Hotel Management School Maastricht

17/06/2026

Last Thursday, June 11, we wrapped up the 15th edition of the HMSM Excellence Programme with the final pitches! 🎤

Over the past 16 weeks, 8 students, divided into 3 teams, developed an innovative hotel concept for the city of Groningen. They were guided by the coordination team: Tom van de Kamp, Nils Dalebout, Iris Cols, Nikki van den Ham, and Luc Houben, and supported by weekly guest lectures from industry professionals. The evening was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Valerie Peeters.

After three strong presentations, “The Botanic Haven” was announced as the winning concept. Congratulations to the winning team: Jade van der Westen, Nora Steeman, and Wiebe Lemstra.

A special thank you to the jury members Joris Eyck, Renske Jetten, Andreas Oerlemans, Armando Vermeulen, Amy Keulen, and Nina Hendrikx for their time and valuable feedback.

We look forward to the next edition after the summer! 🌟

11/06/2026

On 13 May, women came together for the first women’s dinner, organized by the PR committee of , in support of Pink Ribbon 🎀

The evening combined medical insights from Zuyderland Medical Centre specialists Marleen Caberg and James van Bastelaar with an inspiring story by Kim van Zanten (former member of the sorority Sconfinato).

Programme coordinator, PR Committee:
“Organizing this evening felt especially important because so many women are directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer. It was special to see so many women come together, support one another, and openly share their stories in a safe and welcoming atmosphere."

Together, a beautiful amount of €5,374.59 was raised for Pink Ribbon, contributing to the fight against breast cancer.

10/06/2026

In this "Just Graduated" alumni blog, Juliëtte van der Ham [F 2026] shares her journey from Hotel Management School Maastricht to a role within the hotel valuation team at Cushman & Wakefield 💫

During her internship in Dubai, she developed a strong interest in hotel investments and real estate. After being awarded an international HSMAI scholarship, she further developed her expertise through a specialized course in Hotel Asset Management at Cornell University.

Read her story: https://www.hotelschoolmaastricht.nl/en/lately/bachelor/alumni/just-graduated-juliette-van-der-ham-f-2026

09/06/2026

🌍 Hospitality starts with understanding cultures 🇨🇳

Within our bachelor programme, students learn how cultural awareness contributes to authentic guest experiences worldwide.

Recently, students from the Haute Hospitality minor visited the Confucius Institute Maastricht for an interactive introduction to Chinese culture. The visit included insights into Confucianism and Daoism, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, an explanation of traditional clothing, and the opportunity to receive a Chinese name.

As part of a minor focused on the Chinese market, this visit helped us better understand the cultural context in which future hospitality concepts, guest experiences, and international business relationships are developed. Many thanks to Xinxin Wang and the Confucius Institute Maastricht for this inspiring learning experience!

05/06/2026

Last Tuesday, Study Association IRIS hosted The International Butler Academy at Teaching Hotel Château Bethlehem for an inspiring panel talk on the life and profession of a butler 🤵‍♀️🛎

The panel, hosted by August Wallgren (IRIS) together with Niels Deijkers (General Manager) and Ineke van de Laak (Programme Director), led to a broader conversation on service, professionalism, personal goals, and decision making beyond the practical aspects of the profession.

The afternoon continued with an interactive exercise led by Lilly Klümpen (IRIS), followed by a moment of networking to conclude the day.

29/05/2026

Did you know that students from Hotel Management School Maastricht actively engage with the local community as well?

Student association Amphitryon organize social initiatives every year that focus on connection, enjoyment, and community involvement. Last week, they hosted a sports and games afternoon for children from the neighborhood, in collaboration with Primary School De Geluksvogel.

With sports activities and water games, around 75 kids enjoyed a carefree afternoon full of movement and laughter. The purpose of this initiative was:
🤝 Bringing students and the local community closer together
😊 Offering children a fun and worry-free afternoon
🌟 Giving students the opportunity to show their best hospitality skills beyond the classroom

It was nice to see students and children come together and enjoy an afternoon filled with enthusiasm. This is what hospitality is all about: caring for others and making a positive impact!

28/05/2026

We are proud to share that we are ranked #1 in the National Student Survey (NSE) 2026 for student satisfaction among hotel management programmes. No less than 84% of our students are satisfied or very satisfied with our bachelor programme. With a 2% increase compared to last year, this result shows that our focus on quality and continuous development is making a difference.

Once again, we score highly on curriculum content, student guidance, study workload, atmosphere, and connection with professional practice.

Director Bas Vogelsangs: “It is encouraging to see that our students feel heard and truly value their experience with us. The continued increase confirms we are on the right track and remain committed to strengthening the quality of our education and community.”

The National Student Survey is conducted annually, giving students the opportunity to evaluate our programme and share their experiences.

https://www.hotelschoolmaastricht.nl/en/lately/bachelor/The-results-of-the-NSE-2026-have-been-published

22/05/2026

We are hiring a Selection & Admission Officer (0.5-0.6 FTE) for Hotel Management School Maastricht!

As a Selection and Admission Officer, you support the full selection and admission process of Hotel Management School Maastricht, from the start of selection through to the enrolment of admitted candidates in September or February. You can apply until June 7th.

The full vacancy is available via the link below:

Join us in shaping a fair, seamless and welcoming selection procedure that empowers future hospitality leaders to start strong. We are looking for a colleague who plays a key role in safeguarding the

21/05/2026

Alumnus Roelof ten Cate [F 2020] shares his journey from Hotel Management School Maastricht to co‑founding Kimchi Cure, a start‑up focused on traditional, unpasteurised kimchi with a strong emphasis on quality and authenticity 🥬🌶️

In this interview, Roelof reflects on the entrepreneurial mindset he developed during his studies, the value of solution‑oriented thinking, and the realities of building a start‑up from the ground up. An inspiring example of how hospitality skills translate far beyond the classroom.

Read his story here: https://www.hotelschoolmaastricht.nl/en/lately/bachelor/alumni/lets-catch-up-with-roelof-ten-cate

20/05/2026

As part of their operational internship, students complete the Global Mind assignments, designed to go beyond daily tasks and enhance cultural learning 🌏

For Assignment 2, students critically reflected on AI‑generated cultural comparisons. Instead of simply accepting the information provided by AI, students were encouraged to question, nuance, and compare these generalisations with their own experiences in the international hospitality industry 🤖

Maxime Badji was selected as the winner: during his internship at The Ritz‑Carlton in Australia, he demonstrated intercultural awareness by moving beyond stereotypes and reflecting on the impact of organisational culture, multicultural teams, and luxury hospitality. Congratulations Maxime!