Conference
Conference on future-proof hospitality
We know from our own experience that many hospitality conferences only touch on corporate social responsibility superficially. Often, the audience includes people who are interested, but they aren’t the ones who can truly make a difference in this area. As a result, organizations that can actually help hotels take the next step—and that deserve greater visibility—still too often fly under the radar. We want to change that!
That’s why, on March 20, 2026, we brought the industry together at the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam CS for the premier event for decision-makers who look beyond the present and view taking responsibility as a strategic choice. This annual event is for CEOs, CFOs, and ESG managers who don’t just want to talk about change—they want to accelerate it.
The first edition
Our moderators Niek van den Adel and Maartje Nelissen set the tone from the very beginning, with energy, humor, and an openness that created space for genuine conversations.
In the keynote address titled “The Hospitality Reality Check,” food trend watcher Gijsbregt Brouwer and food entrepreneur Maartje Nelissen highlighted where the greatest opportunities lie for hotels that want to remain relevant and appealing in a rapidly changing world. It was inspiring, insightful, and, above all, hopeful!
From the“Real Stories” panel featuring thought leaders Inan Sahin, ESG Strategist at Efteling; Hans Meyer, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Zoku; and Frank Tuhusula, General Manager of Hotel Jakarta, it became clear that conscious entrepreneurship works best when it isn’t a standalone initiative, but rather forms the foundation of your business operations. And it doesn’t always have to be complex: making the vegetarian option the default, taking waste seriously, and measuring impact with clear KPIs are simple steps that can quickly make a big difference.
The workshops provided additional insight into topics ranging from behavioral change, business benefits, and hidden plastics to circularity, technology, and making impact visible. They offered an opportunity to reflect on what this means for your own organization.
Paul Sprakel Publisher of Hospitality Management and CEO of Mews Matthijs Welle engaged in an open conversation during aninterview about leadership and inclusion, and the trade-offs leaders make between commercial success and long-term responsibility.
The closing keynote, " Losgeroest," by Niek van den Adel brought it back to the essentials: resilience, gratitude, and collaboration. A personal story that touched many.
Read more about the first edition of the Future Ready Hospitality Conference here.
The second edition
After an inspiring and successful first edition, it's time to take the next step!
And we’re not doing this alone—we’re passing the baton. Floris Licht, our ambassador, General Manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station, and host of the first edition, is symbolically handing the baton over to René Giel, Director of Kontakt der Kontinenten: the venue where the second edition will take place.
We look forward to once again bringing together hoteliers, innovators, and changemakers, united by a single common goal: building a future-proof hospitality sector where profit and positive impact go hand in hand.
Expect inspiring and honest conversations, innovative solutions, a festival atmosphere, and meaningful connections. All of this in the heart of nature, where you’ll meet people who, just like you, dare to take the next step.
The program will go online this fall.
