City Host

Marketa Hortivikova is a volunteer City Host for Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, helping to welcome and assist the thousands of visitors expected to come and enjoy the exciting programme of events and celebrations. Here she introduces herself and talks about why she's getting involved:

Coventry has served as my home for the past six years.

I am originally from the Czech Republic and all my family live back there.

Living here has helped me to grow and understand the meaning of independence, and I feel I want to give back.

I have learned so much about the history of Coventry during my time here, and I find a great parallel between some of the historic events that occurred in Coventry and the Czech Republic.

I am passionate about education, history, outdoors, fashion and financial wellbeing.

In the future I want to help young kids to head in the right direction through the Positive Youth Foundation.

I want to guide and help visitors throughout this amazing City of Culture experience.

I am there to serve and show the bright sides of Coventry and I am very excited to be part of the year.

Being a City Host will help extend my knowledge of interpersonal communication.

It will also allow me to practice my hosting skills. Overall, I think this event has a great purpose that will make the volunteering role an enjoyable experience.

What I am the most excited about is that I will learn even more about Coventry.

I do know a fair bit already, but I am determined to learn much more. I'm also excited, to meet all the amazing people that are taking part in this unique year.

Like any decision in life, choosing to be a City Host should be for the right reasons with the best attitude.

I believe that this role is extremely important. You are creating experiences for someone that might never have visited Coventry before, and you could determine this person's entire experience.