THE FOUNDERS
bringing purpose
to hospitality
Different backgrounds, one shared vision: to give real estate players the upper hand in today’s market.
Our strength? Creating authentic, unforgettable experiences that deliver growth, and futureproof your concept.
the team
CO-FOUNDER
daan meischke
Daan has a proven track record of delivering exceptional results in building and scaling hybrid hospitality brands and mixed-use development locations.
From the successful franchise Vascobelo, to various hotels, mixed leisure destinations and more, his expertise spans the full breadth of Velvet Square’s offering.
startup manager
sabine de best
Sabine’s career began in hospitality where she crossed paths with Daan, which led to her later joining Velvet Square as its first employee. Leveraging her extensive sales experience, Sabine offers a deep ability to understand client needs and contribute to the success of a customer-centric project.
At the heart of her approach lies honesty, and ensuring transparent interactions through genuine insights. Sabine aspires to make Velvet Square the world's largest and most beloved real estate hospitality brand.
Ralf started his career in the luxury hotel business where he became director of food & beverage at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
He has spent the past 10 years as general manager and co-founder of A’DAM Six Senses in the A’DAM tower in Amsterdam, which has quickly become one of Amsterdam’s most iconic mixed-use building cases and tourist attractions. Ralf currently resides in London.
RALF BENDA
CO-FOUNDER
Jouke is an experienced entrepreneur with a background in events, food & beverage, sales, marketing and hospitality for a range of clients. His hybrid experience spans brands and organizations in the cultural sector and beyond, including museums, football stadiums, restaurants, and more.
Jouke is also commercial director and co-founder of A’DAM Six Senses, which oversees the operation of multiple hospitality concepts in the A’DAM tower in Amsterdam.
Jouke Bijlsma
CO-FOUNDER
Maarten has over 20 years of experience at the forefront of the hospitality and event industry in Europe, connecting talent and organizations through his multiple ventures including ‘The Hospitalist’.
He is a big advocate for the power of service and people-to-people connections, which he brings to every project for Velvet Square.
Maarten Vooijs
CO-FOUNDER
