Room with a View

I am surprised when I see the inner garden of Pulitzer Amsterdam. Now I understand how it is possible to have a view of both the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht. ‘The hotel consists of 25 canal houses,’ Yvonne tells us as we sit in the Pulitzer Garden enjoying our coffee. ‘If you have a suite on the Keizersgracht side, you can also enter from that side with a real key. It makes you feel like you live there. They are just like living rooms, often in the style of the former function of such a house.’

Do you have a favourite? And do you ever sleep in one of these unique rooms yourself?

‘I don’t really have a favourite, but if I had to choose, I’d go for the Book Collector’s Suite, which is just like a library. And yes, I did try out our new Flower Collector’s Suite once – it’s beautiful!’

And then you hear this? The Westertoren carillon?

‘I can tell you a story about that too. The carillon plays every quarter of an hour, day and night, and there are a few guests who find that disturbing. Of course, it’s part of Amsterdam, but just telling them that isn’t enough. So I start talking about the Anne Frank House, which is often a special reason for people to visit, and then I explain that it was an important reference point for the Frank family when they were in hiding there. That way, it becomes part of the guest experience.’

And I think the gardens are part of that too. That’s really unique for the heart of Amsterdam, isn’t it?

‘That’s right, the gardens make Pulitzer extra special. We have a gardener on staff all year round – look, there he is. I’m responsible for Housekeeping, Front Office, The Beauty House, Guest Experience, and the greenery. I don’t have green fingers myself, but I do enjoy it and I’ve learned a lot along the way! At certain times – after events, for example – we work together as a team to tidy up and make sure the garden is neat and tidy for the next day.’

A Director of Rooms with a broad range of responsibilities, then.

‘People sometimes say, “But you were trained as a manager, weren’t you?” That’s true, but a piece of paper doesn’t make you a manager. It’s the way you behave that makes the difference. It’s not a checklist you tick off every day; it’s how you do it that counts. I started here in 2021, during the coronavirus pandemic. During that time, we rebuilt the entire team based on our shared values. Family, discovery, spirit and detail: there’s no one in this entire building who doesn’t know the values. Everyone at Pulitzer lives and breathes them. The way we work together really makes a difference – both among ourselves and for our guests.’

Director of Rooms. It’s not something you dream of as a child, I mean, becoming something like that.

‘As a teenager, I worked in a restaurant and I also enjoyed setting the table and organising things at home. I still don't know how I got the idea to study hotel management, but from the start I knew that this was the right place for me and that I would one day become a (hotel) manager. As part of secondary hotel school, I went to New York for an internship when I just turned 18. My sister then told me about the international hotel management school at NHTV (now BUas). After an open day, I was immediately convinced!’

That was back when it was still on Sibeliuslaan. Have you been to our new campus yet?

‘I was there last week! I always hung on guest speakers’ every word when I was a student myself, so I enjoy inspiring new talent to get excited about the profession. And when I’m here, it immediately feels good again. It’s a great team, with Eric Andersen, Andy van Tilborg, Jack Maas and the rest of the team. You can tell they enjoy their work. That’s motivating. I enjoyed studying there so much, and now I enjoy teaching here just as much.’

And what are your guest lectures mainly about?

‘My guest lectures are about Rooms Division and Revenue Management. And there are three tips that I always share with the students.’

Okay, let’s list them. What’s the first one?

‘Be patient, but keep moving. Take the time to become proficient in your job, but keep developing yourself. Second is: Build your network. The hotel world is characterised by the people who work in it; we call it Hotello DNA. There are hotels all over the world, and yet it’s a small world. Make sure you know people. And join the HotelloTOP. I’m not just saying that because I’m an Advisory Board Member. Or rather, I was, but more about that later. Last tip: Seize opportunities. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. The people who are the first to raise their hands when something needs to be done are the ones who understand. They are the people who stand out and take significant steps in their careers.’

And what will be your next step? On my way here, I secretly already had the title of this story in my head. We’ve already talked about the view. But what is your outlook?

‘I recently left HotelloTOP, and of course I did so for a reason. Soon I’ll be starting a new job in New York! I remember taking the Long Island Rail Road on a day off during my internship, getting on the escalator and seeing all those skyscrapers. It was so cool. I thought then that I would like to live there for a few years. So when I was asked to work there for LORE Group, the hotel group that Pulitzer is part of, I didn’t have to think twice.’

And what exactly will your new challenge be?

‘LORE Group has two hotels in Amsterdam, London and Washington. New York is the next step. We have acquired a hotel there with the aim of turning it into a beautiful hotel of our own. I am the only colleague with experience in a LORE hotel, so my challenge is to bring that culture to New York. LORE’s vision is Hotels with stories that last. At Pulitzer in Amsterdam, this is clearly visible and tangible with its rich history and beautiful location. In New York, we will discover together how we can achieve this there – a wonderful opportunity!’

Exciting? So far from home?

‘The design there is also by our own design team, so it feels like coming home. But yes, I don’t know what my life will look like in six months’ time, so I do feel a bit excitement! I know that I can settle in well in new places. I’ve always embraced adventure. During my time at NHTV, I did an internship in Shanghai, and after my studies I worked in Switzerland for a few years, so I’m sure it will be fine. I already know some people there, which is the advantage of having a large network. And I look forward to connect with Hotellos in New York. So if you are one or know one, let’s get in touch!’

And then, of course, we’re looking for someone to take over your guest lectures...

‘Yes, I regularly talk to other Hotellos about BUas. There are lots of opportunities to stay involved with BUas, such as giving guest lectures or helping with student selection. I think it’s really great to be able to contribute to the team that has given me so much. And yes, there’s a spot opening up, so seize this opportunity!’

Interview: Maaike Dukker-‘t Hart