Vincent Schuit receives the Hospitality Executive Achievement Award 2026

Vincent Schuit, Operations Director at Onilio | Original Hospitality, has been awarded the Hospitality Executive Achievement 2026 by the European Hotel Awards. The international panel of industry experts has recognised his contribution to the development of contemporary hospitality, which brings together guest experience, operational quality, character and the identity of a destination.

The award was presented on 28 September at the European Hotel Awards 2026 on the Italian Riviera. The European Hotel Awards describe Vincent Schuit as someone who, at Hotel De Zeevaartschool in Vlissingen, amongst other places, is able to forge a link between historical heritage, contemporary hospitality and the hotel’s surroundings.

From vision to the day-to-day guest experience

At Onilio, Vincent Schuit and his colleagues focus on developing and continuously improving the various properties within the group. Their focus is not only on the property itself, but above all on the guest’s overall experience: from the initial contact and booking through to arrival, the stay and departure.

“Running a hotel or other venue smoothly comes down to hundreds of little things every day. From planning and the teams on the shop floor to the quality of the rooms, the restaurant, the service and everything a guest experiences during their stay. Much of this happens behind the scenes, but ultimately every decision has the same aim: to ensure that a guest feels welcome, that everything is just right and that their stay is as pleasant as possible. That’s what we work towards together every day.”

Vincent’s role within Onilio is wide-ranging. Together with his colleagues, he works on the operational organisation, hospitality, service, quality and further development of the various venues. The aim is always the same: to ensure that each venue retains its own identity whilst, at the same time, offering a stay that meets the guest’s expectations.

Hotel De Zeevaartschool as an example

The European Hotel Awards specifically mention Hotel De Zeevaartschool in Vlissingen in their explanation of the award. The former nautical college building is a distinctive feature of the town’s maritime character. According to the organisation, the challenge lies in giving a historic building a new, contemporary purpose, without losing sight of its significance and identity.

For Onilio, Hotel De Zeevaartschool is therefore a good example of how the group operates: the existing qualities and character of a venue form the starting point, after which hospitality, service and the guest experience are further developed.

“We’re not trying to turn every location into the same hotel,” said Schuit. “It is precisely each location’s unique identity that makes a stay special. Our role is to work with the teams to ensure that this identity is effectively reflected in the guest experience and in day-to-day operations.”