AMSTERDAM – After ten years at the NH Hotelgroup, it was time for something new for Romy Steenmeijer. Romy is joining Travel Counsellors as a ZRA, where she mainly plans to learn a lot. “I also have to straighten out the mistakes I make myself. That is a nice challenge,” Romy tells Reisbizz.nl.
Romy’s interest has always been in the online travel world. After three years at Booking.com, she wanted to see the other side of the travel world and started working at NH Hotelgroup. “Here I was responsible for all hotels in the Benelux and later Northern Europe. In this role I worked together with national and international OTAs to achieve the right turnover for the various hotels.” Romy learned a lot here. “The first few years I didn’t have a team and it was really a solo function. Later the team was fortunately expanded so that I could focus on the larger accounts. In the last few years we merged with the team in Berlin, which also gave me more knowledge about the German market.”
Straight knitting yourself
The decision to leave NH Hotelgroup was not an easy one. “I noticed that I had been standing still for a while,” says Romy. “Of course I thought about other positions within the company, but I always said that I already had the best position within NH.” For that reason, Romy decided to take a leap of faith and join Travel Counsellors. “I noticed, partly due to the corona period, that I can work perfectly well on my own. In addition, I really want to make my own choices and figure everything out myself. This is very exciting, but I think I can learn a lot from that. I also have to straighten out the mistakes I make myself and that is a nice challenge.”
Romy during one of her coolest trips ever: ten weeks to Australia and New Zealand.
Good stories from the industry
Since Romy has completed a tourism education and has a lot of experience in the industry, she can now follow a shortened training course at Travel Counsellors. “In addition, the organization will provide me with a coach who can help me on my way and fortunately there is a whole team of experts at the head office who can help where necessary.” The good stories from the industry in particular made Romy decide to join Travel Counsellors. “I first had a conversation with Veronique Lindhout, who has been with the club for a while. Her enthusiasm made me think. After a pleasant lunch, the seed was planted and a few months later the decision was made.”
Romy is especially excited to get started. “I notice that I have a lot of energy and it sounds cliché, but if you turn your hobby into your job, you never have to work again.”
