Best Hospitality Training Company 2024/2025 announced

NH Noordwijk Conference Centre Leeuwenhorst has been declared the winner of the Best Hospitality Training Company 2024/2025 competition. The level of training companies was particularly high this year, and the differences between them were minimal: the top 3 scored the full number of points in the competition. The committee therefore declared the two other finalists, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin and Ron Gastrobar, as runners-up. The competition among the mentors was also unprecedented, resulting in two winners: Jeroen Oosterveen from Ron Gastrobar and Mitchell Hendriks from Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin both received the title of Best Hospitality Mentor 2024/2025. On the last day of Horecava 2025, Ricardo Eshuis, director of SVH and chairman of the competition committee, announced the winners. The competition committee of Best Hospitality Training Company was very impressed with all the training companies and their mentors. That the performances are of such a high level and the differences so incredibly small is a unique situation.

Three winners

Each of the three finalists is a potential winner. They are characterised by a work environment where learning is integrated, where former students return to pursue a career, and where there is excellent employment practice. Each company has numerous contacts with schools, participates in school committees and information sessions, and has great projects to promote not only the company but also the sector. The project ‘Inspire’ by Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin must be specifically mentioned: a collaboration with secondary vocational education, where students are allowed to shadow the company at a young age.

From confidant to curriculum, from involving students in company activities to personal training opportunities: in these aspects, the companies do not differ. And that makes these three finalists true flagships for the sector. A family business, a chain company, and a company from the top of gastronomy: they show that working and learning in hospitality is simply very cool.

Notable

The competition is a benchmark for the sector in terms of student guidance, but also for good employment practice. A good training company is also a good employer. What stood out in this edition is the explicit attention to the mental well-being and financial fitness of employees and students. Companies work with specific programmes and employ officers who are ready to assist employees in these areas. Even a company that just missed the top 3, Hotel des Indes, works with such a programme (JOGG/Fit for the Job). In this sense, it is clear that our sector as an employer is increasingly taking steps to be a good employer.

Details

The winner is determined by the details. Two details stand out that make NH Conference Centre Leeuwenhorst the winner. Firstly, the competition was organised by a student from the training company, together with a mentor. The entire presentation of the company, and thus the open insight into the learning climate, made a great impression. Also, the example of a French intern who was given a training position without speaking a word of English or Dutch and is now employed within the hotel is indicative of the effort the company makes for learners. This is where the second detail lies: within NH Conference Centre Leeuwenhorst, two ‘Learning Ambassadors’ have been appointed: employees who help other employees with learning and determine which courses or training are suitable. Or they look for tailor-made solutions if there are really personal wishes. NH Leeuwenhorst distinguishes itself as a training company through this very personal approach.

Runner-up Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin

Eshuis also praised the runner-up: “Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin is rightfully a runner-up in the 'Best Hospitality Training Company 2024/2025' competition. The combination of professional expertise, personal attention, and organisational excellence makes the hotel an inspiring example within the sector. The family feeling and opportunities for students contribute to a top-level learning experience. It makes Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin an international ambassador for learning in hospitality with students from all over, even outside the Netherlands.

They also have their own ‘Huis ter Duin Academy’: during the training, students have the chance to participate in internal and external training and workshops, focused on their specific learning goals and Your career. Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin also finds it important that the younger generation becomes mentors. They often have a different view than 'the old guard'. They are 'quick' and more of this time, so more on the same level as the new generation of students on the work floor.

Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin has a wellness director and vitality coach who are committed to the fitness and mental well-being of the employees and students. They find it very important that their employees are healthy, happy, and vital and practically apply Louis van Gaal's 'total human principle'. The personal attention. Really looking after the student. The family feeling, everyone belongs.

Ron Gastrobar

Ron Gastrobar, also a runner-up in this edition, is welcomed with all honours on the podium of this competition. It is the reward for Ron Blaauw and his team for daring to take steps in the field of employment, HR, and learning over the past two years. The location on Sofialaan in Amsterdam is part of the Ron Gastrobar Group and together forms a great place to learn. The leap forward is based on vision and strategy and has made a deep impression on the committee. There is a lot of attention to the well-being of the students: there is even a three-day working week for BBL students who want more balance between work, school, and private life to perform and function well at a high gastronomic level.

But Ron Gastrobar is much more than just a training company. It is a breeding ground for modern leadership based on a vision of leadership. Besides performing on the work floor, it is also about the well-being of the brigade and how to apply good and accessible leadership at a high culinary level. This creates room to make mistakes and learn from them. The established course on modern leadership is now open to participants from other companies, which indicates the willingness to share Insights with the sector. Dealing with different generations is central to the HR policy of the Ron Gastrobar Group.

A so-called Friends & family day is organised: a day with former and Updates students, family, friends, and mentors. Various workshops are given, all possibilities for learning and personal Your career are explained, and there is room for submitting personal wishes.

They are continuously engaged with the needs and wishes of any generation and are aware that as an employer, they must move and adapt in a healthy way.

They find the mental well-being of employees extremely important. In addition to the daily check-out in terms of employee satisfaction, the mentors play a crucial role in this. They see a lot themselves and are pointed out by HR to possible bottlenecks. To further professionalise this prevention process, a collaboration has been entered into with external parties.

The combination of professional expertise, personal attention, and innovation makes Ron Gastrobar an inspiration for the sector. Their focus on growth and Your career ensures a lasting impact on both students and hospitality.

Best Mentor Mitchell Hendriks and Jeroen Oosterveen

The Best Hospitality Mentor 2024/2025 has also been announced. This year, two have ended up on the highest step of the podium: mentor Mitchell Hendriks from Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin and Jeroen Oosterveen from Ron Gastrobar were honoured at Horecava 2025.

The committee could not help but declare both mentors winners. The scores, the conversations with students, and a personal interview with both mentors could not bring a decisive difference. Because the competition rules do not provide for such a situation, the committee decided to declare both Mitchell and Jeroen winners.

The committee describes mentor Mitchell Hendriks as follows: “The combination of professional expertise, personal attention, and innovation makes him an inspiration for the sector. He checks the students well and stands beside them when the task needs to be executed. Through measurement moments, he provides good feedback. Students can come to him for all matters. Also on a socio-emotional level. In this, the committee sees a passionate person: this applies to him as a mentor, but also as a person in itself. That he is open to students' own input or goals is commendable. As Mitchell himself says: I like to encourage that because I can also learn from it.”

The committee is also full of praise for Jeroen Oosterveen: “Jeroen really pays attention to the person and not just to what he can already do and know. Jeroen is always in the vicinity of the student and really challenges them to become good in the profession. He has shown that he can handle a wide range of guidance styles for the various types of students. What is particularly appealing is that he also sets himself as an example: from not wanting to conform to top chef. He certainly knows how to motivate and address students appropriately. The ideal combination of empathy and drive in this profession at this level. Making mistakes is necessary to grow, as long as you learn from them. Jeroen puts that into practice.”

How the Best Hospitality Training Company is determined

Pupils, students, employees, and teachers nominate training companies. From these nominated training companies, a top 10 of the best training companies is selected. The professional jury visited this top 10 last December to get a complete picture. They also examined the training plan and the vision on training. The results of these company visits were presented by the professional jury to the competition committee, after which the top 3 was determined. The best mentor came into view during the professional jury's visits to the top 10 training companies. The competition committee then visited the three training companies and the mentors and assessed them. The competition committee consists of representatives from SVH, SBB, KHN, De Horecabond, the MBO Raad, and previous winners De Werf from Veere and Het Noorden van Aalten from Aalten.

Best Hospitality Training Company

For years, SVH has organised the Best Hospitality Training Company competition. The aim is to continue working with training companies on the very best practical training for new hospitality employees. And to encourage training companies to keep improving themselves. The title Best Hospitality Mentor has been a fixed part of the competition for three years.

Previous winners of Best Hospitality Training Company

2023/2024 Het Noorden van Aalten in Aalten
2022/2023: De Werf in Veere
2019/2020: 't Havenmantsje in Harlingen
2018/2019: Van der Valk Hotel Sassenheim-Leiden
2017/2018: Het Hooihuis in Roosendaal
2016: DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
2015: Vroeg in Bunnik
2014: Stempels Haarlem
2013: Hotel Greenside Texel
2012: McDonald’s Nederweert
2011: Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel
2010: Golden Tulip Tjaarda Oranjewoud
2009: Conferentiehotel Willibrordhaeghe in Deurne
2008: Restaurant Smits Koffiehuis in Amsterdam
2007: Landgoed De Wilmersberg in De Lutte

Previous winners of Best Hospitality Mentor

2023/2024: Christiaan Veldman from Grand Hotel De Draak in Bergen op Zoom
2022/2023: Mark Benneker from 't Kruisselt in De Lutte
2019/2020: Nita Huning-Koster from Het Noorden van Aalten

Photography: Martijn van Dam