Accessible hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ launched in the Netherlands
Initiatiefnemers van Gastvrijheidskeurmerk 'Gezellig'- Jeannine Sok en Sven Heijkoop
One of the most difficult words to translate in any other language: ‘gezellig’. Cosy comes close but gezellig also includes togetherness. Hospitality experts Jeannine Sok and Sven Heijkoop launched the accessible hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ for the hospitality industry during the hospitality trade fair ‘Gastvrij Rotterdam’. Together with various partners, they want to stimulate the hospitality industry to excel even more in hospitality.
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Hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ comes with a top 100 in 2024
“We were missing a quality label that says something about hospitality across the hospitality industry. Every level deserves recognition,” says hospitality expert Jeannine Sok who, together with Sven Heijkoop, is the initiator of the very first hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ for the hospitality industry. During Hospitality Week and on the third exhibition day of Gastvrij Rotterdam, the name for the quality label was unveiled and plans for a top 100 hospitality businesses and a magazine were announced.
Excelling in hospitality
“With this quality label, we want to encourage restaurants to excel in hospitality and demonstrate that they are committed to providing the best possible experience to their guests,” said Jeannine Sok. “There needs to be more focus on the ladies and gentlemen at the ‘front end’,” Sven Heijkoop believes. “This quality label will not only help exceed guests’ expectations, but will also contribute to the professionalisation of the hospitality industry.”
Mystery visits for hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’ will be done by students
To assess hospitality, both hospitality experts have drawn up a checklist with a number of points. By means of mystery visits, hospitality businesses that want to qualify for the quality label will be visited. A pilot will start soon. Students from the Drenthe College in Emmen will carry out these mystery visits.
Magazine and top 100 in 2024
The initiators of the new quality label intend to publish a consumer magazine next year in which they will announce the top 100 most ‘gezellige’ hospitality businesses in the Netherlands. A website is also in the making, which will soon offer more information about the quality label.
Partners and independent hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’
In addition, Albeda in Rotterdam, De Rooi Pannen in Eindhoven, ROC Nijmegen and ROC van Twente have also pledged their cooperation. As have several partners and companies from the hospitality industry such as the Week of the Hospitality Industry, the MBO Raad, Emixion, SVH, Gastvrij Rotterdam, Horecava, FNV, Bidfood Nederland, Brinks CoffeeRoasters, Marie Stella Maris, VHC and Wijnkooperij De Lange. “We want to be an independent quality label so we are looking for even more partners so that we can promote the label widely.”
Great initiative for the whole hospitality industry
Thérèse Boer of restaurant De Librije (***) in Zwolle is the ambassador for the hospitality quality label ‘Gezellig’. “It is a great initiative that I gladly embrace,” the SVH Master Hostess/ SVH Wine Master lets us know. She finds the name ‘Gezellig’ approachable and well applicable to the whole field of hospitality. “Guests these days want to eat and drink well and also have a good time. Hospitality is an important part of the experience.”
About Jeannine Sok and Sven Heijkoop
Jeannine Sok is the owner of Gastologie in Nijmegen. Through this hospitality philosophy and training method she developed, she helps people optimise hospitality. She is the creator of the board game Gastology and author of several books such as “How Hospitable Are You?”. Sven Heijkoop is maître, sommelier and ambulant footman at the Royal Household.
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