Future Hotel Leader Award

The Nominees

Below, you’ll find the outstanding finalists and nominees of the Future Hotel Leader Award—talented individuals recognized for their vision, innovation, and leadership in the hospitality industry.

Discover their journeys, learn more about their impact, and connect with them on social media. Stay inspired by the next generation of hospitality leaders!

Top 3 Finalists

These three standout nominees have impressed the judges with exceptional leadership, vision, and innovation in hospitality.

Learn more about their journeys, achievements, and ideas shaping the future of the industry in the bios below.

Joost Abbink

Joost Abbink

Head Chef at The Lobby Fizeaustraat & The Lobby Nesplein

Joost is a charismatic Executive Chef who leads by example, inspiring his teams through dedication, high standards, and a positive mindset. Known for turning kitchens around and creating lasting impact across multiple restaurants, he blends humor with seriousness and knows how to get people moving in the right direction. With a calm yet determined leadership style, Joost demonstrates the qualities of a strong hotel leader, balancing operational expertise with the ability to motivate and uplift those around him.

Kimberly Appels

Kimberly Appels

Operations Manager, Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark

Kimberly combines authentic leadership with genuine care—for her team, her guests, and her community. A mother of three, she inspires through action, from coaching colleagues to running charity marathons, and keeps a keen focus on health, well-being, and community engagement. With hands-on experience in daily hotel operations and a clear ambition to grow into a General Manager role, she balances drive with calm, making her a natural leader and role model in hospitality.

Remy Baben

Rémy Baben

F&B manager, De L'Europe Amsterdam

Remy is a seasoned hospitality professional with a strong track record in high-end food & beverage and hotel leadership. Ambitious and highly focused, he combines discipline with resilience, having navigated significant change and rebranding in recent years. Guided by his principles of love, trust, ambition, hard work, and loyalty, Remy brings clarity of purpose and a results-driven approach, earning respect through his professionalism and dedication to elevating both team and guest experiences.

Top 10 nominees

Meet the talented professionals recognized as Future Hotel Leader Award nominees.

Browse their profiles below and connect with them on LinkedIn to see how they’re shaping the future of hospitality.

Brian Verrijp
Fadi Alassaf
Joost Abbink
Kimberly Appels
Bas Schuurmans
Dylan Verbeek
Remy Baben
Jorrick Bollen
Olga Galiuk
Stan Cremers