Future Game Changers | Mickey Venendaal

Mickey Venendaal

My name is Mickey Jing-Hsi Venendaal, an ambitious third-year student with a love for hospitality, exploration, and numbers. I am currently coordinating the 14th edition of the Excellence Programme and developing a brand for Marriott within the Haute Hospitality minor.

I was born in Hsin-Tien, Taiwan, and moved to the Netherlands when I was eight months old, growing up in the city of Hengelo. Throughout my childhood, I travelled with my family across the world, discovering new accommodations and cultures. Those experiences sparked my appreciation for hospitality and exploration. Today, that curiosity guides me as I explore the future of hospitality and develop the competences to contribute to its ongoing evolution.
 

Mickey's Experience

My HMSM journey really started in my second year, that is when I was selected for the Excellence Programme. After 22 weeks of developing the DI-NO hotel concept, my team was awarded the winning concept of the 11th edition of the programme.

Continuing this journey, I flew to Australia for my internship at Hilton Sydney in the Commercial Department. Over six months in Sydney, I gained a deep understanding of sales, marketing, and revenue management at one of Hilton’s flagship properties in Australasia. After returning to the Netherlands, I took on my next challenge: the role of Internal Coordinator for the 13th and 14th editions of the Excellence Programme.
Most recently, I completed the Strategic Real Estate and Revenue Management minor, where my group was awarded both the winning concept of the minor and first place in the COIL Revenue Management Competition.

Outside of HMSM, my background lies in the Michelin-starred restaurant industry. My first hospitality job, offered by HMSM alumnus Raymond Strikker, allowed me to work at his restaurant De Bloemenbeek, a property with the longest-held Michelin star in the province. After moving to Maastricht and gaining a solid foundation in classical French etiquette, I continued my path by exploring modern service at Beluga Loves You. Since June, I have been employed at the recently opened Van Oys Retreat, a Leading Hotels of the World property.

Lastly, to contribute to the internationalisation of the school and student association Amphitryon, I am active in the International Committee as Treasurer, combining my love for numbers with an international environment. 

The two skills I have developed that I otherwise wouldn’t have had are connection and strategic thinking. I believe through our school’s unique education, you become a more well-rounded individual. If you are actively looking to improve in a certain area, there are plenty of opportunities within HMSM. 

Mickey's Values

The HMSM values that I resonate the most with are “connection” and “professional’’. My first instinct has always been to work independently; however, my experiences have taught me that even the most capable individuals cannot achieve everything alone. I believe that building genuine connections and being able to work professionally within a team will prove invaluable for my future.

When creating the business case for the Strategic Real Estate and Revenue Management minor, I initially believed that I would need to carry most of the workload. Through my previous experiences, I had already been exposed to real-estate finance and hotel development. However, throughout the minor I realised that for our project to reach its fullest potential, genuine communication and building upon each other’s ideas would ultimately lead to the strongest results.

Mickey's Ambitions

My ambition is to go into hotel development. Through HMSM and its opportunities, I have been privileged to experience multiple stages of the development process. From a rough idea on a piece of paper to the moment the doors finally open, seeing the beauty of what hospitality can mean to people, and being part of that process of creation is what truly excites me.

In the next 5 to 10 years, I hope to complete a master’s degree in finance and pursue an international role that allows me to explore, create, and contribute to new hotel projects. I am motivated by environments where I can take on meaningful challenges and give my full dedication to the development of innovative concepts.

For now, I continue to be guided by curiosity and a curious to the evolution of hospitality. By preparing myself for this change, I aim to play an active role in shaping the future of the industry and being part of the next generation of gamechangers in hospitality.
 

Mickey's Tips

My biggest advice is the same message that I was always told: stay curious! Try everything, say yes to opportunities, and allow yourself to experiment until you find what truly excites you. Once you discover that direction, pursue it wholeheartedly. The path isn’t always simple, but the growth and clarity you gain make it worth every second.