Five leading hospitality concepts awarded at Lightspeed Data Meets Hospitality Awards 2025

Winners Lima Nikkei Izakaya, Kurkumama, Taberna & Bar Bask, Château de la Chapelle and Mamzelle Poulet in sustainability, innovation and digitalisation

Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (NYSE: LSPD) (TSX: LSPD), the checkout and payment platform for thousands of ambitious entrepreneurs worldwide, organised the third edition of the Data Meets Hospitality Awards at the Waagnatie in Antwerp on 16 June 2025. During this inspiring evening, five leading hospitality and hospitality concepts from Belgium and the Netherlands were awarded for their exceptional achievements in entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and digitalisation.

The evening was presented by Lightspeed Hospitality director Emine Youssef and host Hendrik Nuyens. The expert jury consisted of four professionals from the hospitality, hospitality and communication sectors: 

• Dries Tack, Business Development Director at Gault & Millau, 
• Armand Landman, editor-in-chief of HotelVAK, 
• Marlies Beckers, freelance food journalist at Libelle, Trends and Gazet van Antwerpen, among others, 
• and Denise van Ooijen, Managing Director at PR agency Marcommit.

From hundreds of entries, and ultimately 24 nominees, the expert jury, together with the public, selected the most progressive concepts in five categories. The winners of the Lightspeed Data Meets Hospitality Awards 2025 are:

• Discovery of the Year: Lima Nikkei Izakaya introduces authentic Nikkei cuisine, a unique fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavours. From an intimate restaurant in the heart of Antwerp, they combine craftsmanship, digital tools and warm, casual hospitality to create a sophisticated culinary experience. 
• Best Multilocation Concept: Kurkumama is a multi-location concept from Kortrijk, Belgium, where technology and culture come together to enable people-centric hospitality at scale. With multiple restaurants, from South American to Middle Eastern, and a diverse team, they are building a data-driven organisation where structure creates space for personal attention, quality and warmth.
• Sustainable hospitality concept: At Ghent-based Bar & Taberna Bask, pure product cuisine and storytelling are combined with a deeply rooted sustainability principle. With its own farm, local partners and respect for people, animals and product, Taberna Bask brings gastronomy where craft, quality and responsibility are central.
• Innovative Hotel concept: In the Ardennes, Château de la Chapelle brings together nature, gastronomy and authenticity in an innovative hotel formula. With rooms, glamping and an outdoor restaurant in the middle of nature, the castle combines personal hospitality with digital efficiency and sustainable choices, without sacrificing charm and quality.
• Innovative hospitality concept: Mamzelle Poulet from Blankenberge combines daring and digitalisation in a unique, efficient catering concept centred around quality chicken dishes. With smart automation and a sophisticated reservation flow, Mamzelle Poulet optimises the guest experience and table occupation, without compromising on quality, atmosphere or service.

Emine Youssef, hospitality director at Lightspeed: "With the Data Meets Hospitality Awards, we want to give entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector a stage. What inspires us every year is the enormous diversity and innovativeness in this industry. From young discoveries to established multi-location concepts, and from sustainable initiatives to groundbreaking digitalisation: all the winners show how entrepreneurship can contribute to a future-proof sector. These awards not only recognise their hard work, but also encourage the entire industry to keep innovating and growing. We are proud that Lightspeed and our partners' technology may play a role in their success story."