12th Annual EMEA CHRIE University Challenge Comes to an Outstanding Finish!

The 12th Annual EMEA CHRIE (formerly EuroCHRIE) University Challenge, delivered by Russell Partnership Technologyinpartnership with EMEA CHRIE, came to an exciting finish on March 19th.

Heidi Anaya,
Head of Education
Russell Partnership Technology
Email: heidi.anaya@russellpartnership.com

The 18 schools competing were Strathmore University (Kenya), Stenden University (South Africa), Budapest University of Economics & Business (Hungary), CETT Barcelona (Spain), Modul University (Austria), Hotel Management School Maastricht (The Netherlands), École Hôtelière de Lausanne (Switzerland), Odesa National University of Technology (Ukraine), Breda University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), Al Rayyan International University College (Qatar), University of Surrey (United Kingdom), Boma International Hospitality College (Kenya), Hotel Management School NHL Stenden (The Netherlands), Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (Belgium), Business Academy Copenhagen (Denmark), Özyeğin University Faculty of Applied Sciences (Türkiye), Dubai College of Tourism (United Arab Emirates), and FHWien der WKW (Austria).

The teams, comprised of three to five students and one instructor, competed in a Simulation Challenge in two competitive sets of hotels (with one hotel operated by each school). Each week they formulated strategic plans to drive their hotels’ position in the competitive set, with a focus on Market Performance, Financial Management, Guest Satisfaction, and Associate Engagement.

The winning team in each competitive set was the hotel with the best overall balanced scorecard at the end of the four-week competition. The top hotels from each competitive set were then compared against each other using a variety of metrics and a final overall winner was declared.

While competing, the students also completed their Certificate in Hospitality Business Acumen. This was delivered utilising online learning modules and weekly web conferences.

This was a very dynamic competition with teams devising different strategies to drive their hotels forward in the competitive set. At the conclusion of the competition, it was the team from Hotel Management School NHL Stenden who were declared the winners, with second place going to the team from Business Academy Copenhagen.

This year’s EMEA CHRIE Challenge involved 68 students representing schools from 14 different countries – and 31 different countries of birth! The commitment and focus each of the students displayed in meeting deadlines and actively participating during the weekly web conferences was outstanding

Sincere congratulations to all involved! Russell Partnership Technology will be delighted to honour the top two teams at the EMEA CHRIE Conference in Dubai in November.

Hotel Management School Leeuwarden NHL Stenden – Winners    

• Dirk Willem Jonathan Schotanus
• Carlota Ferreira Carneiro
• Yara Smits

Instructor Leads: Joke Tasma and Marit de Vries

We, The Oldehove Hotel, have had an amazing time participating in this challenge. We learned more about setting strategies, forecasting and analyzing data, because every detail mattered and every small change had an impact on decisions and eventually the performance. Furthermore, monitoring the competition was crucial. Overall, we had a lot of fun as a team. We came together every week to make our decisions for the next quarter, working hard to perform better than our competitors. Not forgetting the weekly sessions with Heidi and all the other participants. Thank you all for this amazing time!!!

Business Academy Copenhagen – Runners Up

• Lisa Mie Lycik
• Sara Eline Arp-Hansen
• Oskar Randvig Hundrup
• Jasmin Eliassen

Instructor Lead: Kasia Petersen

Participating in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge provided us with valuable insight into the complexities of managing a hotel in a highly competitive environment. Through the simulation, we strengthened our ability to make strategic, data-driven decisions related to market performance, financial outcomes, guest satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Working under time pressure also enhanced our teamwork, as we continuously aligned our perspectives and collaborated to achieve common goals. In addition, the experience deepened our understanding of how different areas of a business are interconnected.

Overall, the challenge significantly enhanced both our practical knowledge of the hospitality industry and our ability to think critically and act strategically as a team.

Budapest University of Economics and Business

• Zoltán Dávid Egri
• Máté Ring
• Beáta Anna Pörneki

Instructor Lead: Klára Karakas Morvay

This competition was a truly rewarding experience, giving us the chance to turn theory into realworld practice. Over six weeks, we explored the challenges of revenue management in depth and developed a much clearer understanding of how decisions impact performance.

This fits perfectly into our studies in Budapest. An especially interesting part for all of us was the management-style assessment, which helped us better understand our individual working approaches and team dynamics. Working as a team was a key part of the journey – we communicated openly, handled disagreements constructively, and supported each other throughout.

Competing alongside motivated international teams made the experience even more engaging and inspiring overall. We are grateful for the opportunity to challenge ourselves. Congratulations to the winning team and thanks for the brilliant organisation.

University of Surrey

• Sophie Brown
• Malik Amadou Seidou Mossi
• Niki Symeonidou
• Faiz Siddiqui

Instructor Lead: Sylvia Ganbert

It was a pleasure to represent the University of Surrey in the EMEA CHRIE University Challenge, participating in a RevSim hotel revenue simulation against other universities. Working as a team, we strengthened our collaboration, decision making and commercial thinking skills. The experience showed how every decision contributes to optimising hotel revenue, from pricing to cost control. While we did not place first overall, our hotel improved consistently throughout the simulation. We also achieved the highest GOP percentage in our competitor set, demonstrating strong cost management. As a group, we had a valuable experience and look forward to applying our learning in future commercial roles.

Özyeğin University Faculty of Applied Sciences

• Zeynep Cansu Murat
• Mert Koca
• Oğuzhan Elma
• Sarp Çetinkaya

Instructor Lead: Hanım Kader Şanlıöz-Özgen

Competing in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge 2026 was an incredible opportunity for us as future leaders in the hospitality industry. Collaborating and competing with participants from over 18 schools and 31 nationalities across the region made this experience even more enriching and inspiring.

Throughout the competition, managing the weekly simulation challenged us to think strategically and make data-driven decisions. As future professionals interested in strategic hotel management, working with KPIs and financial metrics each quarter significantly broadened our perspective and strengthened our analytical skills.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all participants around the world for their dedication, teamwork, and hard work throughout this journey. Finally, we extend our gratitude to the EMEA CHRIE Organization and Ms. Heidi Anaya for their continuous support and guidance during the competition.

Hotel Management School Maastricht

• Nils Dalebout
• Lea Hansen
• Riccardo Rella
• Mickey Jing-Hsi Venendaal

Instructor Lead: Luc Houben

The EMEA CHRIE Challenge has been a truly insightful and educational experience for us. As students of Hotel Management School Maastricht, we were given the opportunity to act as real revenue managers for a hotel in a simulated environment. This gave us the opportunity to apply the theories we studied in real-life situations.

It taught us that small changes, mistakes, and right choices can have an incredible impact on the final performance results. Week by week, this proved to be an eye-opener for our team and gave us valuable insights for the next quarter of the simulation.

We are grateful for this opportunity and would like to extend our thanks to the entire organization of EMEA CHRIE, as well as our teachers who support extracurricular activities.

Boma International Hospitality College

• Opiyo Charline Atieno
• Lil Sandrine Odhiambo
• Lopeyok Michelle Kamais
• Karanja Ann Wangui
• Beyonce Karembo Katana

Instructor Lead: Faith Birgen

Participating in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge was an inspiring and transformative experience for our team. The Challenge pushed us to think critically, innovate under pressure, and collaborate across different strengths to deliver meaningful solutions within real deadlines. We applied classroom knowledge to real hospitality scenarios, strengthening our problem-solving, communication, and time-management skills. Working together taught us the value of teamwork, adaptability, and creativity in achieving a shared goal. Beyond the competition, we built confidence, resilience, and stronger bonds as a team. This experience motivated us to pursue excellence and embrace innovation in our future hospitality careers. We are proud to have represented our school in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge.

Modul University

• Favian Filip

Instructor Lead: Maroun Aouad

I have to say that participating in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge as the only member of my group was both challenging and rewarding. While most groups were in teams of 2-3+, I had to approach the competition totally differently. During the first week, I struggled the most trying to make the best decisions while constantly doubting my choices and having to rethink or stay with one already. I already learned a lot about financial management and accounting in university, but this competition allowed me to go beyond what I knew and put the theory and exercise in practice. Having to compete with other nationalities and universities made the atmosphere very fun and challenging.

FHWien der WKW

• Mia Farkas
• Marie Dronjic
• Janna Bokeloh
• Juliane Schwembacher
• Jannis Schober

Instructor Lead: Florian Aubke

Participating in the EMEA CHRIE University Challenge 2026 as Grand Hotel Vienna was a highly valuable experience for our team at FH Wien der WKW. Throughout the simulation, we gained practical insights into hotel operations, financial decision-making, and strategic revenue management. While the initial stages were challenging, we quickly adapted and improved our approach over time. The competition strengthened our analytical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills in a dynamic and competitive environment. We particularly appreciated the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Overall, this experience contributed significantly to our professional development, and we would highly recommend future students to participate.

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences

• Maja Hoebrechts
• Liliána Nagy
• Mantas Butkevicius
• Hanna Ciemny

Instructor Lead: Elisabeth Uvin

Participating in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge was a truly memorable experience for us. We really enjoyed working closely as a team and seeing how everyone brought their own ideas and strengths to the table. Instead of dividing tasks, we chose to collaborate on every decision, which kept everyone involved and up to date throughout the process. At times, it was challenging, especially since it was our first experience applying theory in a realistic simulation. Seeing how each decision impacted other areas was definitely an eye opener and made the experience even more engaging. The feedback we received was very valuable and helped us identify areas for improvement. Overall, it was a meaningful learning journey that strengthened us as a team.

Breda University of Applied Sciences

• Xander Kooijman
• Tom Visscher
• Terence Haak

Instructor Lead: Tim Browne

For the EMEA CHRIE Challenge, we already had a bit of a head start because we had worked with RevSim before during a school project. Because of that, we understood how it worked pretty quickly and could focus on making good decisions instead of figuring everything out from scratch.

We worked really closely as a team and made most decisions together. Instead of just going with the first idea, we talked things through and looked at different options before choosing what we thought was best. This helped us see things from different angles and avoid making quick or random decisions. We also had quite a few discussions (and sometimes small debates) about what the best choices were. Everyone shared their opinion and backed it up with what we saw in the simulation. Even though we didn’t always agree straight away, those discussions actually helped us make better decisions in the end.

Overall, our approach was pretty simple: work together, think things through, and not rush decisions. This helped us stay on track and get the most out of the challenge as a team.

Strathmore University

• Linnea Kulundu
• June Kenduiywa,
• Bridget Mutasa
• Elvis Ombara

Instructor Lead: Philip Okombo

The transition of the Euro CHRIE University Challenge into the newly named EMEA CHRIE Challenge marked a significant milestone, and being part of its first run under this new identity was both an honor and an exciting opportunity. This year, students from Strathmore University School of Hospitality Management proudly participated in the challenge.

As first-time participants, we approached the challenge with curiosity and enthusiasm. The experience proved to be engaging, challenging, and insightful. The simulation required us to manage a rundown hotel and make strategic decisions across four quarters (Q1–Q4), representing a full financial year. We named our hotel Mashujaa Hotel, inspired by Mashujaa Day, symbolizing resilience and ambition.

Placed in the First Competitive Set, we made key decisions on pricing, staffing, marketing, facilities, and financial management, while also completing individual modules that strengthened our understanding of revenue simulation.

Our journey was marked by both success and valuable lessons. In Quarter 1, we ranked number one, driven by strong room revenue, good facilities, sound financial management, and effective staffing. We maintained this position in Quarter 2, boosting our confidence. However, in Quarter 3, overconfidence led to errors such as high food and beverage pricing, lower quality, and increased marketing costs, causing us to drop to position four. This became a key learning moment.

In Quarter 4, we adjusted our strategies but were unable to regain our top position; we also missed out on the Request for Proposal (RFP) due to a decline in facility quality. This highlighted the importance of consistency, attention to detail, and adaptability. Despite our busy schedules, we met two to three times a week, demonstrating strong commitment and teamwork. Overall, the experience was highly enriching. We gained practical insights into hotel management, strategic thinking, and data-driven decision-making. Most importantly, we learned that success is not just about winning, but about learning, adapting, and growing, preparing us for future opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Al Rayyan International University College

• Pooja NSR
• Aishwarya Siva Kumar
• Josh Kurian

Instructor Lead: Girish Nair

Overall, our team had a very positive and enriching experience with the simulation. As finance students, we particularly appreciated the financial decision-making aspect, as it provided valuable practical insight into how a hospitality business operates beyond theoretical concepts. The tutorial videos were clear and supportive, and the overall competition structure was both engaging and distinctive compared to other formats we have experienced.

Dubai College of Tourism

• Abdessamie Mellouk
• Shubham Sharma
• Ariana Jasmine Pontila Del Rio
• Abdul Khaliq Rafiqi

Instructor Lead: Nikoleta Hroncova

Our group’s experience with the hotel simulation was a really practical way to see how different hotel decisions affect performance. We learned that forecasting, staffing, and pricing all need to work together, because one weak area can quickly affect results like occupancy, service quality, and F&B revenue.

One of the main things we learned was the importance of accurate forecasting. Once we improved our forecast, things started to turn out much better because we were able to make better decisions and plan more effectively for demand. It showed us that getting the numbers right at the start makes a big difference in the final outcome.

We also learned that pricing strategy plays a key role in balancing demand and revenue across the hotel. Getting the right price positioning helps drive occupancy and performance without sacrificing profitability.

Overall, the simulation taught us to think more carefully about demand forecasting, resource planning, and how operational decisions connect directly to financial results. It also showed us the value of teamwork, since good decisions required everyone to contribute and respond quickly to changing results.

CETT Barcelona

• Basil Said Hassoun
• Mar Gutiérrez Adrià
• Thais Faglia
• Eudald Llorenç Ubach Roig

Instructor Lead: Helena Perez Perez

It was an amazing experience being able to compete in the EMEA CHRIE competition this year. The software allowed us to see for the first time the cause and effect of our management strategies that we’ve learned in the classroom. We got to see not only the effects of our decisions on our hotel, but how other teams’ decisions affected the performance of their hotels as well. The chance to connect with hospitality students from other countries was another wonderful opportunity that our team really appreciated. Heidi was a fantastic host, and we look forward to participating again next year!

Odesa National University of Technology

• Nino Guilieva
• Anastasiia Mardar
• YuliiaTrofimets
• Victoriia Chekhova

Instructor Lead: Dmytro Kharenko

Our team proudly represented Odesa National University of Technology and Ukraine in the EMEA CHRIE Challenge 2026. This international experience helped us strengthen practical skills in hotel business, teamwork, forecasting and strategic decision-making. We sincerely thank the organizers and especially Heidi Anaya, for their support, guidance, and inspiration throughout the Challenge.

Stenden South Africa

• Aidan du Preez
• Sphesihle Ndlovu
• Letara Naudé
• Silke-Jade Fisher

Instructor Lead: Megan Sharrock and Nozipho Ndlovu

The start of the experience was filled with a mixture of emotions, with this being our first university challenge, as well as the idea of competing with so many different brilliant minds across the globe. We were nervous but also excited to learn and see where this path would lead us. Our team had a rough start with our results in the first quarter not being what we hoped for, however we pushed through and kept trying our best to improve. REVsim has taught us the importance of understanding the balance between risk and return when making financial decisions and the impact of them on the hotel over time. We have learned some valuable lessons during this period, and the learning modules have strengthened our understanding within our finance lectures in our daily classes. Our team has grown together, in learning each other’s strengths and fears, and have adapted to work in a manner that is beneficial for each member. Overall, we are grateful to have had this experience and thankful for the team, and all the effort we put in, as well as our lecturers, Dr. Sharrock and Miss. Ndluvo for their guidance.

École Hôtelière de Lausanne

• Mathis Pierrehumbert
• Natalia Fivaz
• Erik Hanker
• Océane Stadelmann
• Pauline Loose

Instructor Lead: Kassem Jouni