EuroCHRIE 2025 in The Hague Underscores the Global Importance of Collaboration Between Hospitality Education and Industry

Hotelschool The Hague looks back on the successful delivery of EuroCHRIE 2025, the largest international conference in its history. From 10 to 13 November, the university of applied sciences welcomed more than 220 students, PhD candidates, researchers, lecturers, alumni and industry partners in hospitality and tourism to its campus in The Hague.

The conference provided a platform for inspiration, knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking. The programme featured keynote presentations, dozens of interactive sessions, a dedicated PhD track, poster sessions, and the presentation of the Best Paper Award. Central themes included balancing tourism growth with sustainable innovation, the role of AI in hospitality, and the global labour shortage facing the sector.

Programme highlights included:

• Zhiwei Wang (University of Surrey), winner of the Best Poster Award, whose research explores ageism in the hospitality sector. His work illustrates how biases affect the labour market position of older employees and offers recommendations for creating more age-inclusive hotels through targeted training and inclusive HR strategies.
• Hans Meyer (Zoku) and Marco van der Werf (Bit), who shared their vision on AI in hospitality and the interplay between technology and human-centred service.
• Prof. Mark van Vugt (VU Amsterdam), who delivered a keynote on leadership and creating environments in which both employees and organisations can thrive.
• Trix van der Vleuten (The Social Hub), Rogier Braakman (Mr. Green Offices) and Matthijs Welle (Mews), who offered insights during inspiring Fireside Chats on the future of hospitality.

With paper submissions from 25 countries and participation from more than 90 universities and higher education institutions, EuroCHRIE 2025 underscored the global importance of strong collaboration between academia and industry.

We are proud to have hosted this prestigious conference in The Hague. The significant international participation highlights the importance of cooperation between education, research and industry in shaping the future of our sector. Rogier Busser, Dean of Hotelschool The Hague

Feedback from participants emphasised the strong balance between academic depth and warm hospitality, the excellent food experiences, and the friendly, welcoming students who left a lasting positive impression on many attendees.

Both the EuroCHRIE Board and Hotelschool The Hague look back on an event that brought together an international community of curious, dedicated professionals, reinforcing the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing within hospitality education.