Tio Chat Semester Special - Semester 2 22/23 ENGLISH

chat Business School

2022/2023

A look back at the second semester

A successful second semester How proud we are of our students! They have once again shown the best of themselves. From the Welcome Days for new students to the hands-on projects, wonderful study trips and inspiring master classes: we look back on a successful semester. Tio students are building a bright future every day, enjoying every moment.

There was hard work and also plenty of great moments to celebrate your study time. Many students received their propaedeutic certificate or bachelor’s: congratulations! The project finals, during which the student teams presented their original ideas and concepts, were concluded festively. As every year, Tio again organised great events and fun parties for all students.

Like our students, Tio also continues to develop. Recently, we presented our new title pf Business School. In the results of the National Student Survey, there was great news: our students give Tio a score of 3.95 out of 5! A fantastic result we are proud of.

Every student, teacher and staff member at Tio has a unique story. Our students’ experiences are the best inspiration for Tio, which is why we spoke to a number of them for this edition of the Tio Chat. We were also behind the scenes at a number of photo and video shoots. Maybe you can spot your fellow students on one of these pages?

In short, a great look back at a great semester. Happy reading!

Kind regards, Tio’s Management Team

Tio goes Fuerteventura

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Contents 6

And more

Career Event 2023

10 Company visits in Twente

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Lecurer exchange to Aberdeen Entrepreneur and alumna Jihad lives her dream An extraordinary start in Groningen An excellent opportunity in the hospitality market

18 Do you want my business card?

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28 “We make sure students can study comfortably”

Colophon Tio Chat is a publication by Tio Business School Tio Business School St. Jacobsstraat 400 3511 BT Utrecht The Netherlands

Interview with Tyrick Bodak

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Masterclass Harm Kreulen

Finals week

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Instagram

20-21

Curious about what’s happening at Tio right now?

Follow Tio (@tiobusinessschool) on Instagram!

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An AMAZE-ing welcome to Tio Students from all over the world have been coming to Tio for years, and they fit in from day one. During the Welcome Days in January, new international and exchange students get to know Tio and the Netherlands.

This year is no exception. The students are warmly welcomed at Tio Amsterdam by the staff and study coaches. After that, a visit to the city by tram. To ID&T, the Dutch entertainment company known worldwide for events like Sensation and Mysteryland. One of its founders explains how the company became so successful. The students take immediate tips from this for their future careers.

After this, we move on to AMAZE, ID&T’s interactive experience where we are immersed in image and sound.

This experience fits Tio’s character perfectly. Student Hospitality Hannah agrees: “Tio is a school that is emotionally and visually inviting and fun to be at. It is impressive and allows to make new experiences.”

When you think of the Netherlands, you think of ice skating. The next stop: the ice rink! For a number of international students it is probably the very first time on ice! Experienced or not, the students are having a great time. The team spirit is well in place for the rest of the year!

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“Tio is fun and inclusive.”

Victoria, exchange student

“In one word: Amazing!”

Nick, exchange student

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Career Event 2023 Let the networking begin! Companies are looking for interns, students are looking for internships. At the Career Event, it’s all about the perfect match. Can they find each other?

The Career Event in January is the moment to find the perfect internship. Well-known companies like KLM and bol.com are eager to find interns. Smaller organisations such as marketing agency Linehub and culinary catering company House of Lords are also looking for new colleagues. But did you know that, for example, you can also choose a communications internship in Dutch parliament, or e-commerce at Lidl?

Guest speakers Tio students from all over the country come to the Career Event at Expo Houten. The atmosphere is set right away by DJ Joris. Warm up with a cup of coffee and then into the room. Well-known Dutch TV producer Ewout Genemans presents the day. Our guest speakers, the best in their field, inspire and motivate the students. And then onto the exhibition floor: more than a hundred companies are ready to inform students about internship opportunities.

“You have a lot of time and space to talk to all interested parties. The students walking around here are really looking proactively.”

Esmay da Silva Chaveiro, Rituals

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“A great way to get acquainted with many different organisations.

The Career Event gives you a better idea of what you really want.”

Nadine, International Business Management student

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“Show the same effort at school as on the field.”

Tyrick ck Bodak – call me Ty – is 20 years old, he is a high-level athlete. athlete. He is goalkeeper for the national team of Curaçao, and former keeper at PSV’s youth team. Ty is also a student: he is in his second year of Hotel and Event Management at Tio Eindhoven.

What attracted you to Tio?

“I have to train every day, especially in the morning, so I was looking for a school that thinks along with me.

What attracted me to Tio were the small classes and the commitment, which I experience every day. And the teaching material, of course, because everything they teach you comes from directly from the business world. This gives you an immediate insight into the work you eventually want to do.”

Study coach

“Debbie, my study coach, thought along with me from the very first moment. There was good communication and a connection right from the start, making it easy for us to work together. We have one or two meetings every month, where we evaluate how things went and how we are going to do in the coming period. I can say it’s a good bond. Debbie thinks along about planning, about what we can do for each other.”

“In the end, I am the one who has to do it, show up and show that this is worth it. And it is worth it for me. ”

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Personalised approach at Tio

“Last December I could go on a training camp with PSV, but it fell in my exam week. So I asked my study coach how we could arrange this. She said that was no problem: you have the top athlete status, so we will ask the examination board if you can do the exams when you get back. That way I could still focus on my athletic career, and focus on school when I got back.“

Motivation

“In the end, I am the one who has to do it, show up and show that this is worth it. And it is worth it for me: I have had the idea of opening my own bed & breakfast since secondary school. The programme fits exactly with that dream. This makes it easier, because I like the programme and really want to do something with it.”

Unique combination: top-class sport and Hotel and Event Management

“My priority now is football. After my career, with the diplomas I have obtained, I want to enter the hospitality industry. My mum was a waitress, and a friend of ours a manager, and I figured I would love to combine that. My dad and two brothers are baseball players, another brother is an athlete. Sports really runs in the family, and then you have my mum taking care of all of us. So everything comes together. And so I’m going to combine that eventually!“

The future

“There are several dream clubs I’d like to go to one day, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid ... But in the short term, I’m mainly concerned with learning and developing myself as much as I can. I’m a goalkeeper, and I want to play at a club where I can show what I can do every week. Right now, I am mostly concerned with my football career. My study programme is my investment for my future career.”

Tips for other students with top sports status

“Communicate well. And don’t wait too long to make arrangements, even as soon as something changes.

Also, give it your best. Don’t slouch in class because you are tired. That’s the best you can do: Show the same effort at school as on the field. If the teachers see that, they will be more willing to work with you.”

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Company visits in Twente Entrepreneurship is in Twente’s blood. Plenty of opportunities for Tio Hengelo students to explore companies in the region.

Which industries and companies did they visit? Among others: hospitality at Brut, hospitality at whisky distillery Sculte, real estate at Lansinkveste and tourism at Tui.

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Lecturer exchange in Aberdeen Peter-Frank Haarmans (Tio Rotterdam) and Vincent Kuyvenhoven (Tio Eindhoven) went to Aberdeen this semester to represent Tio at Robert Gordon University through a lecturer exchange.

Off to Aberdeen!

After a smooth flight from Amsterdam, it is during the bus ride to the city centre that we notice the somewhat sad-looking and dark housing developments. Aberdeen is therefore known as “Granite City” for this reason. When the sun shines, this changes to “Silver City”.

Personal branding, Ikigai and your own LinkedIn profile Peter-Frank kicks off with Personal Branding and discusses the Ikigai model. This gives students tools to determine content, relevant keywords and personal touch that suits them. Vincent and the students then translate this into LinkedIn profiles that clearly reflects who they are, what they stand for and where they want to go.

The fourth Digital Marketing and MSc students think about how they want to be found on LinkedIn and what they want to show their readers when they visit their profiles. They are enthusiastic. There is a lot of interaction, they give examples and ask relevant questions.

Large rooms, small rooms.

Tio is of course known for small classes, so we can have a lot of interaction with the students. How is that in a huge lecture hall?

Vincent: “We have three groups; the first was in a ‘regular’ classroom and the students are just as engaged as we are used to at Tio. However, the second and third masterclasses we give in a lecture hall and to our surprise, the interaction is huge. Even with the opening question ‘what do you want to learn today’, the students spontaneously loosen up. And throughout the presentation, there are many questions, they give their own examples of their situation. It is remarkable!

Where does this motivation come from? They are mostly Nigerian students studying in Scotland on a visa. To these students it really is something special that we come to share our knowledge in another country, just for them. It makes them co-responsible to really make something of it.”

For Peter-Frank and Vincent, it was definitely a beautiful, enjoyable and valuable experience. A visit worth repeating.

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The Travel Challenge 2023: Tio goes Fuerteventura!

Seven Tio students International Tourism Management from different campuses participated last semester in the Travel Challenge 2023, 2023, a five-day Business Course, which this time took place on the beautiful Canary Island of Fuerteventura Fuerteventura.. An unforgettable experience for students Sara, Wesley, Floor, Iris, Dyonne, Bente, Anne, as well as lecturer Marion Ariëns!

Travel Challenge 2023 The Travel Challenge is for college and university students in tourism, marketing, IT and data science, organised by Reiswerk. Eight teams, mixed in profile and expertise, develop a concept for a plot on the island in four days. Such a plot can vary from a piece of national park to a resort that was never finished, and from a collection of old school buses to a dilapidated hotel. Experts from the field assist the teams in developing a strong concept in a short time. There will also be knowledge sessions and time to network with representatives of big names in the travel industry such as TUI, D-Reizen, and Corendon.

The game is on Besides gaining knowledge during the fascinating presentations, there will also be plenty of time to explore Fuerteventura. This is done in a special way: through a number of challenging games!

Running through a lagoon with a tablet to score jokers while teammates give directions through a walkie-talkie from the shore, for example. We discover the famous seaside resort of Corralejo by earning coins with tasks via QR codes. It’s like a live broadcast of ‘Wie is de Mol?’. During a ‘House of Commons’ debate session in a village square, the judges are impressed by the students’ skills.

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Success for Tio! On day four, the teams present their concepts during a Dragons Den and in the evening, the winning team and the Travel Talent of 2023 are announced during a festive closing night. Our students did very well: Sara comes second with her team and Wesley third with his team. So two podium places for Tio students!

Our other students also had a special time in Fuerteventura, as the comments below show:

“A week where you are intensely involved in the travel world. From interesting presentations by travel professionals to fun games and setting up a new concept for Fuerteventura with your team.”

“What was most special for me is the close-knit group you form together in such a short time and the friendships you make from it.”

Bente (Amsterdam)

Anne (Eindhoven)

“A fantastic and intensive 5-day bubble, completely dedicated to the tourism industry; what a top experience!”

“It was wonderful to see that the students learned so much from the travel professionals, but also vice versa. Definitely a very valuable experience!”

Dyonne (Hengelo)

Floor (Amsterdam)

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Parents’ evening at Tio Hengelo: a close-knit community Every Tio campus is a community in itself. Students from different study programmes and years know each other, teachers and staff know the students well. At Tio Hengelo, not only the students are close, many of the parents also know each other.

This is very noticeable at the parents’ evening, where many acquaintances meet at Tio Hengelo. Oldenzaal and the surrounding area are particularly well represented. One parent decides on the spot: “Can I already pre-register my younger son for September?”

Of course, parents are informed about internships abroad, moving on, graduating, but it is also entertaining. Lecturer Bas Kelly, for instance, presents a whisky tasting session!

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Lecturer Bas:

“Students are like whisky; they also need time to develop.”

“The idea to organise a whisky tasting for the parents’ evening came from campus manager Geert van der Meer. Somehow, he quickly realised that I am a lover of whisky (30 years of practical experience).

He thought it would be a good idea to share my enthusiasm. The first tasting in Groningen was very successful. In the meantime, I have been able to hold several tastings in Hengelo as well.

The basis of Scotch whisky is very simple. You need barley, yeast and water. And patience. Whisky only acquires its flavour and character after maturing in oak barrels. In addition, some whiskies get a special finish: an optional final maturation that provides a boost in flavour. The link with students is quickly made. They also need time to develop. And often an internship or a minor provides the final finish.

Parents are generally very interested, but I wouldn’t dare say that everyone likes the whiskies right away! Especially when they have never drunk whisky before, they find it rather strong.

Of course, there are also parents who are enthusiastic right away. And sometimes that’s for a whisky I don’t expect. Often I also take whiskies from my own stock, for dessert. The other day, that was a Finlaggan Cask Strength. That’s a very smoky whisky at 58%. The bottle went almost half empty. Well, I must confess that some teachers helped too. But that’s exactly the point.”

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Entrepreneur and alumna Jihad lives her dream During an internship in Turkey, Tio alumna Jihad Yasser Ali came into contact with underprivileged (orphan) children. That’s when she decided: this is what I’m going to work for later. After a project in which she and a group of women arranged gifts for children from poor families or without parents during Ramadan in 2022, she set up her own foundation. Make a Kid Happy, making more and more children at home and abroad happy.

Projects for children At the age of 25, this passionate entrepreneur has found her life’s purpose. With Make a Kid Happy, an official non-profit organisation, Jihad and her team set up projects for children in less stable living conditions. “We organise events to raise money and create awareness, for example a football tournament for young people with influencers as coaches. With the proceeds, we help children at home and abroad, such as the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.”

Entrepreneurial spirit Jihad also founded another venture with Baladi The Agency in 2022: a full-service creative digital consultancy that helps brands grow through storytelling and innovative strategies.

She is a true entrepreneur. She organises events, coordinates activities for children, sets up fundraising campaigns, liaises with volunteers, partners and other stakeholders, manages social media accounts and manages her teams.

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Helping even more children Jihad’s ambitions are big. “I want Make a Kid Happy and Baladi The Agency to grow into leading organisations that have a lasting impact on children’s lives. I would like to reach more children and help them in a sustainable way. I also want to further professionalise and expand our organisations so that we can do even more for children in need.”

Young Amsterdam Awards With Jihad at the helm, both organisations managed to grow considerably in a short time. The success was seen: with Make a Kid Happy, she was nominated for the Young Amsterdam Awards in the social commitment category. She did not win, but did receive the most public votes. “A great recognition for the work we do with the team,” she said. In this category, all the nominees are winners: we are all committed to society to help others.”

“If you manage to turn your passion into your job, you have the best job in the world!”

Studying at Tio At Tio Amsterdam, Jihad first followed the Hotel Management vocational study programme and then moved on to the Hotel and Event Management higher education programme. “I chose Hotel Management from Tio because I wanted to learn everything about hospitality.

After that course, I wanted to develop further in marketing and event management. Hotel and Event Management at Tio had an excellent reputation in that field. I don’t regret that choice; I still benefit daily from what I learned at Tio.” Keep your goal in mind Jihad urges other students to also make work of their dreams. “If you manage to turn your passion into your job, you have the best job in the world”

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Do you want my business card?

Even after you get your degree, you remain part of the Tio network. Alumni from all fields of study, levels and campuses still meet each other regularly. In business, privately, or at one of the networking get-togethers.

Time to socialise A large group of former Tio students from Tio Amsterdam see each other again. Upon entering, all you hear is: “Nice, all those familiar faces.”

During this informal get-together, memories are made, networking is done, but above all there is a lot of fun.

And what are you doing these days?

Everyone is naturally very curious about where everyone has ended up. Julia we have already seen on LinkedIn. “That’s right,” she explains enthusiastically. “I work for I AMsterdam and we just finished a big project to spread tourists more across the region through the Amsterdam Area Guide. That was my project and I’m quite proud of it.”

Many Tio students become entrepreneurs; even while studying, companies of their own are regularly set up. Maarten became a wedding planner and event manager after studying Hotel and Event Management. Sebastiaan has his own

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marketing company. Two other alumni have even founded a company together, which is a great success, especially in Germany.

Outside the career news, there is more happiness: Boaz, for example, has just become a father! The big question: will his child also become a Tio student in a few years’ time?

Keeping in touch Whether professional or personal, many former Tio students are still in touch. Some meet up regularly, others keep each other up to date with apps. Like, for example, in the ‘Tio Chicks’ WhatsApp group!

Tio alumni also help each other professionally where they can. We are curious to see how many business cards were exchanged this evening!

“A tradition is born.”

Martijn Naberman, campus manager

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Taking care of high end customers in St. Tropez A picturesque bay, luxury villas and the French sun: SaintTropez provides a beautiful backdrop for a guest lecture. Lars Cazemier of Lalmy Care - peace of mind for property owners tells Tio Groningen students what happens behind the scenes at the stunning French villas and exclusive marinas. He brings practical experience into school: what would it be like if Lalmy Care opened a branch in the Netherlands?

Lalmy Care handles facility management: they help owners of luxury southern French villas and pleasure boats. From the winter maintenance of a yacht to a stocked fridge before the owner arrives: everything starts and ends with taking care of the customer.

Special requests “The word no does not exist in our vocabulary,” says Lars. The business of taking care of his high end clientele is broad and different every day. “One morning you have a conversation with a potential new client about his second home in Saint-Tropez, the next day you fill a pick-up truck with ice and bottles of rosé.” In his guest lecture, Lars talks passionately about the special requests he faces. “I was called by a customer asking if I could arrange a pair of trousers for him, because otherwise he would not be allowed in an expensive restaurant. No problem, those trousers were arranged!”

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Get to work And then it’s up to students: what would it look like if Lalmy Care opened a Dutch branch? Where would the customers come from? The Gooi region comes up, but also the many holiday villas in Friesland. We may not know many luxury yachts here, so the focus comes mainly on large villas.

Full of inspiration, the guest lecture concludes.

One student muses, “How long is the flight to Saint-Tropez?” Holiday plans are made!

“Think from your customers’ point of view. What do they expect? And how do I exceed that?”

Guest lecture on Albert Heijn’s product range From marinas in Saint-Tropez to the most wel-known shop in the Netherlands: Albert Heijn. Groningen students are also treated to a guest lecture by Assortiment Manager Amber Arends.

A guest lecture with lots of facts and a look behind the scenes, interesting for the students, but also the lecturers!

Amber’s goal as Assortment Manager: “With my team, we take care of presenting the right assortment in the best place on the shelves of our more than 1,000 shops.” And that sounds easier than you think.

Data analysis is a big part of Amber’s work. Buying behaviour differs by region, you have to take that into account and respond to it. “Always think from the needs of the customer in the region,” Amber explains. “In a campus in Amsterdam, 381 packs of barista oat milk are sold per week. In Loppersum, only four packs a week. As a result, the shelves look very different per Albert Heijn!”

At the beginning of the lecture, the students doubt whether the world of Albert Heijn and Ahold is for them. By the end, Amber was able to convince several students for this direction. A successful day!

Did you know that our students and lecturers can regularly be found at information sessions at high schools across the country? Because who better to tell you what it’s like to study at Tio than these real experience experts!

Gabriëlla and Bente of Tio Groningen, for instance, crossed the Wadden Sea to visit a school on the island Ameland.

Entirely in style, of course!

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Tio at the Career Fair Every year in the Rai Rotterdam, the Dutch National Career Fair is for people looking for a new challenge. This can be a new job, but also an education. So Tio has to be there!

With a team of lecturers, students, alumni, marketing & HR colleagues, we are ready to inform and enthuse people about a job or study at Tio. Alumnus Ben Herfst gives two guest lectures on Artificial Intelligence. He tells how he discovered this field during his Master of Business Administration at Tio Amsterdam, in lecturer Jasper Breebaart’s Business Intelligence course. Some 150 interested people attend Ben’s lectures.

During this weekend, we introduce thousands of people to Tio. Marketeer Alex Greweldinger: “The great thing about the Career Fair is that two worlds come together. People are looking for a new step, this can be a new education (such as our MBA), or a new job. Both are possible at Tio. The Career Fair is a nice win-win event.”

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Great results for Tio in the National Student Survey Once again this year, Tio’s bachelor and Associate degree students are very satisfied with their programmes, the supervision and the atmosphere at the campuses. According to the most recent National Student Survey (NSE). Satisfaction with the programme in general has increased compared to last year.

Where a 3.86 out of 5 was scored in 2022, that rating rose to 3.95 in 2023. Tio continues to improve its strong results.

Satisfied Tio students The survey consists of various subjects. Our students rate Tio higher than the national average on every component. Tio students are above average satisfied with the connection to professional practice and with the lecturers from the field. The content of the study, and the testing and assessment also score above average. The majority of the Tio students would choose their current programme again based on their experiences.

National Student Survey Over 289,000 students completed the National Student Survey 2023. The results were announced on Wednesday 31 May. The results show that the general satisfaction of students with their education remains high, and has even risen slightly. The atmosphere is rated the best: 79% of the students surveyed indicate that they are satisfied with the atmosphere at their study programme. The students also feel safe: 85% of the students agree with the statement: ‘I feel safe to be myself at the institution where I study’.

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First class masterclass In airline jargon: This masterclass is completely overbooked. Tio students, alumni and teachers are present in large numbers at Tio Utrecht for the masterclass by Harm Kreulen, former director of KLM Netherlands.

Based on the KLM World Deal Weeks and the KLM Open golf tournament, Harm shares his 37 years of experience and knowledge. At the World Deal Weeks, he zooms in on how to make sure you get the right target group in action during a campaign. The golf tournament is all about using event management as a tool in relationship and reputation management.

With a laugh, Harm elaborates on the complexity of organising meals and how to take into account the time of departure and destination. Provide mostly meat when flying to Houston and more vegetarian meals on flights to Southeast Asia, for instance.

Practical tip: choose a seat at the front of the plane so you have first choice.

Sustainability Dealing with social discussions is high on the agenda at many companies. At KLM, it is the negative perception around flying. “You have to have your antennae out in society,” he explains. “Listen well, know what is going on and adjust your campaigns accordingly. This is not the time of loud flashy campaigns. The approach is becoming softer.”

Time to socialise! After the masterclass, there is plenty of opportunity to chat after. The students take full advantage of this and ask Harm all their questions.

A successful evening!

Quick question round!

The students have prepared themselves: they are full of questions. The most fun question comes from Karlijn, International Business Management student: “Why are they always out of chicken and rice on my flight?”

Harm’s 3 tips: Make sure you are well prepared.

Know what you are doing, for whom, when you are going to do it and most importantly: why?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Making mistakes is not a bad thing, as long as you earn from them.

Focus on what you really enjoy and inspires you.

Don’t get distracted by what others think.

“Aim for the moon, because even when you miss you will end up among the stars.”

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Backstage shoots At Tio, we are busy preparing for the new academic year. For example, with the photo shoot for the new study guides and video shoots for the recruitment of new lecturers and staff members.

A peek behind the scenes!

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An extraordinary start in Groningen Unforgettable: your first year in a hotel! This is how students started working on their future even before the opening of the new campus. The students and lecturers got off to an incredibly enthusiastic start. For the students, it often doesn’t even feel like school, because of the location, but also because of the engaged lecturers and fascinating company visits.

“We started with a lovely group of students, who we will also always remember as the first batch of Tio Groningen,” says campus manager Geert van der Meer. “In the small-scale setting of the Schimmelpenninck Huys Hotel, student, lecturer and staff quickly got to know each other. Starting from a hotel right in the centre of Groningen was a unique experience.”

Assistant campus manager and study coach Hermien Heeres is incredibly proud of all the graduates. “The first propaedeutic ceremony feels like the icing on the cake,” she says. She is already looking forward to the next Groningen milestone.

“This first propaedeutic ceremony feels like the icing on the cake!”

Hermien Heeres, assistant campus manager and study coach

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“We make sure students can study comfortably” Eleven years ago, she left Tio with her bachelor’s degree under her arm. Now Steffie Hagenaars is back. For over a year now, she has enjoyed working at Tio’s Central Student Administration (CSA). There, together with her team, she makes sure the student administration is completely in order. Steffie: “The contact with the students is great fun; it’s nice to be able to show them around.”

Tio’s CSA is the place where students and parents can go with questions about enrolments, Steffie explains. “All new and current enrolments we process here. We also take care of much of the information provision to students, for example around tuition fees, study financing and other administrative student matters.”

Puzzling and switching Getting students into the system properly and making sure they get the right information is something of a puzzle every time. “That’s what I really enjoy about this work,” Steffie says enthusiastically. “To get a student file complete, I have to interact a lot with other departments, such as finance, marketing and education. It is very satisfying when students can study comfortably as a result.”

Small-scale and personal The atmosphere in the department is very good, says Steffie. “I work at CSA with one colleague, and together with the finance and payroll departments we form a team of eight people.

That’s not only pleasant because you have short lines of communication, but it’s also just sociable.

There is an open and relaxed atmosphere in the department. Tio as an organisation is small-scale and personal; everyone knows each other and likes to help each other. That’s very nice.”

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Attention to development “And there are plenty of career opportunities within Tio,” Steffie continues. “Every month you have a meeting with your manager. Just to see how things are going and whether you still need something to make your work more enjoyable. I find it very special that there is so much attention to personal development within Tio. If I want more tasks or responsibilities, those opportunities are definitely there.”

“Here, we actually take care of everything the students don’t see.”

Great time at Tio From 2009 to 2012, Steffie herself studied at Tio; she attended the bachelor programme International Tourism Management. “There were very few good tourism courses at the time, so this course appealed to me immediately. I look back on my studies with a very good feeling. There was a very nice atmosphere, the classes were small, I gained a lot of practical experience and was able to complete my studies in three years. And because the study was not cheap, everyone was super motivated. After my studies, I also definitely felt that as a Tio student I had an edge in the work field.”

Back at Tio And so now Steffie is back. She laughs. “It feels good to be back at Tio. I worked for several tour operators for ten years, but then it was time for something else. I always had a really good time at Tio, so when this position became available, I thought to myself: why not?”

“I really like it here,” Steffie says in conclusion.

“Within my position, I have a lot of contact with students. It’s nice to show them around and be able to take them by the hand for a while. Of course, I know Tio well, even as a student, so I know how the students feel. Nice that I now get to experience the other side.”

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Students raise €7,000 for charity Remember Hotel and Event Week in November? Hotel Upside Down raised a whopping €7,000 for charity: the Princess Maxima Centre. This is how students help in the fight against child cancer. Of course you’re going to hand over a cheque like that yourself!

“Amazing what you have done! Thank you for your support and commitment!”

Barbara De Clercq Zubli, project manager Princess Maxima Centre

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An excellent opportunity in the hospitality market In the minor Entrepreneurship, students discover what it is like to start their own business. The students have to be creative and work together to market a new product from a to z.

Dylan and Shamira (Hotel and Event Management) from Tio Rotterdam came up with special cutlery for people with rheumatism or Parkinson’s disease, Excellent Grip.

Dylan says: “Both our grandmothers have rheumatism and Shamira and I both have an affinity for the hospitality industry. We noticed that there was no special cutlery for these people in catering establishments. This while 1 in 9 Dutch people suffer from rheumatism.” In other words: a gap in the hospitality market!

“During our minor, we learnt a huge amount,” Dylan continues. “There have been some setbacks that we have then been able to learn from to make improvements to the product.”

Dylan and Shamira’s advice: Don’t wait for a response and be assertive.

Think broadly: for our cutlery, we started with restaurants but looked further into care homes and golf courses.

The stock of cutlery is now completely sold out! After this successful end to their minor, the students dove into their next challenge: graduation.

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Finals week

Who creates the best business plan?

Starting your own business is a dream for many people. With courses in entrepreneurship, Tio helps students make these dreams come true. Writing a business plan is therefore a standard project in many Tio study programmes. Depending on the programme this could be a restaurant, a web shop or, for example, a tour operator. The finalists of these projects compete against each other in hotel Nhow in Rotterdam for the main prize. Who can call themselves the winner?

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I’m going on a trip ...

In the Tour Operating Project, there is a very special prize for the second-year Tourism students. Namely, the winner gets the opportunity to carry out the designed trip themselves.

That’s no small prize, so nerves are running high!

Frank Oostdam, director of ANVR, speaks encouragingly to the tourism students: “The jury asks critical questions to help you further with your plan. If you don’t know an answer, or you haven’t thought about this yet, that’s not a problem. You are here to learn. Transparency is important in a pitch.”

The ideas range from culinary trips, special offers for friends trips, honeymoon & love travel and bucket list trips. Each student presents their ideas on which trips are suitable for which target group and how they will sell them.

The jury was impressed by the high quality of the concepts and presentations. But the jury report shows one clear winner. Isabel from Tio Amsterdam was overwhelmed: her culinary trip to France won! Her project was well-founded and consistent, and her presentation super-tight.

“I didn’t want to participate at first, I thought others were much better. But so you see, you should always compete.

You can always win.” Winner Isabel.”

Winner Isabel

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Believe in yourself and your plans Students are also writing a business plan in the vocational programmes. Among the Hotel Management students, there are plans for a speakeasy, a boutique hotel and an upscale fast-food restaurant. With Commercial Business Management, the finalists have ideas for a sustainable clothing shop and a business with electric loan bicycles. The students will compete with each other.

The jury pays attention to the feasibility of the business plans, but also how do you pitch your concept?

Their advice for the students: “Believe in yourself and your plans. With enthusiasm and self-confidence, you can achieve a lot.”

The winner is Flore from Tio Rotterdam. With a well thought-out plan for a clothing shop with sustainable clothing made from mango and cactus leather, she convinces the jury!

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Ambitious students at Student Company Business students from Commerce Economics and Entrepreneurship and International Business Management compete against each other in the (Digital) Student Company project. Writing their own business plan for a new company is something these students know how to do!

The jury was inspired by ideas such as fruit boxes at work, a digital business card for students and promotional gifts from Dutch origin. But the winners are Lars and Oliver from Tio Utrecht.

They have set up their own watch brand: Pinaud Watches, a minimalist watch with a luxury feel.

“Your passion radiates from it and there is no lack of creativity,” states jury member Emile Langerak of the Dutch Entrepreneuship Academy. “Will you continue with this?”

Their answer sounds full of ambition and confidence: “We will continue and we want to become the best and biggest watch brand in the Netherlands and Belgium!”

“It’s not always easy, but that’s where you learn the most.”

Winners Lars and Olivier

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Passion and drive in Sales and Account Management Second-year Commercial Business Management students sink their teeth into the Sales and Account Management project. Of course, the jury looks at the content of the sales and account plans, but also at the passion, drive and presentation skills of the finalists.

The battle is between Jasmijn from Tio Utrecht and Mark from Tio Hengelo. Both present ideas for a catering company, Acai Events, and Heerbaart Machinefabriek. In the end, it is Jasmijn who walks away with the win. She came up with a plan on how Acai Events can participate in events hosted by KLM, for example. Congratulations, Jasmijn!

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Big risks in Stocks & Bonds During the Stocks & Bonds minor, students are each given a fictional $100,000 to invest as they see fit. This produces interesting strategies, with even more interesting results! Honorary judge at the final is investment expert Peter Tros, analyst at ING for many years and now a financial adviser.

Lecturer Jasper Breebaart assists Peter during the judging.

Go big or go home The six finalists did not hold back: to achieve the best results, they took big risks. When asked whether they would have done the same with their own savings, the answer is almost unanimous: no!

The students also agree on the investment advice: don’t let your emotions get in the way too much when you invest.

The winner The jury does not look at the highest return, but at the best method and rationale. The choice was not easy, and there was even a shared second place for Gijs from Tio Hengelo and Eduardo from Tio Amsterdam.

In the end, the winner is Kelly from Tio Rotterdam.

What she will do with the prize money? Invest it herself, of course! “It’s money I got unexpectedly, so a great start to start investing!”

A true investor with a long-term focus!

“In week 1 I knew nothing at all, but in 11 weeks I learned a lot.”

Winner Kelly

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Unique hospitality concepts at Food & Beverage Management No one has been idle at Food & Beverage Management either. The finalist duos have each come up with a unique hospitality concept. The students are enthusiastic, the questions critical and the applause very loud. Tio lecturer Ron de Jong presents the finals.

The jury They face an impressive jury: Melle van Uden, General Manager of the Radisson SAS Amsterdam Airport Hotel, Yuri Dries, Resident Manager of Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, and Rick de Bruijn, Maître at restaurant The Millèn. Fun fact: Rick de Bruijn was himself a student at Tio, and was one of the finalists with his project in 2008!

“Enjoy the presentations, because this is a once in a lifetime event!”

Rick de Bruijn, juror and Tio alumnus

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Inspiration From a high-end fish restaurant on the Maas, to a tapas restaurant where every floor is different, to a pancake restaurant with service on roller skates: ideas and inspiration abound. It also pitched a cocktail bar with a chemistry approach (complicatedly, molecular mixology), including a demonstration! For the first time, candidates from Tio Groningen, the youngest campus, also participated.

The winners The concept of Anique and Lara from Tio Eindhoven is the winner! They developed Vignoble, a romantic and burgundy wine and dinner concept at De Apostelhoeve wine estate near Maastricht.

Their evocative descriptions, as well as the fact that they really interacted with the owners of the location, were decisive. Their company’s motto: “seize the grape!”.

Starting your own business with the minor Entrepreneurship In the Entrepreneurship minor, students start their own business. Looking for investors, being creative, collaborating, that’s what this minor is all about. In the end, the main prize goes to Lisa, Michelle and Berit, all three Hotel and Event Management students at Tio Hengelo. With their startup The Design Depot, they win no less than €500!

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