Former Tio student Marieke Lamberts-Sicking works as General Manager at Pullman Eindhoven Cocagne. How has her career progressed and what are her tips for current students? “Gain experience in your career and show what you can do. Businesses will not let their best people go. We sometimes even create new positions just to retain our most talented employees.”
From receptionist to director
During her Tio bachelor in Hotel Management, Marieke Lamberts-Sicking did an internship at hotel Jan Tabak, which is located in the Randstad region. However, her heart belonged to Brabant. “I got a job as a receptionist at the Ibis hotel in Tilburg. Before long, I moved on to the position of Front Office Manager.”
That was not the end of her career path there. She developed herself as a management assistant and focused on Human Resources and hosting and developing management training sessions. “After that, I became a deputy director and then a director at Ibis. I then worked as the director of Novotel for seven years before moving on to the director’s position at Pullman Eindhoven Cocagne three years ago.”
Extensive experience
All these different positions, the various brands and the diversity of her job have given Lamberts-Sicking extensive experience with the hotel industry. “At Novotel, I learned to work with a management team. Working for the luxury and upscale brand of Pullman Eindhoven Cocagne is another wonderful experience.”
Does she have any ambitions and dreams for her future? “Definitely! Accor, which Pullman is a part of, is a large international organisation. I would love to work abroad for a few years to gain international experience.”
Seize every opportunity
The director has some good advice for current Tio students: “Choose your internships carefully. Explore every option and make the most of them. The right internships help you strengthen your CV, which is important for your future. If you want to make a career for yourself, look into large, international organisations as well. They offer plenty of development opportunities, both horizontally and vertically.”
Follow Marieke on LinkedIn.