi, a natural storyteller with a passion for interviewing and creative media, the event served as a chance to hone her skills for interviewing and storytelling. Armed with curiosity, a camera and plenty of questions, she interviewed the people bringing the experience to life, explored the production behind the scenes and took in the matches firsthand. Along the way, she discovered more about event production, media and also about herself.
Here, Gabi shares what it was like to step behind the baseline, meet some of the people who made Ballroom Tennis happen and experience an unforgettable night at Waldorf Astoria New York.
Gabi, a Little Reporter with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, asks the first question at the Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club Ballroom Tennis Invitational. Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesWhat was it like to attend the Ballroom Tennis event at Waldorf Astoria New York?
Attending the Ballroom Tennis event at Waldorf Astoria New York was truly mind-blowing and spectacular. I think I am still in shock. I learned so much from the crew and their experience, including the best camera positions, lighting and audio, as well as how each person contributes to bringing the project together. I also learned so much about myself and my passion for reporting. I wish it never ended!
How did it feel to be a reporter at the event?
Being a reporter at the event felt so rewarding and amazing. It also put me in a unique position because I got the opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes action and talk to all the passionate people who worked on putting this event together, while also enjoying and watching the matches when the event started. At some points, there were definitely some nerves, but the excitement quickly took over. Having the support from the experienced and dedicated crew definitely made my experience so cool.
Who did you get to interview during the event?
I had the honor of talking with Luigi Romaniello, managing director of Waldorf Astoria New York; Jamie Kerr, executive vice president of Luxury Marketing for Hilton; Chris Dong, a travel reporter; Leylah Fernandez, a professional tennis player and Andy Roddick, former professional tennis player and now podcaster. The passion in their answers really helped make the interviews flow easily.
What did you learn from this experience?
I learned a lot from this experience. I learned how important it is to be and stay prepared while also being flexible and able to adapt to things that were not necessarily planned out. I also learned how important it is to be in the moment and trust yourself, instead of constantly worrying or thinking about what is coming next. You do not want to miss the present by thinking about the future or the past.
What’s next for you?
This experience ignited my love of reporting, but the event also reinforced my passion for media, business and marketing. Now, I get to use those skills to write about my experiences for Hilton’s channels.
Coming up, I will continue my academics going into my junior year, as well as continue learning through my mentorship with Big Brothers Big Sisters. And hopefully, I will have more career opportunities like this to continue building my experience.
How long have you been in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and what has your experience been like?
I have been in Big Brothers Big Sisters for about a year now, and I have had a truly incredible experience. Through the mentorship program, I have gotten to build and expand upon new and existing relationships. We also learned how to improve our collaboration and organization skills through activities with my mentor.
What are some of the things you have learned from your mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters?
Having a mentor has helped me grow my communication skills in a more professional way, as communicating with them is different from how I talk to my friends, family and teachers. Talking to my mentor has also helped me feel more comfortable expressing myself, which served me well and made me feel more natural in front of the camera during the interviews.
Why do you think it’s important for teenagers like you to be a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
I believe that it is important to not only grow yourself academically, but also to work on the soft skills that you are going to need for your future and career to be successful in life. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a unique program that teaches you and prepares you for your future and success in a way that school or education does not teach you.
I think as teenagers, there is a lot of energy and pressure on school and how school should always be prioritized. As much as I agree with this, it is also important to engage with other programs and internships that teach you other things, like Big Brothers Big Sisters.
What would you tell someone who is interested in being a Little with Big Brothers Big Sisters?
I would tell them to just do it. It is truly an amazing and rewarding experience. I cannot recommend it enough. However, you have to show up and commit. Show up and grasp the opportunities given to you, which are plenty, and commit to your mentor and your mentorship to truly be successful.
I am thankful to everyone involved here for the trust and commitment to my personal growth. I feel so grateful to have been a part of this project and can’t wait to see what happens next.