Rens: My name is Rens van Beerendonk and I work with great pleasure as a Housekeeping Supervisor at WestCord Hotels in Eindhoven. Outside of work, I am very active, especially with football and running. I also enjoy exploring the world together with my girlfriend and travelling to beautiful, faraway destinations.

Karel:My name is Karel Cuijpers and I work as a Housekeeping Supervisor at WestCord Hotel Eindhoven. In my free time, I enjoy playing football or attending football matches.

How did you both end up in hospitality – and specifically in Housekeeping?

Rens: During my studies, I was looking for an internship that appealed to me. After a short search, I ended up at this hotel (at the time Inntel Hotels Eindhoven). After completing my internship, I stayed on and I have now been working here with great pleasure for four years at WestCord.

Karel: During my studies, I was looking for an internship and quickly ended up at this hotel (then still Inntel Hotels Eindhoven). After an internship in Front Office, I became interested in Housekeeping, which led me to do my second internship in this department. After my internship periods, I worked in a combination of Front Office and Housekeeping, but after six months I fully transitioned into Housekeeping.

Can you describe your career path up to becoming Housekeeping Supervisor at Hotel Eindhoven? And how did you experience the takeover by WestCord Hotels, since you were already working in the hotel at that time?

Rens: I started working at a cafeteria when I was 14. After completing my internship at WestCord, I quit my job at the cafeteria and started working at the hotel.

The takeover by WestCord came as a surprise to us, as we switched over completely within one week. Fortunately, it has brought many positive changes. Especially the use of new systems such as Flexkeeping and Mews has made our work easier and more enjoyable. During the transition from Inntel to WestCord, we as staff also helped with practical tasks, such as placing new beds in the rooms. I experienced those days as very enjoyable, as you immediately see the results of your work in the hotel’s appearance.

Karel: I started delivering sandwiches when I was 15. After completing my internship, I stopped that job. During my studies, I continued working in Front Office because I still had school in the mornings. After finishing my studies, I moved into full-time Housekeeping.

When we were taken over by WestCord Hotels, it came as a surprise, but after my first introduction to WestCord, I immediately had a positive impression. What took some getting used to at first were the new systems used by WestCord. In the end, these systems actually made our work easier and more efficient. During the transition, we were also given a lot of responsibility and were able to actively contribute.

What makes working in Housekeeping so special or often underestimated?

Rens: What makes Housekeeping so special is that every day is different. You never know what you might encounter in a room, which makes the work both special and challenging.

Karel: What I personally think is most underestimated about Housekeeping is that you never exactly know how many rooms you will need to clean the next day, as reservations are often added or extended at the last minute. Housekeeping is often underestimated because people only see the end result, not the hard work behind it.

What do you enjoy most about your role as Supervisor?

Rens: What I enjoy most is working with such a diverse team. In Housekeeping in particular, you work with many different people, cultures, and languages. Since I enjoy travelling and experiencing different cultures, this is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my role.

Karel: What I enjoy most is that no day is the same. I also find it important to ensure that room quality remains high so that guests have a pleasant stay.

“I have always had ambitions for growth opportunities. Fortunately, WestCord is known for motivating employees to grow within the organisation.”

How do you complement each other as a team? How do you differ, and what is important to you in guiding and motivating your team?

Rens: My strength is mainly on the floor, while Karel focuses more on the administrative side. This allows me to keep an eye on the floor, while Karel maintains a helicopter view of the rest. What we both find very important is that the team feels comfortable and enjoys coming to work. We create this atmosphere through open communication (and the occasional joke) and by treating everyone equally.

Karel: I focus more on giving direction and ensuring that everything runs smoothly during the day, such as making sure the Housekeeping team prepares the correct arrival rooms on time. Rens focuses more on supervising the staff. One of the main differences between us is that Rens is more direct and speaks his mind more quickly, while I tend to think more carefully about how I communicate and how my message might be received. We try to motivate each other and the team by keeping a positive atmosphere and occasionally talking about things other than work.

What is a moment you were really proud of your team?

Rens: In 2024, Guus Meeuwis held his final concert series at the Philips Stadium. This meant that for several weekends, we had to clean around 230 rooms per day, and the hotel was extremely busy. Despite the pressure, everything went smoothly and we welcomed many satisfied guests. We celebrated this afterwards with a drink together.

Karel: I would also think of the weekends during the Guus Meeuwis festival. For six days, the entire hotel checked out and then checked back in all at once. As a team, we handled this so well that everyone was able to get into their room on time.

What makes working at Hotel Eindhoven or within WestCord special for you?

Rens: What makes WestCord special for me is the young and enthusiastic team across different departments. This creates strong relationships between colleagues and ensures smooth communication and collaboration. The positive atmosphere not only makes work enjoyable but also leads to friendships.

Karel: What makes working at WestCord Hotel Eindhoven special for me is the relatively young team, which creates an energetic and pleasant working atmosphere. WestCord is also always open to feedback and new ideas, which gives you the feeling that you can really contribute to improvements. Additionally, the fun activities organised by WestCord and the possibility to stay at other WestCord hotels through the 40/30 employee discount are great benefits.

Have you experienced any funny, unexpected, or memorable moments at work?

Rens: One moment that has always stayed with me as a football fan is when I was in the elevator going to a higher floor and suddenly Ronald Koeman (the Dutch national team coach) stepped in. I briefly spoke with him before continuing my work.

Karel: For me, the funniest moment was when I had to deliver a bottle of water to a room. When the door opened, a well-known former football player stood there in his underwear. He immediately realised I recognised him, which made it a very funny moment.

If you would like to further develop yourselves, in what direction would that be?

Rens: I have always had ambitions for growth opportunities. Fortunately, WestCord is known for motivating employees to grow within the organisation. The first step I would like to take is becoming Assistant Housekeeping Manager or Housekeeping Manager.

Karel: I would like to further develop myself and eventually grow into the role of Assistant Housekeeping Manager or Housekeeping Manager. I also want to improve myself in communicating in a more direct way.

What would you say to someone who is unsure about working in Housekeeping or at WestCord?

Rens: Housekeeping is often underestimated. Many people immediately think of cleaning or less enjoyable tasks, but it is actually one of the most important and valuable departments in a hotel. You are the one who ensures guests walk into a fresh, clean room and feel welcome right away. That gives real satisfaction, because thanks to your work, guests can fully enjoy their stay.

Karel: Just give it a try! Housekeeping is hard work, but you get a lot in return. You work in a team you can rely on. At WestCord, there is also a great atmosphere and room to develop yourself, so it is definitely worth giving it a chance.

If you would describe each other in three words as colleagues, what would you choose?

Rens: Karel is decisive, caring, and solution-oriented on the work floor.

Karel: Rens is motivating, helpful, and decisive on the work floor.