On Sunday the 16th of November 2022, 125 hospitality women gathered at Plein Publiek in Antwerp for a kick-off event featuring a panel talk with three inspiring women in the industry, a walking dinner with a show and a party afterwards. The event was a great success and brought women from all over Belgium together who share a passion for hospitality.
The panel talk led by Saskia Neirinckx (The Wicked) featured three successful women in the industry: Hannah Van Ongevalle from Tipsy Cake and Cocktail Maison, Bruna Babaloo from Pastology, and Zana Möhlmann, bar consultant and global L pour Elles ambassador. Each woman shared their unique experiences and insights into the industry, and discussed the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them.
Hannah talked about her journey from starting her own bar, The Pharmacy, to opening Tipsy Cake and Cocktail Maison. She shared her insights how it is important to create your own personal branding and how to stand out.
Bruna discussed her passion for pasta and her journey to becoming a successful businesswoman. She talked about the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry and how she has overcome these challenges through hard work and determination.
Finally, Zana shared her experiences as a bartender and her passion for creating unique and innovative cocktails. She shared her insights into the importance of innovation and creativity in the industry.
After the panel talk, the women had the opportunity to network, dance and connect with each other over food & cocktails provided by Lillet & Cocktail Maison. Our goal was to leave attendees feeling inspired and motivated to pursue their passions in the hospitality industry.
The event was made possible thanks to the partnership between The Epic Club and Lillet and their L pour Elles program, an international program that supports women in hospitality.