Night of the Stars & ahgz Star Awards

Interview with Thomas Meyer

ALEXANDRA GORSCHE: Mr. Meyer, what does the Night of the Stars mean for the industry?
THOMAS MEYER: I think you can see it very clearly here: everyone is here. This year there are 275 star chefs—including chefs from South Tyrol, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. An impressive number of three-star chefs are also represented.

What the Night of the Stars means for the industry is, above all, the ranking on neutral ground. The star chefs themselves create this ranking. They evaluate the relevance of the individual restaurant guides, and we simply evaluate these assessments. The end result is a ranking that is defined by the industry itself – it shows how each restaurant is positioned across all relevant guides. This provides guidance, and that is exactly what we are comfortable with. This is quality journalism, which is what we stand for.

How do you manage to get a record number of Michelin-starred chefs to actually attend?
Honestly, through hard work—and through exceptional partners. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is an impressive location. “Star meets star”—it's almost romantic. At the same time, we have a culinary partner in the Burghotel Staufeneck that delivers outstanding results. We serve eleven courses for over 1,000 people in a museum without classic event logistics. I believe there is great appreciation for this achievement. In addition to the ranking itself, it is also this recognition for the overall package that the industry feels and honors.

What makes the ahgz Star Award so special?
The special thing is clearly the B2B approach. We organize this event for our industry – not for the end consumer. Outside the industry, we may not be so well known, but within the hospitality world, we are firmly established. Our task is to create transparency and objectivity. We bring together all the relevant guides – based on the chefs' own assessments. That is the essence of our work. And that is also our claim as a B2B medium: to provide guidance and classify quality.

What was your personal highlight of the awards ceremony?
I had goosebumps all over my body. We bear an enormous responsibility. And it's something special to feel the appreciation of the industry on such an evening – not only for the ranking, but also for the entire team behind the scenes. So many people work to make this event possible. We get to organize this for our industry—and that fills us with pride.

The network across national borders is also particularly important. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, South Tyrol—we are all here together. Many have learned from each other. On stage, it was emphasized how strongly networks shape careers. Numerous chefs in the hall completed their training with those who are now at the top.

It is a class reunion of top gastronomy – and we are privileged to make this meeting possible every two years. That makes us proud. And I can only repeat: Night of the Stars gives you goosebumps all over your body.

About Thomas Meyer

Thomas Meyer has been responsible for the commercial and editorial management of DFV Hotel- und Gastromedien within the dfv media group since 2024. In this role, he is responsible, among other things, for the strategic direction of ahgz – Allgemeine Hotel- und Gastronomie-Zeitung – as the leading B2B medium for the hospitality industry in German-speaking countries. His focus is on quality journalism, industry networking, and the further development of key specialist formats such as the ahgz Star Awards and the German Hotel Congress.