Built From Vision. Grounded in Operations.

Wilchester was created with the ambition to build a distinctive hospitality company around memorable destinations, strong operations, premium experiences and long-term guest relationships.

The company is being developed as more than a traditional hotel group. Wilchester brings together hotels, restaurants, destination experiences, maritime travel, premium beverages and future guest loyalty under one identity.

The Origin of Wilchester

A Name With Personal Meaning

Wilchester was not selected from a list of possible company names.

Before Wilchester Hotels was built as a business vision, founder Willy Van Wilchester had already adopted Wilchester as his own name.

The name therefore represents more than a commercial label. It reflects a personal commitment to building something lasting — a hospitality house with identity, ambition and a long-term legacy.

The hotel strategy, visual identity, maritime vision, beverage concepts and connected hospitality model were conceived and developed by Willy Van Wilchester.

“Wilchester is not simply a company I created. It is the name I chose to build my future around.”
— Willy Van Wilchester

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to create hospitality experiences that guests remember, return to and connect with across multiple destinations and products. We believe the strongest hospitality brands are not built through rooms alone. They are built through people, atmosphere, food, experiences, trust and the desire to return.

Our Mission

To acquire, operate and develop distinctive hospitality businesses while preserving their local identity and connecting them through the Wilchester brand.

Our Long-Term Ambition

To build an internationally recognised Nordic hospitality and lifestyle platform with a foundation in hotels and food and beverage, strengthened by maritime travel, premium consumer products and long-term guest loyalty.

Our Values

Responsibility

We take ownership of our commitments, our operations and the guest experience.

Distinctiveness

We believe hotels and destinations should have identity, character and a story worth remembering.

Hospitality

Every decision ultimately affects a guest, an employee, a partner or a local community.

Long-Term Thinking

We aim to build assets, brands and relationships that create value over many years.

Partnership

Strong hospitality companies are built through trusted relationships and complementary expertise.

Commercial Discipline

A strong vision must be supported by operational control, measurable performance and responsible growth.

People

Leadership

Willy Van Wilchester

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

willyvan@wilchester.com

Willy Van Wilchester is the founder, creator and principal driving force behind the Wilchester brand and hospitality vision.

His professional background includes approximately ten years in transport and logistics, including responsibility for sensitive pharmaceutical deliveries, temperature-controlled distribution, operational quality, driver training and compliance.

This experience shaped a leadership philosophy built around structure, reliability, responsibility and the understanding that every service has a person waiting at the other end.

Willy leads Wilchester’s overall strategy, brand architecture, hotel opportunity sourcing, investor dialogue, maritime vision and the development of the Wilchester beverage portfolio.

Yasar Arfat

Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer

yasararfat@gmail.com

Yasar Arfat is Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of Wilchester, with a primary focus on food, beverage and operational hospitality.

He leads the day-to-day development of Bølgen Kro and contributes direct experience in restaurant operations, menu development, events, guest service, local marketing and commercial growth.

His operational focus provides Wilchester with practical insight into the daily realities of hospitality, including staffing, quality, customer relationships and repeat business.

Partner

Strategic Partner

Kevin von Makinborg

Strategic Partner

Founder & CEO, Makinborg Capital

Kevin von Makinborg is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Makinborg Capital.

He leads a team with more than 20 years of combined experience across venture capital, real estate and mergers and acquisitions.

Kevin has been involved in multiple real estate transactions from an early stage of his career and is building Makinborg Capital with significant international ambitions.

As Strategic Partner to Wilchester, he contributes an external financial perspective, strategic dialogue and commercial insight connected to investment, property transactions and long-term growth.