Ambassador of the Excellence Contest First Maître D’ of Belgium 2027 by FETAM

A woman of the field serving the Horeca sector

A passionate entrepreneur, a committed figure within the Horeca industry, and today President of the Fédération HoReCa Wallonie, Nathalie Laurent authentically embodies the values of hard work, proximity, and dedication to defending the profession.

Originally trained as an educator, she has always maintained a close connection with the Horeca world, where she first began working as a student. In 1988, her professional journey truly took off when she joined La Régence, an iconic establishment in the Ath region. She started as a waitress before eventually becoming the manager of the venue.

In 1993, she took over the establishment as an independent business owner, soon joined by her husband. Together, they gradually built a true family business, which today employs around fifteen collaborators. Their son Maxime now oversees the operational management, illustrating the generational transmission that is so important to Nathalie Laurent.

A natural commitment to defending the profession

Convinced of the importance of collective action, Nathalie Laurent became involved early on with the Fédération HoReCa Hainaut, first as a member, then as administrator, vice-president, and eventually president.

Her commitment later expanded to the regional level, where she became President of the Fédération HoReCa Wallonie, passionately representing the interests of the sector before public authorities and institutional partners. She also serves within Joint Committee 302, where fundamental issues affecting Horeca professionals are discussed.

This dual responsibility reflects her constant determination to defend a sector she knows from the inside, with both clarity and pragmatism.

A vision rooted in proximity and humanity

What truly defines Nathalie Laurent is her strong connection to the realities of the field.

As a restaurateur, employer, and entrepreneur, she understands the daily challenges faced by professionals: staff management, evolving customer expectations, administrative constraints, economic pressure, and labour shortages.

For her, Horeca goes far beyond a simple economic activity.

“Behind every establishment, there are women, men, families, life stories, and a shared passion for hospitality and service.”

She advocates for an inclusive vision of a sector enriched by its diversity: cafés, restaurants, hotels, brasseries, fritteries, and family-run establishments all contribute to the economic and social fabric of Belgium.

A committed ambassador for excellence

As FETAM Ambassador 2027, Nathalie Laurent wishes to highlight the dining room professions, excellence in service, and the expertise that make Belgian hospitality so exceptional.

Her career demonstrates that excellence and proximity can go hand in hand, and that collective commitment remains an essential driving force for the evolution of the profession.

Through her experience and profound understanding of the field, Nathalie Laurent fully embodies the values promoted by FETAM: professionalism, transmission of knowledge, passion, and excellence.