1. Home
  2. About Tio
  3. News
  4. From intern to Sales Executive at a five-star hotel

From intern to Sales Executive at Huis ter Duin

As a Sales Executive, his team and he are responsible for the sales at one of the best-known hotels in the Netherlands. With his limitless ambition, former Hotel and Event Management student Oscar de Reu works for the renowned Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in Noordwijk: “As part of the sales team, I am a proud ambassador of the hotel.”

Oscar de Reu did an internship at Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin back in 2014. He has since returned to the five-star hotel and loves his current job. “Together with my sales team, I focus on the MICE market,” Oscar explains. “It is short for ‘meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.’ The hotel largely targets this professional market.”

As a Sales Executive, he focuses on quotations, customer contact, attending events and tradeshows, relationship management and company visits. “For example, I recently spent a week in the UK to visit businesses in a food truck with Preferred Hotels & Resorts,” he says excitedly. “The goal was to profile our organisation, explain what we do and maintain relationships with clients.”

Euphoria on the work floor

Despite the scope of the organisation, its sales team only consists of four people. “That is unique. At the same time, it gives us an edge,” Oscar explains. “We work together closely and know each other well. Because this is a true family business, the lines of communication are short. That is great for us, but also for our clients. Everything is taken care of much quicker. The atmosphere in our team is wonderful. Whenever an important quotation is accepted, there is euphoria on the work floor. Reeling in a major client is such a rush!”

Tio opens doors

In his job, Oscar still reaps the benefits of his Tio studies. “Both the practical courses and the theoretical knowledge have definitely paid off. It creates a solid foundation. I also acquired a wealth of important practical experience during a Management Development Internship,” Oscar explains. “My Tio studies tie in very well with the hotel industry. On top of that, Tio simply looks great on your CV. It opens doors, which is a definite advantage.”

Dreams for the future

Before Oscar started his job as a Sales Executive, he also did an internship at Hotel Huis ter Duin. After graduating, he spent two years in Australia working as a restaurant manager. “That was hard work; I sometimes worked seventy to eighty hours a week,” Oscar says. “I am convinced that it all paid off in the end, though. I learned a whole lot and it was a wonderful experience. My ultimate dream is to someday manage my own hotel.”

Follow Oscar on LinkedIn.