A coffee with Dorien Lemkes

A coffee with Dorien Lemkes, account manager at the Utrecht Convention Bureau. Her journey to further put Utrecht on the map as a (inter)national congress destination started on November 1, 2023. Furthermore, Dorien is involved in strengthening the positioning of Utrecht, Heart of Health.

How do you like your coffee in the morning?

“As soon as I wake up in the morning, I start the coffee machine. My absolute favorite is to begin the day with a cappuccino with coconut soy milk.”

Could you tell us more about your (work)background?

“I’ve been working in the hospitality industry for nearly 10 years, at the Vincent Hotel Group. This is a franchiser with 11 hotels in the Netherlands, representing three international brands. I was responsible for sales for the six hotels in Amsterdam, specifically focusing on the MICE and corporate market. This involved proactively pursuing sales to bring new business to the hotels. It also entailed a lot of interaction with partners and establishing corporate contacts with national and international parties.”

What are you looking forward to the most in this new role?

“To make connections. Connecting the UCB target audience with Utrecht and the right partners to organise successful business meetings, conferences or knowledge events. This way, I hope to truly make a difference for them and get them excited about Utrecht.”

What is your favorite place in the Utrecht region?

“Kasteel de Haar. I visit here regularly with my family. You can have a delightful picnic here or go ice-skating in winter, and if there’s some snow, you can build snowmen.”

Who would you like to have a cup of coffee with?

“Johan Cruijff. I find it very inspiring how he had such ambition as a young boy. Despite his limited opportunities, he managed to achieve his goals through hard work and determination. During his successful years, he also gave back a lot with the Johan Cruijff Institute, where he sought to connect people through football and installed street football fields for children to play for free. In that sense, I truly consider Johan Cruijff as a role model.”

Connect with Dorien Lemkes.