UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague to Drive Innovation in Hospitality

UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague, have agreed to partner around the development and execution of pioneering projects in the hospitality industry.

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to stimulate innovation and fresh ventures within the hospitality industry, promoting entrepreneurship and education while engaging in open innovation projects that can enhance the tourism industry, with a particular focus on hospitality. Currently, 20% of entrepreneurs of the UN Tourism Network are directly related to hospitality and are the most dynamic projects including a variety of stakeholders...

Building on the UN Tourism's established innovation network, this agreement will further facilitate connections between startups and potential investors, as well as promote knowledge and skills through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions. This partnership not only underlines a commitment to a more sustainable future for the industry but also signifies a shared commitment to providing inclusive opportunities and memorable global student experiences, demonstrated through Hotelschool The Hague's global Sustainable Hospitality Challenge.

Strong foundations for innovative future

Unfortunately 90% of startups within the hospitality sector eventually do not succeed. A decent tourism education and knowledge of the hospitality sector is necessary to develop a disruptive and well-functioning product. Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to alter this trajectory by offering a more robust foundation, fostering invaluable connections, and providing a conducive testbed for emerging startups. Given that technology now permeates 70% of tourism enterprises, it is imperative that these startups are seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, connected with pertinent stakeholders, and afforded the opportunity to validate their solutions in real-world settings before embarking on a larger scale. Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism
At Hotelschool The Hague, we provide our students with the perfect balance of theory, real-world experience and applied research to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry. We develop leaders who shape our global industry and drive it to give back more than it takes. We are proud to join forces with UN Tourism. We fully embrace their vision to Foster Innovation in the Hospitality Industry. In fact, our Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is a student competition designed to enhance the evolution of sustainable practices in hospitality, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of UN Tourism. Ms. Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors of Hotelschool The Hague

Hotelschool The Hague, founded and funded by the hospitality industry in 1929, provides high-quality education and cutting-edge research in the field of international hospitality management, with an emphasis on the transformation of sustainability and digitalization and on developing students into sought-after hospitality graduates who excel in leadership roles worldwide.

About UN Tourism

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), a United Nations specialised agency, is the leading international organisation with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 166 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members from the private sector.

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About Hotelschool The Hague

Hotelschool The Hague is one of the oldest independent specialist hospitality business schools in the world, with campuses in The Hague and Amsterdam. Ranked #7 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and voted best public hotel school in the Netherlands every year since 2014, HTH prepares students to lead in an evolving global industry. Graduates hold management positions in hospitality organisations worldwide. More information: www.hotelschool.nl

Sustainability Sustainability

The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Hotelschool The Hague is one of the oldest independent specialist hospitality business schools in the world, with campuses in The Hague and Amsterdam. Ranked #7 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and voted best public hotel school in the Netherlands every year since 2014, HTH prepares students to lead in an evolving global industry. Graduates hold management positions in hospitality organisations worldwide.