Maaike van Florestein, first winner Jan Vlasman Award

Up-and-coming Food & Beverage talent from Hotel Management School Maastricht

The winner of the Jan Vlasman Award is known! On the third day of the BBB hospitality fair in Maastricht, Maaike van Florestein won and crowned herself the very first winner of the Jan Vlasman Award 2024. With her original and driven future plans, Maaike managed to convince the jury consisting of professionals from the F&B industry, all linked to the Hotel Management School Maastricht.

This is the first time the Jan Vlasman Award has been presented. The encouragement and appreciation award is an initiative created by the Hospitality Synergy Group in honour of Jan Vlasman: an icon who knew how to memorably convey hospitality and his passion for gastronomy. For more than 60 years, Jan Vlasman introduced hotel school students to the taste, smell and passion of food and drink, or Food & Beverage (F&B). Third- or fourth-year students at the Hotel Management School Maastricht who developed their career in a special way had a chance to win the title.

The race for the title           

The top 3, consisting of Anniek Meinema, Maaike van Florestein and Tim Dijkman, gave their all in several rounds at both Hotel Management School Maastricht and Rotterdam Gastvrij to convince the 16-strong jury. In the end, Maaike won and can now call herself the first ever winner of the Jan Vlasman Award! As a reward, Maaike received a wonderful prize including a ticket for the Food Inspiration Days, a 2-night stay at Postillion Hotels, leadership training by Alter, a ticket for I-Days and a drinks package offered by Walraven Sax and Verbunt Verlinden, sponsored by the jury to further develop herself in the coming period.

Jan Vlasman 

A former student of the Hotel Management School Maastricht, teacher of wine knowledge and skills and passionate organiser of wine tours, Jan Vlasman dedicated his life to educating hotel school students. Ethics, manners and decency were the foundation on which he was able to inspire everyone and everything around him. The Jan Vlasman Award will honour his outstanding contribution at all times. 

Jury members Jan Vlasman Award 2024:

• Chairman - Frank Donker
• Postillion Hotels - Hans Wibbens
• Mergel Wit by Stadsbrouwerij Maastricht - Bastiaan Bronkhorst
• The New East - Richard Tam
• Huis ter Duin - Stephan Stokkermans
• WineSTEP - Richard van Leest
• Theatre Hotel Venlo - Gijs Hendrikx
• Van Oys - Maastricht Retreat- Kim Defaux
• Verbunt Verlinden - Peter van Houtert
• Walraven Sax - Bart Gijtenbeek
• BBB Maastricht - Silvie Slachter
• HotelloTOP - Charles van Goch
• Food Inspiration - Maaike de Reuver
• Pitch PR - Iris Jungerling
• Smit&Dorlas - Max Brands
• Hotel Derlon - Benoit Wesly