At WestCord, we naturally work with only the very best people. Their drive and passion for surprising our guests are truly admirable, and we are delighted to shine a spotlight on two of them: David Francois and Inez Eggebeen. David is Facility Manager at The Market Hotel in Groningen, and Inez recently joined the WestCord family as Project Coordinator Interior Design. Together, they are involved in the renovation of the WestCord hotel in Eindhoven. In this interview, we get the chance to get to know the pair much better!

Inez Eggebeen, Projectcoordinator Interior Design

How did your career at WestCord begin?
'Since March of this year, I have been working at WestCord Hotels, where I was hired for my current position as Project Coordinator Interior Design.'

What exactly does your role involve?
'As Project Coordinator Interior Design at WestCord Hotels, I coordinate interior design projects from concept to completion, including communication, planning, budgeting, execution, quality control, and supplier management. The projects range from room renovations to the restyling of public areas such as lobbies, restaurants, and meeting rooms. Every workday is different. Before the summer holidays, I spent several weeks working full-time in Eindhoven due to the hotel renovation. Last week, I spent a day in Eindhoven, had a meeting on board the ss Rotterdam, visited a supplier’s showroom, and continued working from our office in Amsterdam where suppliers visit, consultations take place with colleagues from the design department, and meetings with the family are held. Next week, my schedule will look completely different again. The variation in locations, working with many different colleagues and suppliers, and the involvement of the Westers family make this a particularly enjoyable role.'

If you had to describe your work in three words, which would they be?
'Coordinating, connecting, and variety.'

Is there a particular project that stands out to you?
'I haven’t been here very long yet, so there isn’t one specific project that really stands out so far. However, I do enjoy working with great enthusiasm on all WestCord Hotels projects.'

This edition focuses on interiors. What role does interior design play in your daily life?
'Before joining WestCord, I worked for seventeen years with industrial designer Marcel Wanders as a project coordinator, and before that as a project manager in exhibition stand construction. I have always been surrounded by interior design, and that automatically influences your private life as well. At home, I now have a timeless interior where I make thoughtful and fitting changes whenever needed.'

How would you describe your personal interior style?
'Eclectic, with a mix of old and new designer furniture, lighting, and art pieces. Bold gestures, no knick-knacks. Cozy and tidy. Natural oak, glass, steel, white walls, a green marmoleum floor, large plants, warm fabrics, and bright colors.'

What do you find most important in an interior?
'That you feel at home.'

Do you have a golden tip for people who want to create their own interior?
'Look closely at what you like and make it your own by mixing different ideas and styles.'

David Francois, Facility Manager

How did your career at WestCord begin?
'I studied International Hospitality Management at NHL Stenden. In the final year of the program, you complete a ten-month internship at a company in the hospitality sector. At the time, The Market Hotel was still under construction, and since I lived just around the corner, I decided to drop by during an open recruitment day. After a positive interview, I was hired as the very first intern of the hotel. Originally, I was supposed to start on July 1 in the newly opened hotel, but due to delays caused by, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening was postponed. As a result, my internship turned into a pre-opening internship, where I was involved in all preparations. The hotel eventually opened on May 1, 2021, shortly after I finished my internship. Luckily, I was able to stay! I started as a department supervisor of a small team responsible for cleaning the public areas and staff facilities. Later, the dishwashing department was added. Over the following years, I merged the two into one facilitation department.'

What exactly does your role involve?
'The facilities team at The Market Hotel is, in short, responsible for everything guests do not see. Think of cleaning the public areas, keeping the staff rooms including the canteen and offices tidy, washing and ironing staff uniforms, and sometimes assisting the technical department. Our goal is to support the rest of the staff just as well as they support our guests. A typical workday starts with checking messages and emails, as a lot can happen between the end of your previous shift and the start of the next one. Then I focus on urgent tasks such as ordering parts with long delivery times or having conversations with employees when something has occurred. After that, there's always a long to-do list waiting. In between, I get calls for advice, repairs, solutions, feedback, and all kinds of small jobs. When it’s busy, I’m happy to lend a hand in the dishwashing area. Recently, I have also been working intensively on the renovation of the WestCord Hotel in Eindhoven.'

If you had to describe your work in three words, which would they be?
'Dynamic, surprising and challenging.'

Is there a particular project that stands out to you?
'At the moment, my work for WestCord Eindhoven is in the spotlight. Over the past nine months, I stayed in Eindhoven three to six nights a week and worked closely with everyone involved. I have always felt incredibly welcome, which shows that within the chain we are truly colleagues — not just within each individual hotel. It’s amazing to see how a bare concrete room slowly transforms into a complete hotel room during the project. Both in Groningen and Eindhoven, I have contributed to the final product that guests get to enjoy. It feels very personal to me, almost like a second home, and both projects make me feel completely at home within the company.'

This edition focuses on interiors. How important is interior design in your role as Facility Manager?
'From a facilities perspective, it is mainly important to maintain the interior so that it looks just as good years later as it did in the promotional images from the first week. You’re essentially helping the architect by keeping their design intact. For me, it’s crucial to know which materials were used, how to clean something if housekeeping can’t get it clean, and how to repair it if it breaks'.'

What are your best tips for creating or maintaining an interior?
'Always have some spare materials on hand or at least know where to order them.'