View the latest information about the competition Beste Leerbedrijf hospitality.
Het Noorden van Aalten has been declared the winner of the Best Hospitality Training Company 2023/2024 competition. In second place is BRASA bar & kitchen from Purmerend, followed by Grand Hotel De Draak from Bergen op Zoom. Christiaan Veldman from Grand Hotel De Draak was awarded the title of Best Hospitality Mentor 2023/2024.
On the final day of Horecava 2024, Ricardo Eshuis, director of SVH (Stichting Vakbekwaamheid hospitality) and chairman of the competition committee, announced the winners. The competition committee for Best Hospitality Training Company was very impressed with all the training companies and their mentors, with Het Noorden van Aalten standing out in particular.
Het Noorden van Aalten
Eshuis: “Step by step, this training company has worked to win the title. After achieving ‘Best Mentor’ and twice reaching the top 10, everything at this company was perfectly organised. Learning and working there is a celebration: hospitality is celebrated there. The collaboration with schools, the many initiatives, but above all the consistently excellent guidance of various pupils and students made a great impression. At Het Noorden, pupils and staff become true ambassadors of the profession.”
BRASA
Eshuis also praised the runner-up: “BRASA is an ambassador for learning and working in hospitality. The training company not only has its own affairs excellently organised but also helps in the region to improve learning in hospitality. BRASA leads various discussions with schools, the municipality, and other training companies. The mindset to continually improve in every area is evident in every department of the company.”
De Draak
Grand Hotel De Draak, the third place, is much more than just a training company, according to the competition committee. “The cohesive and open team truly forms a springboard for talent. De Draak is an environment where, besides the profession, social-emotional Your career is also very important. The company is open to everyone, including students who, for example, have had a bad experience at another training company. That makes De Draak a warm place to learn. The setup of the company allows for a lot of variety in work. The relationship with the schools is exceptionally good and is an example for many.”
Christiaan Veldman Best Mentor
Mentor Christiaan Veldman from Grand Hotel De Draak was also honoured at Horecava 2024. He went home with the title of Best Hospitality Mentor 2023/2024. Eshuis highlighted Christiaan’s life story and life experience, which enable him to greatly inspire a student. Others see him not only as a mentor but also as a coach. It doesn’t have to be just about the profession; you can also approach him with ‘other matters’. Eshuis: “Christiaan understands very well that you are not only training students for your own company but for the sector. He does everything to encourage students to choose the wonderful hospitality profession. We see Christiaan as a figurehead for the sector, due to his charisma, enthusiasm, and passion.”
The two other contenders for the title of Best Hospitality Mentor 2023/2024 were Troy Snijder from De Heerenkeet in Kerkwerve and Eelco Linckens from Van Rossum in Woerden.
This is how the Best Training Company is determined
Pupils, students, staff, and teachers nominate training companies. From these nominated training companies, a top 10 of the best training companies is selected. The expert 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 expert jury to the competition committee, after which the top 3 was determined. The competition committee then visited the three training companies and assessed them. The competition committee consists of representatives from SVH, SBB, KHN, FNV hospitality, the MBO Raad, and previous winners ’t Havenmantsje from Harlingen and De Werf from Veere.
Best Hospitality Training Company
For years, SVH has organised the Best Hospitality Training Company competition. The aim is to continue working with training companies to provide the very best practical training for new hospitality staff. And to encourage training companies to keep improving themselves. The title of Best Hospitality Mentor has been a fixed part of the competition for three years.
Previous winners of Best Hospitality Training Company
- 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
- 2008: Restaurant Smits Koffiehuis in Amsterdam
- 2007: Landgoed De Wilmersberg in De Lutte
Previous winners of Best Hospitality Mentor
- 2022/2023: Mark Benneker from ’t Kruisselt in De Lutte
- 2019/2020: Nita Huning-Koster from Het Noorden van Aalten