National Hennessy Hospitality Award announces finalists 2024 edition

After an intensive theory round and a tasting technical section, the judges of the competition for the National Hennessy Hospitality Award have selected the 10 contestants who will advance to the finals. The top talents competed against each other on Monday 15 April 2024 in this prestigious competition for hospitality talent aged between 20 and 26.

This year, 20 candidates entered the competition. Chairman of the National Hennessy Hospitality Award (NHGP) Patrick van Zuiden: "We are happy and proud that we received so many applications despite the staff shortages in the hospitality industry. It shows that the younger generation is ambitious and eager to compete for the biggest prize for young talent in our wonderful hospitality profession, which this year will be held for the 23^e time is held."

The first competition event was held on 15 April 2024. With a theory test and a wine and food test, the 20 candidates competed for a place in the finals. The test not only tested their knowledge on hostmanship, but also included questions on goods knowledge kitchen and drinks. Other topics included harmony between drink and dish and communication. 

The participants were judged by jury chairman Edwin Raben and SVH Meestergastheer Eduard van der Toolen, also Hospitality Manager and lecturer at ROC Mondriaan. Astrid Schreuders supervised the candidates. Competition arena was traditionally ROC Mondriaan The Hague, location Koningin Marialaan.

In the afternoon, the candidates were able to learn about Hennessy Cognac during a master class and SVH Master Host Stan Kerckhoffs held a presentation on behalf of the Foundation for Professionalism in the Hospitality Industry about the SVH Masters. There was also a cocktail-making workshop with Hennessy Cognac. This allowed the candidates to prepare for the practical round that is part of the finals, in which they have to compose, prepare and serve a cocktail with Hennessy Cognac themselves.

Jury chairman Edwin Raben is also pleased that the competition once again received so many entries. Edwin Raben: "This year we noticed that some 75% of the entries came from restaurants that had never sent a candidate before. We are happy that the competition is becoming increasingly well known, even outside the circle of restaurants that regularly enthuse their team members about the NHGP." 

These contestants will advance to the final of the NHGP 2024 (in no particular order)

The reserve candidate:

Over the next few months, the 10 finalists will be visited by the judges at the restaurant where they work, where they will be judged over a meal in the role of head hostess or head host.

The concluding competition component is the practical day on 23 September 2024, which will include a test of practical skills. The announcement of the winner of the Hennessy Hospitality Award 2024 will take place on 4 November 2024 during the launch of Lekker500 edition 2025.

About the National Hennessy Hospitality Award (NHGP)

To take Dutch hospitality to the next level, the National Hennessy

Hospitality Award established. Its aim is to promote knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic hospitality. Under the banner of this title, the G4 (Alliance Gastronomique, JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, Les Patrons Cuisiniers and Fine Eastern Restaurants) work together. In addition, ROC Mondriaan in The Hague contributes and Lekker500, S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, House of Caviar, Stichting Vakbekwaamheid Horeca (SVH), Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (KHN) and Nespresso are linked as partners. Although the competition is organised by the G4, entry is not tied to membership of a restaurant association. In 2024, the competition for the 23^eorganised once.