2025 ISHC Young Leader Award presented to Nicola Bandera at IHIF

Berlin, Germany –The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF EMEA) presented the prestigious ISHC Young Leader Award to Nicola Bandera, Senior Analyst, Hospitality Real Estate Development at THE LINE, NEOM.

Originally from Italy, Bandera began his hospitality journey at the age of 12 in a professional kitchen, eventually working in a Michelin-starred restaurant before transitioning to hotel management. He holds a BBA in Hospitality Management from Hotelschool The Hague and has experience spanning hotel operations, consulting, and real estate development. Nicola is now focused on deepening his expertise in hospitality investment, with plans to obtain the CFA charter in 2025 and the CAIA designation in 2026. Passionate about long-term growth and self-discipline, he approaches his career with the same mindset he applies to endurance sports, including ultramarathons and triathlons. Nicola’s ultimate goal is to lead a private equity firm, and he views recognition not as a reward, but as motivation to continue pushing boundaries.

The hospitality call came to me very early when I entered a professional kitchen for the first time at the age of 12. Since then, it has been a remarkable and fun journey which I am eager to continue for years to come. This recognition fuels my determination to push myself even further in both my career and in life. I see this award not as a personal celebration, rather as a message of encouragement to all young and ambitious individuals like me that challenge themselves every day to achieve their goals. I am grateful to the team at NEOM for their support, particularly Paul Reyburn who has been an invaluable mentor to me. Nicola Bandera, Senior Analyst, THE LINE Hospitality

Nicola came to work at NEOM in 2023 and has played a pivotal role in THE LINE’s Hospitality feasibility and business case development. Alongside this he aced his level I and II CFA exams and is currently working on level III. Seldom in one’s career does a young person come along with such a combination of raw talent, intelligence, ambition and humility as Nicola. It has been a pleasure to see him deploy these characteristics and build on his operational and consulting background to gain experience in the development field. A well-deserved winner of the ISHC’s Young Leader Award – watch this space as his career progresses. Paul Reyburn, Director Development, THE LINE Hospitality

The Young Leader Award was established by ISHC and IHIF in 2009 to recognize and celebrate the excellence of young emerging leaders in the hospitality industry. Candidates must meet the following criteria and be nominated by someone they work with:

• Is 35 years of age or younger, born on or after 1April 1990
• Currently works for or directly within the hospitality sector (no vendors/industry suppliers)
• Is recognized by peers and industry members as an emerging leader for the hospitality industry
• Whose contributions are already making an impact on the hospitality industry

Respected CEOs from across the hotel industry reviewed a shortlist of nomination forms of outstanding candidates before voting on the winner.