Name: Mark Boutens
Birthday: 21. August 1986
Home Country: The Netherlands
Current Location: Started in The Westin Paris, continuing at the Le Meridien Etoile, Le Meridien Montparnasse, Sheraton Paris Airport, Luxury Collection Hotel Prince de Galles and finishing at The Westin Paris again.
Personal\ Educational background: Motivated, enthusiastic and up for new challenges; those are some characteristics that would describe me. I read the financial news on a daily basis and keep myself informed of the latest stock exchange rates. I do not see the financial crisis as a problem, more as a challenge. I love to work with numbers. That, together with my studies at the international school for hotel management, Hotelschool The Hague, got me inspired to continue my career path in a financial direction.
Motto\ Favorite Quote: “Sure I Can”!
Interests\ Hobbies: I love everything with food and beverages. Alcoholic, definitely not, but I am always in for a good glass of wine. I am very excited about my newest addition to my kitchen, the “KitchenAid”! Making fresh pasta, ice cream etc. Another interest is Real Estate and especially Real Estate Development, walking down the street of any city and my I am Imagineering the greatest ideas. Discovering new places, other cultures and taking great photos with my Canon DSLR are other interest if time permits.
Favorite, food, book, movie, ect: Food, too much. Book, my cookery books…., Movie, I already forgot the name of the movie I have seen yesterday.
What brought me here: I am not satisfied with anything less than the best. In the Netherlands I worked in one of the two ‘Three Michelin Star’ restaurants, called “Oud Sluis”, where I got the chance to learn from the best. With the Finance Futura program, I want to continue to learn from the best and, in combination with my previous experience, to develop myself as a future leader.
Highlights of the program: To work in different hotels of Starwood and broader my network with people that have the same interest, mind set and ambition as I do.
Fun Key learning of Finance Futura: My first four weeks of operational overview in the hotel, great way to get to know everything and everybody and of course the FF training sessions.
Aspiration: My long-term goals involve growing with the company and continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities and contribute as much of value as I can. Starting on hotel level and in the future I aspire to work for one of the divisional or global Finance teams! And of course take over the position of Bill Showalter (Senior Vice President, Finance - EAME at Starwood Hotels & Resorts) in a couple of years….:)
Other Comments: Don’t think too much about what you want, JUST GO FOR IT!