Ákos Bankó (Budapest, November 26, 1975 –) is a Hungarian entrepreneur – married, father of two, and a key figure in the Hungarian hospitality industry, who has achieved significant success in event gastronomy and the operation of catering establishments.
He began his professional career as a teenager, working in the family business, which was among the first in Hungary to offer Eastern dishes, including gyros. Ákos is one of the first Hungarian gyros masters. Later, he completed his military service as a staff squad leader, eventually rising to the rank of training platoon sergeant. Afterward, he joined Lalibela Kft., where he was involved in organizing events and providing catering services.
At the end of the 1990s, he started his own business, initially opening two small catering venues, then expanding into outdoor and off-site events. His company, serving 80–100 events annually, quickly gained popularity, enabling him to appear at the country’s largest festivals and events, such as the Sziget Festival, Balaton Sound, VOLT Festival, EFOTT, and the Tata Water, Music, and Flower Festival.
His catering activities extended to providing full-scale services for large events, such as the Kecskemét Airshow, where he organized catering for 220,000 attendees, as well as the major concerts at Puskás Ferenc Stadium (Metallica, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd), where he ensured full hospitality services.
From 2002, he operated the Gödör Club unit for ten years. In parallel, he opened other significant venues, including Silenus Pub and the popular nightlife spot Instant. By 2013, he was an owner or co-owner of more than thirty hospitality units. Thanks to continuous development, an increasing focus was placed on high-capacity catering establishments, restaurant chains, and tourism-related services.
Together with a friend, he launched the development of his own branded beverages, including Forrás pálinka, Magamnak Főztem, Brebis, Bankó beer, and Búzavirág Gin. His business expanded internationally, taking part in the establishment and operation of venues in Germany, Spain, the United States (Hollywood), and Austria (Vienna).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his group of companies continued to grow, and today operates more than 60 businesses, employing over 1,500 people.
Since then, every year he has pledged: “We won’t open any more businesses!” – but since 2014, he has not managed to keep that promise even once.