The winners in 2025:

Leipzig-Halle/Bad Arolsen, July 30, 2025 – What does mercerization mean? What role do surfactants play in cleaning products? What goes into French dressing? Trainees and dual students from the H-Hotels Group, part of the Revo Hospitality Group, are competing fiercely for victory in a total of two categories and for the best cocktail.

Second-year trainees and dual students in the fields of cooking, hotel management, restaurant management, and event management take part in the hotel group's annual contest. The best in each year group earned their ticket to Leipzig-Halle, with a total of 29 from around 60 H-Hotels in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland taking part this year.

Over two days, they had to complete theoretical and practical tasks similar to those that will be set in the final exam the following year. “The friendly competition is the best preparation for the exam”, confirms Sara Bröskamp from the H4 Hotel Münster, winner in the hotel management category. “What I liked most was the appreciation and support among the participants. Everyone fought hard, but no one showed any resentment,” she says. “Winning this competition has reinforced my decision to pursue my love of gastronomy”, adds Bröskamp, beaming with pride. “It's a special format that we offer our young talent. It's thrilling and requires complete focus. We all cheer them on and applaud the great results that are achieved here,” explains Antje Mueller, Group Director of Training & Development at Revo Hospitality.

The participants had to complete various tasks. A total of seven young chefs had to name the exact ingredients of French dressing, calculate the materials and price for the juice selection at a buffet, and create an unusual roulade recipe. The jury was impressed by the roulade dish created by the winner in the chefs category, Mariam Kharauli from the H4 Hotel München Messe. A beef roulade stuffed with walnuts on a grape sauce, accompanied by cauliflower and potato purée and glazed carrots and vegetable chips.

The 22 hotel, restaurant, and event professionals uncovered mistakes in a festively set table, simulated a wine recommendation conversation, folded up to ten different napkin shapes, and created a cocktail under the motto: Movie Star. The cocktail had to reflect their favorite series or movie. Jessica Kethers from the H+ Hotel Wiesbaden-Niedernhausen took the top spot with her winning cocktail, “Cranberry Stiletto.” The cocktail consists of cranberry and pineapple juice, silver tequila, two slices of cucumber, and mint. Guests can order the drink at all H-Hotels bars for a year.

In 2021, the German Hotel Academy presented the H-Hotels Group, part of Revo Hospitality, with the Hospitality HR Award for the quality of its training. “Every trainee represents our future. What our young employees learn and apply is the DNA of our service quality. We want young people to identify with their work and be able to grow with us. That's why we have our own academy, which is our talent factory,” says Antje Mueller. Each participant in the Young Star Awards receives a cash prize.

Overview of the winners of the Young Star Award 2025:

Winners in the category of chefs:

1. place: Mariam Kharauli - H4 Hotel München Messe
2. place: Nico Malina - H+ Hotel Leipzig-Halle
3. place: Quyet Nguyen Huu - HYPERION Hotel Leipzig

Winners in the category of hotel, restaurant, and event specialists and dual students:

1. place: Sara Bröskamp - H4 Hotel Münster
2. place: Josefine Deß - HYPERION Hotel Dresden am Schloss
3. place: Jaqueline Korda-Klauber - H4 Hotel Kassel

Winner for the best cocktail

Jessica Kethers - H+ Hotel Wiesbaden Niedernhausen

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