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Maya: Hospitality's rising star
Maya Bonkoungou, a Breda University of Applied Sciences alumna, has been named Talent of the Year 2026 at the 21st HotelloTOP Year Event at RAI Amsterdam.
The jury praised Maya for her realistic vision on hospitality and her undeniable passion for guest experience. Her impressive track record spans PR, communications, sales, HR, customer service, and F&B, and she currently excels as Global Digital Marketing Executive at Jumeirah in Dubai.
Maya graduated cum laude from BUas Hotelschool in 2024 with a thesis on human capital development in West African hospitality, earning an outstanding 9.5 grade. During her internship at Jumeirah's corporate office, she developed social media guidelines that were implemented company wide.
"With outstanding communication skills, cultural sensitivity and perseverance, Maya managed to get a range of Nigerian stakeholders to open up about their experiences regarding the hospitality industry," said BUas Lecturer Jorn Fricke. "I'm sure she will go very far."
The HotelloTOP event brought together hundreds of hospitality professionals for a day of inspiration and connection. Maya's award highlights how Breda hotelschool graduates continue to make their mark on the global hospitality industry.
Congratulations, Maya!
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