Luuk Sjoers

Going solo: not what I expected 

If you'd told me a year ago that I’d go abroad all by myself, I would’ve looked at you in disbelief. But here I am and honestly, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The price you pay? That’s me 

I’m interning in Revenue Management. It’s a fascinating field that often flies under the radar. At university, you only scratch the surface. Here, I’m diving in deep. My job is all about analysing data, forecasting demand, and adjusting room prices strategically. I look at booking trends, flight availability, special events, and competitor pricing. Forecasting is a big part of what I do. It’s about predicting what’s coming. For example: how many guests are likely to book next week? How will a new hotel opening affect us? It’s like solving a big puzzle every day. To put it simply: if you book a hotel room for your holiday, I help decide how much you’ll pay.

Taken seriously from day one 

From the start, I was treated as part of the team not “just the intern.” My first day, they said: “Right, what are we going to do, and how are we going to do it?” But they also understood it could be overwhelming. One of the first things they told me was, “Lukie, we’re going to take it slow with you.” That helped me settle in. My direct colleague works remotely from Miami. We talk every day and he’s always available. I like to stick my nose into everything by nature, which helps too. I genuinely feel like a full team member, and that makes a huge difference in what you’re able to learn.

Aruba is not Curaçao

In Dutch, we joke that Curaçao is “verkaasd” – literally “covered in cheese” – meaning it feels very Dutch. Aruba, in contrast, is strongly influenced by the United States. About 90% of our guests come from places like New York and Florida. The culture is fast paced, service-oriented and extremely hospitable and that’s something we could learn from in the Netherlands, honestly.

The market is shifting and we’re responding 

Right now, there’s a hotel boom on the island. Marriott is building several new hotels, including a luxury Saint Regis with 252 rooms. Hilton is expanding with 361 more rooms. At the same time, there aren’t enough flights to match all that capacity and competition is heating up fast. My assignment focuses on this transition. I’m building a revenue strategy based on data, benchmarking and competitor analysis, helping Hilton adapt to this changing market better than the rest. It’s a valuable project for the company and completely in line with my studies.

What I’ve learned so far 

I’ve only been here two months, but already I’ve grown a lot. Especially in how I work with people from different cultures. The atmosphere here is very American, and the Aruban way of interacting is incredibly warm and personal. You really feel the hospitality everywhere. It’s a great environment to develop professionally, especially if you’re used to the more down-to-earth Dutch approach. So, how’s my professional development going? Come back in eight months. I’ll pick the perfect moment and maybe even find you the best deal on a flight.

Future goal: my own boutique hotel 

My dream is to one day open my own boutique hotel. I did a front office internship in Munich during my vocational studies, and that experience stuck with me. I want to understand every side of the industry and being here is helping me build that foundation.

Thinking about going abroad? Just do it!

If you’re unsure about going abroad for your internship – especially on your own – I get it. It’s a big step. But it’s worth it. You’ll grow, become more independent, and see the world in a new way. For anyone studying hospitality, this kind of adventure is a must.