In our series Faces of the Plantage, we get to know the people behind the organizations in our neighborhood. This time we speak with David, General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam.
Who are you, what gives you energy in your work at Hyatt, and what makes you proud?
“I’m David, 41 years old. I’ve been working at Hyatt for over fourteen years, and in fact my entire career has been in hotels. That’s something I’m proud of. I started working in hotels at nineteen and I’ve never left. One of my dreams was to become General Manager, and I achieved that about a year and a half ago.
What gives me energy every day are the people. We have around 145 employees, which means new nationalities, characters, and stories are constantly coming in. I usually conduct the final interview myself, to get a feel for the person and for them to get a feel for me. That diversity inspires me enormously.
Before coming here, I lived and worked for two years with Hyatt in Tanzania. There, 99% of the staff were locals and they saw me as the ‘big boss’, so I was less part of the team. Here in Amsterdam, the staff is much more diverse, and I find it fascinating to hear where people come from, how they ended up in Amsterdam, and how they’re building their lives here. That inspires me. I feel much more part of the team here.
And of course, there are our guests: 211 rooms with visitors from all over the world. I’m no longer at the front desk every day as I once was, but I still speak with guests often. It’s precisely those human interactions, with colleagues and guests, that make this work so inspiring. Especially now, when more and more things are automated, I believe personal contact is the real luxury of the future.”
What is something people don’t know about Hyatt, but would enjoy hearing?
“What almost nobody knows is that we have a beautiful terrace on the canal, a quiet spot few people are aware of. Perfect for lunch, coffee, cocktails, or dinner. We’d love it if more local residents saw us as a neighborhood hangout, a kind of oasis in the middle of the city.
Fortunately, many Amsterdammers already know how to find our Indonesian restaurant, Mama Makan. So I would like people to know that we don’t just welcome international guests; we really want to be a place for the neighborhood as well.”
What do you consider a hidden gem in the Plantage neighborhood?
“Often, I rent a boat with friends and instead of the busy canals in the city center, we sail through the east and past Artis. You see the Plantage from a completely different perspective: peaceful, green, and surprising. That, to me, is truly a hidden gem.”
The previous interviewee, Dennis from CREA, asked: what can you do as neighbors to make this part of Amsterdam more lively?
“I see many opportunities to collaborate. We have large event spaces here, they do too, but sometimes students or cultural groups are looking for a different setting. They could use our space, under adjusted conditions. Conversely, we can recommend CREA to our business groups, where the atmosphere is more creative and local. In that way, we bring different audiences together and strengthen the neighborhood.
I also believe the Plantage is still developing as a district. It’s quieter and more accessible than the busy city center, and that is actually a value in itself. If we, as a community, work together more and organize events, we can put this area even more firmly on the map.”
Who would you like to nominate for the next interview?
“I’d like to learn more about Melvin Creemer, the area manager for the Plantage neighborhood.”
And what question would you like to ask him?
“I would ask him: How do you envision the Plantage ten years from now? What is your vision for this area? I can already see there are plans to improve the greenery in the neighborhood, and I think someone in his position can really influence how the area develops.”