Looking Back at 2024: A year to remember

What a year it has been for Hotel Management School Maastricht! From competitions to achievements, events, and global connections, 2024 was filled with moments that made us proud. Whether it was winning awards, contributing to sustainability, or enjoying the HMSM experience, our community has shown its strength and spirit. Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights!

Achievements

2024 was full of proud moments for our students and graduates:

IHAB Award 

Our students who achieved the highest scores on their final defense pitches were recognized with the IHAB Award. Kim van den Bongard received this prestigious honor in March for her exceptional performance during her final assessments, while in September, Valentina Wießmeier and Maurin Gebser shared the distinction with perfect 10/10 scores.

EMCup

During the EMCup , competing against 26 hotel schools, our SOUL SISTERS team: Charlotte de Ruiter, Anna Meinardi, Elli Verhappen, and Jet Bultsma secured third place overall and won Best Whitepaper for their innovative solution to reduce buffet food waste.

Sustainable Hospitality Challenge: European Semi-Finals

In May, students Martha Årdal and Imke Nolting competed in the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge European Semi-Finals in Montreux, Switzerland. Hosted by the Swiss Hotel Management School, this year’s event was the largest ever, with over 75 universities participating. Competing against 17 teams, they presented their innovative product, Bloom Tag, during intense Dragon’s Den-style pitches.

Final pitch: Excellence Programme 2024

On June 27, the final pitch of the 11th Edition of the Excellence Programme took place at Hotel Mabi. After 16 weeks of hard work, creativity, field trips, and inspiring guest lectures, our 8 talented students confidently presented their pitches to a distinguished jury.

HotelloTOP on Tour: Talent of the Year

In October, The Potential Club was crowned our ‘Talent of the Year’ at HMSM. They will represent us at the HotelloTOP event in Amsterdam this January.

NSE Results: Thanks to You!

With your feedback, HMSM achieved 3.9/5 for general satisfaction and 4.2/5 for atmosphere in the National Student Survey, outperforming the national average.

Celebrations and Special Moments

International Women’s Day: Empowering Women in Hospitality

On March 8, HMSM hosted a special ‘restaurant take-over event’ at THCB’s l’Etoile in honor of International Women’s Day. Collaborating with alumni chef Laura van der Velden [F 2017] and maître Ylja Berends [F 2020], the evening featured a show-stopping four-course menu that celebrated women in hospitality.
This annual event is part of HMSM’s commitment to equality and inclusion, amplifying the voices of women in the often male-dominated culinary and restaurant industry.

HMSM at the Michelin Star Ceremony

In October, over 200 HMSM students showcased their talent at the prestigious Michelin Star Ceremony in Maastricht. From working alongside Michelin-starred chefs in the kitchen to providing top-tier service and even presenting on stage, our students truly shined.

Happy 74th Birthday, HMSM!

In October, we celebrated 74 years of hospitality excellence with treats, memories, and plenty of good vibes.

NVAO Accreditation Success

In May, HMSM proudly achieved a glowing result in the NVAO accreditation process, reaffirming our status as a leader in hospitality education. Over two days, we engaged with the panel through constructive discussions, highlighting our innovative curriculum, passionate students, and strong industry connections.

The panel’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive, recognizing our dedication to quality and progress. As Director Bas Vogelsangs shared, “This is more than a license to operate; it’s a testament to the hard work of our entire community.”

This achievement underscores our commitment to excellence, inspiring us to keep raising the bar for hospitality education. 

Hotel Management School Maastricht: Top Rated Programme

HMSM is proud to be recognized as a Top Rated Programme in the Keuzegids HBO 2025. This incredible achievement reflects the high scores and appreciation from our students for the quality of our education.

HMSM’s First Iftar Evening

During Ramadan, HMSM hosted its first Iftar evening, led by Beya el Bejaoui. Over 70 attendees gathered to break the fast, fostering empathy, respect, and cultural understanding. This meaningful event emphasized the importance of dialogue and global perspective in hospitality education. Plans are already in place to make this a yearly tradition at HMSM.

Alumni: Strengthening Global Connections

In 2024, HMSM connected with alumni through engaging events:

Singapore Alumni Gathering:

Alumni from HMSM and The Hague met for the first joint event, strengthening networks and sharing ideas.

Aruba & Curaçao Chapter:

Hosted by Edgard Roelofs [F 1990] at Manchebo Beach Resort, this gathering reconnected alumni and inspired future students with their stories.

Stay Connected!

Interested in joining or starting a Chapter in your area? Email us at alumnihmsm@zuyd.nl and be part of our growing alumni network!