Ecoqanat

About Ries Anderson

Ries Anderson is a 21-year-old Belgian-Australian business student at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium.

Recently, Ries was honoured as the Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 in Belgium for his successful venture, Flandrien Chocolate, which he founded in late 2023. Remarkably, he made the company profitable at record speed, recovering the initial investments within four months.

For Ries, sustainability and hospitality go hand in hand. He gained valuable experience working full-time at his family’s boutique hotel, the Flandrien Hotel, where he served as a relationship manager and was responsible for the hotel shop. Here, he honed his storytelling skills and realised that heritage and legacy are the foundations of every successful enterprise.
At the Flandrien Hotel, he oversaw the implementation of solar installations aswell as power and water-saving initiatives. As part of his studies, he recently successfully completed a four-month internship at Distributed Power Africa, a pan-African solar power company headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe. Ries contributed to the market expansion team there, facilitating marketing opportunities and identifying key potential partners.

In addition to being a business innovator, Ries is an active participant in international student congresses and competitions. Last year, he distinguished himself at the Youth United Nations Congress, winning the overall diplomacy prize and earning the title of Global Change Maker. This September, Ries and his team will compete in the Global Sustainable Hospitality Challenge finals in Dubai.

Ries is fluent in German, English and Dutch and loves nothing more than exploring the world on his bicycle.

About Joachim Chamerski

Joachim Chamerski is a third-year BA student in International Tourism and Leisure with a passion for innovation and sustainability in the travel industry. With a strong foundation in sales, business development, and sustainable tourism, he has combined academic excellence with hands-on experiences.
“I believe that innovation and forward-thinking are essential for achieving sustainability in hospitality. We need to think outside the box, ensuring that sustainability enhances the guest experience rather than detracting from it. In my projects, I focus on developing eco-friendly business models that balance luxury and sustainability, aiming to reduce environmental impact while providing exceptional guest services.
Combining a guest-centered approach with a solid business perspective, I create innovative, cost-effective solutions. My extensive travels and experiences living in diverse cultures have enriched my perspective, allowing me to bring a unique, multi-cultural approach to my work.”

Inspired by his academic research and practical experiences, he aims to implement innovative solutions that align with global sustainability goals, merging creative ideas with practical applications. He is eager to share his insights, collaborate with industry leaders, and contribute to transformative projects that promote sustainable growth in the hospitality industry.

About Wolf Vierbergen

Wolf Vierbergen from Belgium holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering electromechanics, bringing technical expertise and practical experience to the Ecoqanat team. Alongside his technical skills, he has a passion for hospitality, which led him to work at the beautiful Hilton Hotel in Antwerp. There, he gained firsthand insights into the operational challenges of the hospitality sector.
Motivated by a commitment to sustainability and efficiency, Wolf and his team are working on an innovative project to revolutionize HVAC systems in the hospitality industry. Inspired by ancient Arabian qanats, they adapted this concept to create a modern, eco-friendly solution for cooling air using materials that would normally go to waste. This project aims to reduce energy consumption and enhance environmental sustainability, addressing the urgent need for greener practices in the hospitality sector.