Matthijs Welle (HTH'04) wins Hotello of the Year Award 2025

Matthijs Welle (HTH'04) wins Hotello of the Year Award 2025 at anniversary edition of HotelloTOP Year Event

During the 20th edition of the HotelloTOP Year Event at RAI Amsterdam, Matthijs Welle (HTH'04), CEO of Mews, was awarded the Hotello of the Year Award 2025. The event, which this year was dedicated to "Hotello PRide", brought together hundreds of Hotello's for a day of inspiration, connection and festive highlights.

An inspiring conference

The conference was opened by moderators Erik-Jan Ginjaar and Stephanie van Oorschot, who enthusiastically welcomed the audience and the theme of the event, "Hotello PRide", explained further. They emphasised the importance of connection, pride and the power of the Hotello community in the hospitality sector. Next, three TOP Talk speakers inspired the audience with their unique stories. During the Ten Minutes of Passion, Charles van Goch, Caroline van Kessel and Jeannot Peijen shared personal stories that gave a deeper insight into their experiences and vision within the hospitality sector. Their unique perspectives highlighted Hotello's core values of hospitality and sustainability and conveyed an inspiring message to the audience.

Presentation of the awards

After the TOP Talks, the Talent of the Year Award 2025 was presented to Maryah Tahboub, a 19-year-old first-year student at the Hotel Management School Leeuwarden. Maryah combines her passion for skateboarding and hospitality with social impact. She is an inspiring role model and left a lasting impression on the jury with her vision and ambition.

Keynote by Lammert Kamphuis

Philosopher Lammert Kamphuis, known for his books such as Philosophy for a matchless life EN Addicted to our own rightness, took the stage for the keynote. Kamphuis, who contributes to making philosophy accessible to a wide audience, challenged participants to think outside the 'Hotello tunnel vision'. He stressed the importance of flexibility, connection and self-reflection, and showed how philosophical insights can help us in an ever-changing hospitality sector.

Hotello of the Year Award 2025

The prestigious Hotello of the Year Award was given to Matthijs Welle. As CEO of Mews, an innovative hospitality management system serving nearly 6,000 hotels worldwide, he has made a significant impact on the industry. Matthijs' dedication to improving guest experiences and operational processes made him a worthy winner. His innovative vision and leadership were appreciated by both the expert jury and the audience.

A festive conclusion

The HotelloTOP Year Event traditionally ended with networking drinks, where visitors could catch up and make new connections in a festive atmosphere. The celebration of 20 years of HotelloTOP highlighted the strength of the Hotello community and offered an inspiring start to the new year.