"The hospitality industry is you, it is us"
Edwin Vlek, chairman of De Horecabond
At sixteen, Edwin had his first job in the hospitality industry. After a summer of hard work in Renesse, he caught the hospitality bug. "Hospitality is pure passion and enthusiasm. Working in hospitality is an addiction, in the positive sense of the word," he says. From the age of eighteen, he started working full-time in the hospitality industry. He began as a kitchen assistant and over the years progressed to F&B Manager.
Edwin has been familiar with De Horecabond for quite some time. He became a member of the union in 2009. In 2015, he attended the Young Academy and subsequently became active as a chief union representative in 2016. In December 2017, he started working as a union representative for hospitality, and on 27 May 2024, Edwin was appointed as the chairman of De Horecabond.
During his application, Edwin expressed his ambition to become chairman one day. He strongly believes in the power of a successful and influential association. “For me, it's not about the position at all, but about the fact that I want to contribute to our association. I believe in the union. Especially in these times, the union is needed more than ever, but at the same time, the world has changed, and that requires courage and innovation.”
In his role as chairman, he wants to further build the organisation, where connection with members is central: “A chairman is just one part of the association. Ultimately, an association can only exist with enough members. My highest priority is therefore to jointly create a movement that you want to be part of. Together, we ensure that working in the hospitality industry remains rewarding.”
Do you have a question for Edwin?
Send an e-e-mail to: e.vlek@dehorecabond.nl