UKIYO

About Kim van den BongardLinkedin-in

I noticed from a very young age onwards that I had a passion for storytelling. To use my creativity and imagination without any limits. At first I wanted to become a film director and writer, but luckily I started to work in a restaurant from the age of 16. I discovered that I could use my storytelling and combine this with a dining experience. To make guests connect again with themselves and others, but to connect them with the beauty of food and beverages as well.

During my years at the Hotel Management School Maastricht, I focused on my goal. To give everyone a chance to escape reality for a moment. To relax and forget about all the stress and problems they are facing. To make the impossible possible and think outside of the box every day.

If I have sparked your curiosity, I am always open to meet new people to share stories with.

About Maria-Ioana NeicuLinkedin-in

From my earliest years, I held an unwavering vision: to cultivate a profound intercultural understanding, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and contribute meaningfully to my community’s betterment. With each deliberate step, I meticulously crafted my path. Before reaching 18, I had the incredible privilege of being the head organizer of the European Youth Parliament in Romania—an experience that proved to be a crucible of personal and professional growth, a clear proof of my commitment to fostering unity and harmony.

Born in Romania, I ventured beyond borders, embarked on my higher education journey in the Netherlands, and in an idyllic twist of fate, found myself working in the captivating environs of Aruba’s luxury hospitality landscape as my first internship. In the midst of this diverse world, I discovered my natural ability to embrace various societies and adapt to multicultural settings effortlessly. At this stage of my journey, brimming with enthusiasm, my next adventure awaits—the beginning of my managerial internship at the Bulgari Resort Dubai. A recent graduate, my curiosity is finely attuned to enterprises that are not merely ordinary but extraordinary companies that encourage innovation at their core and precisely reshape and redefine the essence of customer experience.

About Christian Brunnert

Hailing from the borderlands of Germany and the Netherlands, my upbringing seamlessly blends cultures, fostering a unique perspective that I channel into my pursuit of architecture. As an architecture student, my passion thrives not only in design but also in the symbiotic relationship between innovative technology and captivating spaces.

Guiding aspiring minds as a tutor at my university, I impart the art of design and the marvels of new technologies for form finding. This role is a conduit for my passion, allowing me to learn from my students as much as I teach them.

Stepping beyond the drawing board, I’ve ventured onto construction sites, assuming the role of a coordinator. This experience has bestowed upon me the wisdom of bridging the gap between design dreams and the practical realm of construction.

My aspiration lies in crafting spaces that transcend the ordinary – environments that stir emotions, stimulate thought, and resonate with the essence of those who inhabit them. As a fresh graduate, my compass points toward dynamic enterprises, where I can fuse my insights from the
classroom, the site, and the borderlands to propel innovative space creation.

With a heart fueled by cross-border influences, a mind ignited by technology, and a mission to inspire through inventive architecture, I seek to craft spaces that not only excite but also genuinely serve the people within them.

About Desislava Paneva