From hilton to Van der Valk: A career filled with hospitality and ambition
With a strong background in the hospitality sector and years of experience at renowned chains like Hilton and Van der Valk, Lenneke Jullion-Ambachtsheer has had an inspiring journey from commercial roles to HR management. Her story begins with a passion for hospitality, inspired by her family, and evolves into a career where people-oriented leadership and innovation take center stage.
In this article, we share her career path, from her first steps in revenue management to her current role as HR Manager. We explore the challenges, successes, and initiatives that have shaped her, including projects for inclusion and the use of technology in HR. She also shares her ambition to one day run a small B&B in France.
First Steps: From Hilton to Van der Valk
After studying Communication and gaining work experience at Center Parcs, I decided to follow my passion for hospitality. Like my brother and sister, I chose Hotel School and discovered my love for the hotel industry. During my studies, I gained experience at InterContinental in Barcelona and Hilton Schiphol. My language skills and international ambitions drew me to Hilton, where I gained experience in Individual Reservations, Revenue Management, and Groups & Events during my internship at Schiphol. I enjoyed it so much that I continued working there after graduation. In 2015, I transitioned to Van der Valk to be closer to my family. There, I implemented and professionalized revenue management through an advanced revenue system while staying actively involved in operational processes.
Preparation for My Role as HR Manager
My broad experience in the hospitality sector has prepared me well for my role as HR Manager at Van der Valk. Leading various teams and working in almost every hotel department has given me a deep understanding of sales and operational processes. This allows me to empathize with employees and quickly understand their needs, helping to find solutions collaboratively. My commercial background enhances this with the ability to build trust and connections quickly, enabling me to support both employees and management effectively. This combination of operational knowledge and people-centric leadership forms the foundation of my success in this role.
From Commerce to HR
The desire to keep developing myself motivated me to transition from a commercial role to HR management. After ten years at Hilton in a structured environment, I wanted more freedom and responsibility. At Van der Valk, I had the opportunity to make independent decisions and further explore my passion for working with people.
The transition to HR within a familiar organization made it easier to embrace this new challenge.
At the same time, I am pursuing an HR degree to further specialize in this field. This step is about personal growth and leveraging my experience and people skills in a new domain.
HR initiative: Inclusion and opportunities
One project I am proud of is creating more opportunities for people with a distance to the labor market. In addition to our collaboration with Ergon, which manages our laundry, I have expanded existing partnerships with Stichting Brainport and the employment team of the Municipality of Eindhoven to increase inclusion within our organization.
This aligns with our management’s vision, which focuses on providing opportunities and fostering social responsibility. It motivates me to not only implement this approach but also make it sustainable. This project demonstrates the impact I can make within HR and reinforces why I chose this role. It feels rewarding to be part of an organization that practices responsibility.
People-centric leadership
My leadership style is highly people-focused. While I have targeted goals and KPIs throughout my career, I believe success is only possible with a motivated team. That’s why I take a coaching and supportive approach, where employees can always come to me regardless of their department.
What has changed is how I channel my enthusiasm and spontaneity. Where I once acted impulsively, I now respond more thoughtfully, depending on the situation. Working with different directors has also made me flexible, allowing me to adapt my approach to meet specific needs. My people-focused style remains the core, but experience has refined it further, shaping me into the leader I am today.
Innovation in HR at Van der Valk
At Van der Valk, we combine HR innovation with a unique training center, including our own vocational training program up to level 4. This internal offering allows us to invest directly in our employees, an important step given current staffing shortages. I am also working on an improved onboarding program with solutions like open hiring and digital registration, making the process more efficient and accessible. Many people are still unaware of our extensive training opportunities, a chance I aim to leverage more effectively. Innovation in HR is not only about technology but also about showcasing and sustainably using our strengths.
Technology in HR
Technology has transformed the HR department and plays a crucial role in my work. With my background in revenue management, I am accustomed to systems and processes, and digitalization has become essential in HR as well.
At Van der Valk, we have recently implemented a new scheduling and payroll system to make processes more efficient and digital. Employees now expect digital contracts and online onboarding, meeting their needs while modernizing and streamlining our work.
Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant in HR, particularly for data analysis and system integrations. It reminds me of the technological evolutions I experienced in revenue management, now applied to HR.
Career influences
Throughout my career, people and experiences have shaped me. Managers like Floris Licht and Karin van den Berg gave me opportunities to participate in talent programs, take courses, and even pioneer as a junior revenue manager. These experiences accelerated my growth and provided valuable learning moments. One of the highlights was my most exciting role as GC&E Manager in the pre-opening team at Hilton The Hague, where I was part of a unique and dynamic start-up phase.
At Van der Valk, Rick Polman and Alexander Holterman had a significant impact. They gave me the freedom and responsibility to independently start projects and improve processes. While Hilton offered a structured learning environment, Van der Valk allowed for hands-on development. This balance has greatly enriched my professional growth.
Proud of growth, development, and motivation
I am proud of the commercial successes I have achieved, such as maximizing the revenue of the hotels I worked at. Achieving results and meeting goals has always energized me. However, the people-focused aspect of my work holds even more value. The most rewarding part is seeing team members grow, both professionally and personally. Just as I was given opportunities at the start of my career, I find it fulfilling to guide and coach others. It brings me immense satisfaction to see where my colleagues stand today and to know that I contributed to their development.
What motivates me is the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry. No day is the same; plans constantly change due to unexpected situations or guests, making the work exciting and challenging. I draw inspiration from working with young, diverse teams and interacting with guests, where everything revolves around creating memorable experiences. The variety, improving processes, and coaching colleagues keep me passionate and energized every day.
Working with Gen Z
Working with Gen Z requires a new approach. This generation sets clear boundaries for their work-life balance and is no longer willing to work every weekend, holiday, or evening shift by default. This is a significant shift from the past, where flexibility was primarily expected from the employee. As an organization, we need to become more flexible and find ways to attract and retain this generation, such as leveraging technology and adjusting policies. For example, we expect employees to call in sick by phone, but we’ve noticed they increasingly use WhatsApp as their preferred communication method.
We are still exploring the best ways to adapt to these changes. Van der Valk addresses this with training sessions like Generational Differences in the Workplace, which help managers collaborate more effectively with diverse age groups. Initiatives like these are essential to integrating Gen Z into our teams and aligning with their evolving expectations.
Advice and skills for a career in hospitality or HR
For a successful career in hospitality or HR, a solid education in hospitality provides a strong foundation. Pair this with practical experience by exploring different departments, even those that may not seem obvious. Broad experience helps you collaborate more effectively with various teams and see the bigger picture.
In addition, strong communication skills, empathy, problem-solving abilities, and decisiveness are crucial. As an HR professional, you act as a bridge between employees and managers, solve problems, and make clear decisions. This combination of education, practical experience, and skills creates a strong foundation for success in both fields.
Reflecting on my career
If there is one thing I would have done differently in my career, it would be gaining more international experience. Although I had plans, they never materialized. Opportunities in my career kept arising, and I seized them with both hands. Before I knew it, I had progressed in my role and stayed in the Netherlands. Yet, I sometimes reflect on that missed opportunity.
What I’ve learned from this—and advise others to do—is to occasionally pause and reflect: am I still on the right path? Young professionals today seem more aware of this compared to my generation, where the focus was on working hard and moving forward. Ultimately, I am satisfied with how my career has unfolded, but looking back and reflecting helps you make intentional choices and shape your future better.
Dreaming of life abroad
The idea of moving abroad remains in the back of my mind. For now, we choose stability because my children are still young. But once they are older, I wouldn’t rule out taking the leap.
France would be the destination, partly due to my husband’s connection, as he is half French. A distant future dream is to one day run a small hotel together, where we can set our own pace and offer guests a unique experience. For now, however, I am focused on my career in HR, which I’ve recently started and want to develop further. It feels like an opportunity to make up for some of that missed international experience. Sometimes you have to hold onto dreams—they might just come true.
Are you interested in a challenging career at Van der Valk Eindhoven? Discover the career opportunities in a dynamic and stylish environment.