TORONTO – Kostuch Media Ltd. (KML) has announced the winners of its annual Top 30-Under-30 awards program for 2025. The winners will be celebrated on May 27, 2025 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto. Click here to order tickets.
The annual recognition program celebrates and salutes the foodservice-and-hospitality industry’s top young professionals ― both in front of the house and back of the house as well as in various segments of the industry ― in the process of fostering and inspiring tomorrow’s hospitality leaders. Being chosen as a Top-30-under-30 winner helps create a sense of pride and self-esteem for young professionals while, at the same time, highlights exemplary role models for those who choose to pursue a career in the foodservice-and-hospitality industry.
“Once again, this year’s Top 30-under-30 winners exemplify commitment, innovation, and an unwavering passion for service,” says Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Kostuch Media’s Foodservice and Hospitality and Hotelier magazines, and custodian of the program. “Their unique strengths lie not only in their ability to adapt to changing landscapes but also in their commitment to create memorable experiences that elevate the hospitality industry. On behalf of the entire KML team, we congratulate the Class of 2025, and celebrate each and every one of them.”
The Top-30-under-30 winners (see list below) represent a cross-section of the industry including restaurants, hotels, entrepreneurs, tourism-related businesses and suppliers. The idea for the program was developed by Bruce McAdams, professor at the University of Guelph, and launched in 2006 by the Ontario Hostelry Institute, under the guidance of J. Charles Grieco to recognize the hospitality industry’s young leaders. Sadly, Grieco passed away in 2019, at which time KML assumed stewardship of the recognition program and quickly expanded its reach nationally.
This year’s KML Top-30-Under-30 honourees are:
- Alana Van Gerven, Ontario – Keg Restaurants
- Aleem Jiwani, Ontario/Winnipeg – Alamo Management
- Alessandra Bustamante, Ontario – The Dorset & La Plume (Oliver & Bonacini)
- Alex Owens, Ontario – University of Guelph
- Alexis Bragagnolo, Ontario – Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto
- Ashley Lee, British Columbia – JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Hotel
- Carson Corbeil, Ontario – The Harbour Sixty
- Christopher Smith, Ontario – Hyatt Place Ottawa West
- Corina Fleet, Ontario – The Other Bird
- Daniel Calabrese, Ontario – Omni King Edward Hotel
- Daniel Fung, Ontario – Cushman & Wakefield
- David Solis, Ontario – Manita – Rosedale
- Emeline Boul, Ontario – Silver Hotel Group – Hotel Victoria
- Erica Braunstein, Ontario – Lay Low Café
- Gagan Singh, Ontario – Oliver & Bonacini
- Jason Relich, Ontario – Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport
- Joseph Johnson, British Columbia – JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, The Douglas
- Julia Pitcher, Ontario – Planeterra
- Karly Samantha Ready, Ontario – The Gate Restaurant
- Kathleen Martin, Ontario – The Westin Harbour Castle Hotel
- Keanu Francisco, Ontario – MIMI Chinese / Sunny’s Chinese
- Marco Robineault, British Columbia – Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
- Maxim Béland, Quebec – Bar Les Cousins
- Mohammed Noorullah, Ontario – Fairmont Royal York
- Navdeep Singh, Ontario – Hyatt Place Hyatt House Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre
- Queeny Astudillo, Ontario – Westin Harbour Castle Hotel
- Rishika Bhansali, Ontario – Pigeon Cafe & Bar + Pigeon Espresso Bar + Yaffa
- Sara Lee, Ontario – Redberry – Jersey Mike’s Canada
- Sophie Crowder, Ontario – One Fine Food
- Zaman Ishaad, Ontario – AV-CANADA
Individuals chosen as winners are judged by an adjudication committee that includes previous winners as well as industry leaders representing various segments of the industry. Candidates are graded in eight different categories including: Education and Learning; References, Awards & Recognition; Work Experience; Career Trajectory; Industry Leadership; Business Leadership; Developer of People; Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Winners must also submit a short video highlighting why they’ve chosen hospitality as their field of interest and what makes them a noteworthy candidate.
Helping KML to determine each year’s winners is an adjudication committee comprised of Bruce McAdams, graduate program co-ordinator, School of Hospitality & Tourism, University of Guelph; Jane Gibson, national account manager, Arterra Wines; Keith Müller, Dean of the School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, and Institute of Food Processing Technology, Conestoga College; Amber Douel, director of Operations, Delta Hotels by Marriott; Brooke Gregoire, Hospitality Services, University of Guelph; Emily Robinson, project manager, CANZA; Joel Rivera, senior Human Resources consultant, JNR Consulting; Rebecca Gordon, Destination Development officer, Culinary Tourism Alliance; Vish Mayekar, chef, Pepino’s; Kevin Barrington, manager, Talent & Culture – North & Central America, Fairmont Hotels; Jeroen Vanderwolf, Operations director Vancouver and Whistler, Keg Restaurants Ltd.; Hani Roustom, CEO, Friday Harbour; Jeremiah Tomas, general manager, The Pine; Adam Fikis, head of People & Culture, Dymon Group; Kevin Collins, executive assistant manager, director of Rooms, Fairmont Royal York; Nils Schabert, founder, Nils Schabert Consulting; and Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher, Kostuch Media Ltd.
