007 Travelers Interview: Mainport by Inntel Hotels / Lous van Prooijen



Lous van Prooijen



Who: Lous van Prooijen, Marketing & Communications Executive

Where: Mainport by Inntel Hotels, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Mainport, the official accommodation partner of Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style exhibition, is the gateway to all continents in the world in a 5 star design setting. Hotel offers also Designing 007 hotel packages. 
When:16 January 2015

1. Please introduce yourself

Well, I’m Lous. Born and raised in the Netherlands, near the city of Rotterdam, where I currently live. I have worked in many different parts of the hospitality industry and logically went to the International Hotel Management School in Breda. I started working for Mainport as an pre-opening intern two years ago. Since then I have worked my way up to where I am today, Marketing & Communication Executive.

Mainport by Inntel Hotels

2. How long have you been involved in hotel business and what can you tell us about your work? 
I was introduced to the Hospitality business at a very young age and started working at the age of 13 in restaurants. My love for the business has been growing ever since. My current work is challenging me in multiple ways. For example, I need to stay closely connected to the city of Rotterdam, keeping track of the opportunities the city presents and react accordingly. Hence the wonderful cooperation we now have with the Kunsthal, for the exhibition of "Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style".


 

3. Have you ever met Bond stars for example then, when the Exhibition opened? If you have, who? If you have not, who do you want to meet the most? 
As official hotel partner I had the pleasure of being involved in many aspects of the exhibition, including the pleasure to meet Mr. Jeroen Krabbé and Ms. Maryam D’abo ("The Living Daylights") (1987), in addition the exhibition was officially opened by Ms. Daphne Dekkers, who played a small part in "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997).

4. Your favourite Bond actor? (leading male role) Why? 
Tough question. I did not grow up with the Bond movies and my interests weren’t triggered till I was a bit older. It was my college roommate who made me watch the whole bunch, to the point that I was the one asking if we could see another. I would have to go with Sean Connery, since he was in the first Bond movie I ever saw. In addition Pierce Brosnan, obviously for his looks. For now I am quite used to seeing Daniel Craig playing the Bond part and wouldn’t mind him staying on for a while longer.  

5. Your favourite Bond film? Why?

"Casino Royale" (2006). The story, the settings, the action. I loved it. Bond is his first 007 appearance, had me quite nervous in Montenegro. As always and luckily, he comes out just fine. The poker game, which must be an epic one in Bond history, was also amazingly well re-enacted in the exhibition at the Kunsthal.

6. Which is the best place where you have traveled so far? Why?  
I haven’t seen that much of the world yet, but my two favourite cities would be San Francisco. It is a great place to visit and has a great diversity of cultures and hotspots. Second is Barcelona, where I lived for a while. A seaside city with amazing tapas restaurants on almost every corner. It has a rich history and has both a beautiful city centre and suburbs.  

7. Which is the place where you would like to visit but have not yet been? Why?

There is still so much to see. For a next trip either Asia or America’s east coast. Completely different of course, but both places I want to visit. I want to explore Asia for its different culture, beautiful landscapes, diversity and serenity. I have always felt drawn to America, since I already visited the west, I think it’s time to investigate the east.



Stay tuned for 007 Travelers introduction of
* Mainport by Inntel Hotels 
* Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style Exhibition 
* 007 Travel story

See more interviews by 007 Travelers here