Amsterdam, Wednesday January 9th 2019 – The NXT GM Challenge is a competition where students who just graduated or who are in the last year of the Hotel Management School compete with each other to get their dream job; General Manager of four-star hotel Postillion in Amersfoort Veluwemeer for one year! The three finalists had an intensive period the past four months. In this period they left a lot of opponents behind them. The candidates had to present themselves for the expert jury for the last time during Future Hotello today. Shortly after the presentation the last votes were counted and during the HotelloTOP Year Event congress on the big podium the NXT GM was announced.
The NXT GM Challenge
Last summer the expert jury invited the 8 best applications for the Challenge Day on Saturday November 17th 2018. During the Challenge Day the Top 3 was chosen, based on two assignments. The candidates were, among other things, tested on financial insight, vision for the future, marketing, sales, HR and their personality. After the test, 3 worthy finalists were selected; Maartje Verbruggen (HMSM ‘ 19), Romy Duivenvoorden (SHMS ‘19) and winner Justus van Dam. This has been a well-considered choice by an independent expert jury consisting of: Michael Spetter (jury chairman & Management, Louvre Hotels), Kim van Velzen (Strategist, KIMspiration), Anouk Dekkers (Community Manager, Dance4Life) and Sebastiaan Schaafsma (General Manager, Max Brown Hotel Canal District). Now Justus van Dam can make his dream come true and he can gain experience as General Manager for one year. Justus will be fully responsible for running the hotel. This means financially, but also operationally and commercially. A very educational time for Justus wherein he will learn everything he needs for a successful career in the Hospitality industry.
The winner of The NXT GM Challenge was announced during the HotelloTOP Year Event. The HotelloTOP Year Event revolved around the theme ‘Hotello Sapiens’. During this congress there were different speakers, including Professor of Neuropsychology Erik Scherder, known from lectures at ‘De Wereld Draait Door’, and the annual Hotello of the Year Award was distributed. Shortly after, the well-known networking drink took place where the ‘Dames Draaien Door’ finished the day festively.
The NXT GM
Justus van Dam, who is working at Pulitzer Amsterdam next to his study, was able to convince the jury quickly with his “financial insights at such a young age”. In addition, he received the most votes during the online campaign, previous to the HotelloTOP Year Event. Justus, who is hoping to graduate this year at Hotelschool The Hague, is described by the expert jury as a good hotel fixer, a rare species nowadays. Justus, congratulations with the job!
Are you NXT?!
Justus van Dam is General Manager from September 2019 till September 2020. After that a new talent will take his place. Starting in June 2019, talents are talents are able to sign up for the second edition of The NXT GM Challenge.
