Alderman Touria Meliani presents the Amsterdam Business Culture Award 2025 to ZO! Gospel Choir during Amsterdam Business Inspiration

Amsterdam, 3 December 2025 – Corendon Hotels & Resorts and MeerBusiness Amsterdam organized the new edition of Amsterdam Business Inspiration 2025 on 2 December at The College Hotel Amsterdam, Autograph Collection. During this end-of-year event, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and representatives from the cultural sector came together.
The day began with the Amsterdam Business Inspiration Fair, providing space for conversations and knowledge sharing. During the event, the Amsterdam Business Culture Award 2025 was presented to ZO! Gospel Choir by Alderman Touria Meliani (Arts & Culture, City of Amsterdam). The program was officially opened by Alderman Sofyan Mbarki, who emphasized in his speech the crucial role of entrepreneurship, innovation, and cultural resilience in Amsterdam.

Jury with four leading figures
This year’s jury consisted of four prominent representatives from the cultural and business sectors:

• Gunay Uslu (CEO Corendon and former State Secretary for Culture & Media)
• Janneke van der Wijk (Directorate member, Rijksmuseum)
• Eric Traa (Rabobank)
• Vera Schoffelen (Director, SBK Kunstuitleen, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year)

Together, they represent the power of culture, entrepreneurship and social impact. For the 2025 edition, the jury placed a special emphasis on the theme of mental resilience – as a source of inspiration, innovation and connection within society.

Inspiration, dialogue and connection
During Amsterdam Business Inspiration, Gunay Uslu and Janneke van der Wijk held a conversation about the role of cultural institutions, innovative leadership and the future of cultural entrepreneurship. Jury members Eric Traa and Vera Schoffelen shared their insights on the remarkable qualities of the nominees and the societal value of culture within Amsterdam’s entrepreneurial landscape, after which the jury report was presented and the winner was announced.

Musical finale
After the award ceremony, the winning ZO! Gospel Choir performed, bringing the event to a festive close.

“Voices being heard – that is what ZO! Gospel Choir stands for. Winning the Amsterdam Business Culture Award affirms our mission to give a rightful stage to voices that too often go unheard. We are proud to make talent shine in our city and beyond, and grateful for this special recognition.”
— Gordon Cruden & Donna Lewis

For more information, visit www.thecollegehotel.com and www.amsterdam.meerbusiness.nl