hotelvak.be
EN
Platform on hotel management, interior design and design in Flanders
During the annual QL Gala Dinner of Quality Lodgings, the Belgian Hofke van Bazel was awarded the very first QL Culinary Inspiration Award. The restaurant-hotel from Bazel, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was praised by the jury for its distinct gastronomic vision, which centres on home-grown produce and seasonal cooking. In addition, Boutique Hotel The Church in Arnhem was named QL Hotel of the Year 2026. More than 150 hoteliers from the international collection gathered on Monday evening at Château St. Gerlach for an evening dedicated to gastronomy, hospitality, and special hotel stories. The new QL Magazine 2026 was also launched, and nine new hotels were welcomed into the collection.
At the gala, Hofke van Bazel in Belgium received the very first QL Culinary Inspiration Award, a new accolade within the Quality Lodgings collection that highlights innovative culinary initiatives. The jury praised the consistent vision of owners Gina Miurin and Kris De Roy, in which vegetables, herbs, and fruit from their own cultivation have long been the starting point for their cuisine. With their Gina's Choice concept, Hofke van Bazel demonstrates how nature, terroir, and gastronomy can mutually enhance each other.
“It is special to receive this recognition in a year that is so important to us. For 30 years, we have been working from the same conviction: cooking with respect for what nature gives us,” say Gina Miuren and Kris de Roy. According to the jury, Hofke van Bazel is a place where gastronomy is not followed as a trend, but is upheld as a conviction with a clear signature that permeates the entire experience.
Boutique Hotel The Church in Arnhem has been named QL Hotel of the Year 2026. The jury praised the transformation of a former Lutheran church into a contemporary destination with a strong combination of gastronomy, design, and hospitality. Janiek van den Broeck (28) and Bart Leussink (28) were also recognised for their vision and energy. As proud owners of Boutique Hotel The Church, they give the hotel its character and direction, built from a distinct personal signature.
During the gala, the QL College Next Gen Award was also presented to a new generation of hospitality talent. The winner for 2026 is Luna Hoogenboom from ROC Mondriaan (New Mondrian Hotel). The prize includes, among other things, an exclusive shadowing day at the Royal House, supervised by Master of the Household Sjoert Klein Schiphorst.
The first copy of the QL Magazine 2026 was presented to Camille Oostwegel Sr., founder of Château St. Gerlach, during the gala. The magazine takes readers on a journey through special hotels, inspiring hoteliers, and culinary destinations within Europe. This year, nine new hotels are being introduced within the collection: Hotel Tennerhof, Hochfirst The Luxury Mountain Resort, Die HOCHKÖNIGIN Mountain Resort, Defereggental Hotel & Resort, Dolomitengolf Suites, Hotel Der Bär, Villa Marburg im Park, Niemeyers Posthotel, and Hotel Cour Saint Georges. The QL Magazine is available in all affiliated hotels and via the Quality Lodgings online gift shop.
