KD Honored KD "The Best of 2026"

A special tribute in this anniversary year

For Köln-Düsseldorfer, this honor holds special significance in the company’s 200th anniversary year. It recognizes the ongoing development of the culinary concepts aboard the KD, a priority for Managing Director Nina Luig. “The award underscores our commitment to combining hospitality, quality, and innovation. The creativity and dedication of our kitchen teams make it possible, day after day, to offer our guests authentic culinary experiences on the Rhine,” Luig explains.

Nina Luig has been at the helm of KD since 2023. The experienced hospitality professional from the five-star hotel industry took over as CEO with great passion and a commitment to carrying on the company’s long tradition with fresh ideas. As early as March 2026, Nina Luig was honored as “Best Female Executive of the Year” at the Gastro-Stern-Award, which traditionally kicks off INTERNORGA in Hamburg.

A special feature of the KD -Gastronomy: Each ship has its own dedicated kitchen team working in a fully equipped galley. Freshly prepared dishes are created there daily – inspired by current food trends, characterized by seasonality and regional partnerships, and with a growing focus on sustainable concepts.

The "THE BEST" Competition

For 14 years now, NetCologne, together with the competition’s organizers—DEHOGA North Rhine-Westphalia, the Aachen-Düren-Cologne Trade Association, and the Cologne District Craftsmen’s Association—and with the support of KölnBusiness, koeln.de, and Radio Köln, has been recognizing the diversity and strength of Cologne’s small and medium-sized businesses.

Between January 19 and March 31, residents of Cologne were able to nominate their favorite businesses in the trades, retail, and restaurant sectors.

Over 500 companies were nominated. After tallying all the votes and reviewing the evaluations by the respective expert juries, three companies were named the winners of DIE BESTEN 2026. They stand out for their ability to blend tradition with innovation and to blaze new trails without losing sight of their roots.

In addition to prize money of 1,000 euros, the winners each received a professional promotional video—to be shared on social media and to strengthen their personal brands. Alongside KD , the specialty store “Spielbrett” KD nominated in the Retail category, and “Sehbegleiter Bruckmann Augenoptik” in the Crafts category.