True hospitality lovers were awarded yesterday for their passion, commitment, and ability to deliver at the Hospitality Awards Competition. Here are the winners and finalists—congratulations to them and see you next year for the 25th edition of the Hospitality Awards on November 25, 2025, a milestone celebration!
24th Hospitality Awards
For 24 years, the Hospitality Awards have celebrated excellence and innovation in the hospitality industry. This evening, under the chairmanship of Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, the 24th edition honors outstanding individual establishments and professionals. Held at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand under the High Patronage of President Emmanuel Macron, the ceremony reveals the winners from 30 finalists, recognizing their exceptional contributions.
Vanguelis Panayotis, CEO, MKG Consulting & Hospitality ON, opened the ceremony: “It’s the 24th edition, so we feel blessed that next year will mark a quarter century. It’s a real pleasure and honor to celebrate our industry, showcasing how innovative and resilient it is. We aim for excellence, and today we celebrate the entire value chain, from investment and development to adaptability, to make this wonderful industry strong worldwide.”
Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL: “The Global Hospitality Awards celebrate visionaries and innovators, highlighting exemplary initiatives that inspire us all to aim higher. But let’s not forget the heart of hospitality: its people, the unsung heroes who make hospitality a way of life.”
Marina Ferrari, Minister for the Tourism Economy: “Tourism, especially the hotel industry, is a story of people.” She highlighted the importance of challenges like talent management, CSR, and sustainability, and stressed that: “France must continue to strengthen its attractiveness as the world’s leading tourist destination, building on the legacy of the Summer Olympics.”
Local Winners of the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards
Best F&B Experience Innovation
The award for Best F&B Experience Innovation was won by Spice Spoons, presented by Anantara, MINOR.
Best Health & Wellness Experience
The Best Health & Wellness Experience award was presented to Thalazur – Epigenetic Experience, developed by Thalazur, HIVELY.
Best Innovative Social Responsibility Action
The award for Best Innovative Social Responsibility Action was earned by the Sheraton Lisboa Social Impact Program, a project by Sheraton, MARRIOTT.
Best Innovative Sustainable Action
The Best Innovative Sustainable Action award was secured by Long Beach Mauritius, an initiative by SUNLIFE.
Best Opening Party
The award for Best Opening Party was awarded to Regent Hong Kong’s Grand Opening Gala, hosted by Regent, IHG.
Best Economic/Hostel (Re-)Opening
The award for Best Economic/Hostel (Re-)Opening was won by ibis Styles Copenhagen Orestad, presented by ibis Styles, ACCOR.
Best Upscale/Midscale Hotel (Re-)Opening
The Best Upscale/Midscale Hotel (Re-)Opening award was presented to Renaissance of Glamour – A 60s French Revival, a project by HILTON.
Best Luxury Hotel (Re-)Opening
The Best Luxury Hotel (Re-)Opening award was claimed by Convent Square Hotel Vignette Collection Reopening, presented by Vignette, IHG HOTELS & RESORTS.
Best Resort (Re-)Opening
The award for Best Resort (Re-)Opening was won by the Opening of Club Med Kiroro Peak in Japan, an initiative by CLUB MED.
Best Upscale/Midscale Hotel Manager of the Year
The title of Best Upscale/Midscale Hotel Manager of the Year was awarded to Tomasz Schweda, the General Manager of Mercure Krakow Old Town, ACCOR.
Best Luxury Hotel Manager of the Year
The award for Best Luxury Hotel Manager of the Year was given to Shilpa Rameja, General Manager representing Taj Hotels, IHCL.
Best Resort Manager of the Year
The Best Resort Manager of the Year award was presented to Benjamin Vallée, Executive General Manager, representing Unique Accommodation, PARC OMEGA.
Iconic Employee of the Year
The Iconic Employee of the Year award was earned by Chef Naren Thimmaiah Barianda, Executive Chef – Food Production, Vivanta Bengaluru Residency Road, who was recognized for his work at Karavalli, Taj Hotels, IHCL.
They represent the innovative spirit and dedication that define the hospitality industry, setting benchmarks for excellence and inspiring others to strive for greatness. The Hospitality Awards congratulate the winners for their achievements and contributions to advancing the industry.
Corporate Winners of the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards
This year’s finalists and winners showcase the remarkable creativity and commitment of hospitality leaders.
Best Innovative Talent Management Initiative
The B&B HOTELS ACADEMY, represented by Sophie Donabedian, Chief Sustainability Officer at B&B HOTELS, emerged as the winner in this category for its exceptional commitment to employee development and empowerment. The trophy for this achievement was proudly awarded by Giovanni Odaglia, Director at Les Roches Crans-Montana, recognizing the academy’s remarkable impact on fostering talent and driving innovation within the hospitality industry.
The other finalists in this category also demonstrated deep commitment:
- HappyCulture Académie – Honotel, represented by Hélène Gauthier, CEO, which focused on creating a supportive and innovative learning environment for hospitality professionals.
- The Korner Academy – Korner, represented by Cécile Rosset, Co-Founder and Brand & Development Director, which showcased a forward-thinking approach to training and career advancement.
Best Innovative Environmental Protection Initiative (Public Vote)
The accolade for Best Innovative Environmental Protection Initiative was awarded to Sunlife Marine Conservation – Sunlife, represented by Ali Abdool, Head of Sustainability.
This category showcased highly competitive and impactful projects, as reflected in the outstanding finalists:
The trophy was awarded by Mehdi Belaribi, Vice President Global Corporate Accounts Hospitality at Diversey, recognizing the innovative efforts to promote sustainability and environmental protection in the hospitality sector.
Best Innovative Social Responsibility Initiative (Public Vote)
The Best Innovative Social Responsibility Initiative was awarded to Land & Life Foundation – Minor Hotels, represented by Serge Foulon, Director of Operations France.
This category showcased impactful and transformative projects that address pressing social challenges. The exceptional finalists included:
The trophy was awarded by Karine Sebban-Benzazon, President of Vatel, in recognition of the inspiring work these initiatives have done to empower communities and drive meaningful change in society.
Charity: Naturevolution Honored by Hospitality ON
This year, Hospitality ON supported the Naturevolution association with a donation of €5,000. Naturevolution actively works to preserve the planet’s most threatened and little-known ecosystems through conservation, awareness, and research initiatives.
Cécile Astier, Director of Projects and Partnerships at Naturevolution, shared a few words: “Thank you Solikend to be our partners for so many years. Thank you as well to the Hospitality Awards to give us such a nice gift. We organize many eco-volunteering missions in Madagascar and Indonesia. It’s a way of visiting a country and travel on a different manner.”
This effort was made possible thanks to Solikend, an innovative platform that enables hotels to offer overnight stays with 100% of the proceeds going to charity.
Best Marketing Initiative
The award for Best Marketing Initiative was presented to The Wave x Paris 2024, an innovative campaign by Accor, represented by Antoine Dubois, Head of Marketing Communications, Guest Experience, and Loyalty Europe & North Africa.
The trophy was awarded by Odile Franc, Europe Distribution Director for France 24, in recognition of this outstanding achievement.
The other finalists in this category showcased equally impressive initiatives:
Best Destination Marketing Campaign (Public Vote)
The finalists in this category also demonstrated exceptional creativity and impact through their remarkable campaigns:
The trophy was awarded by Vanessa Heydorff, Managing Director France at Booking.com, honoring the innovation and effectiveness of these marketing initiatives in inspiring travelers worldwide.
Best Media Campaign (Public Vote)
The distinction for Best Media Campaign was awarded to La Glace x Paris 2024 – Accor, represented by Antoine Dubois, Head of Marketing Communications, Guest Experience, and Loyalty Europe & North Africa.
The finalists in this highly competitive category also showcased innovative and impactful campaigns:
The trophy was awarded by Marianne Le Clère Papalexis, President of Zolotas, recognizing the creativity and impact of these campaigns in advancing brand narratives and engaging global audiences.
Lifetime Achievement Award of the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards
The Lifetime Achievement Award at the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards has honored Señor Miguel Fluxà for his outstanding impact on the hotel industry. A visionary and founder of the Iberostar brand in 1983, he transformed the resort industry by combining innovation and quality.
Accepting the award on his behalf, Davy Van Acker, Business Development Director Benelux & France, remarked: “We call him Don Miguel, it just feels like one family. He has charisma and changes the world for many people. We all need a Don Miguel.”
Best Technological Operational Support Innovation
The Korner Management System, represented by Cécile Rosset, Co-Founder and Brand & Development Director at KORNER, secured the award for Best Technological Operational Support Innovation. The trophy was awarded by Cyril Aubertin, Head of BtoB at Adova, honoring its impact on advancing operational excellence in the hospitality industry.
The other finalists in this category also showcased significant advancements in technology and operational efficiency:
Best Innovative Guest Experience (Public Vote)
The award for Best Innovative Guest Experience was presented to The Vietage by Anantara Luxury Rail Journey , Minor Hotels, represented by Delphine Krips, Sales Director France.
This highly competitive category showcased exceptional guest experiences, highlighting the following outstanding finalists:
The trophy was awarded by Nicolas Besse – Vice President Procurement – CDS Groupe, recognizing these innovative initiatives that elevate guest experiences and set new industry standards.
Best Innovative Brand Concept
The award for Best Innovative Brand Concept was presented to L’Escale Royale, represented by Jérôme Dumont, Directeur Général, for its unique and visionary approach to redefining luxury hospitality.
The trophy was awarded by Mak Abdelkafi – Senior Sales Manager for Mews, in recognition of this exceptional achievement.
This category also featured fierce competition from two outstanding finalists:
Best Innovative F&B Experience (Public Vote)
The award for Best Innovative F&B Experience was presented to Canopy, A Tree Top Dining Experience – Minor Hotels, represented by Serge Foulon, Director of Operations France, for its unique and immersive dining concept set amidst the treetops.
Among the finalists, the following projects stood out for their creativity and execution:
- Ciro’s Deauville – Hotels Barrière, represented by Julien Huel, Managing Director, Hotels & Restaurants Groupe Barriere
- LOYA – IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited), represented by Taljinder Singh, Vice President & Brand Custodian
The trophy was awarded by Emmanuel de la Morinerie, Sales Director France for Lanson, celebrating these groundbreaking culinary experiences that elevate the art of hospitality and gastronomy.
Grand Prix Winner of the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards
The prestigious Grand Prix of the 24ᵉ Hospitality Awards was awarded to David Fattal, founder of Fattal Hotel Group, in recognition of his transformative impact on the hospitality industry. Under his leadership, the brand has expanded to nearly 300 hotels across 21 countries, exemplifying innovation, adaptability, and guest-centric excellence.
In his acceptance speech, David Fattal reflected on his journey, stating: “At 22, I fell in love with the hotel industry. Starting with two hotels in the Red Sea, we grew year after year.”
The evening concluded with Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, congratulating all the winners: “Congratulations to all the winners, we have seen a lot of innovation tonight!”
Young Talent Awards, Season 3 – Episode 2
Yesterday, we also had the pleasure of celebrating young talent during the Young Talent Awards, Season 3 – Episode 2.
This year, Accor, Grape Hospitality, Radisson Hotel Group, Booking.com, and IHG Hotels & Resorts presented hospitality students with five challenges aimed at shaping the future of the industry.
The Young Talent Awards, organized by Hospitality ON, is an international competition, and the prize rewards the students who have best responded to the challenges posed by companies in the sector.
The winners are :
- Accor’s Wellness Challenge: Congratulations to Rossi Lila Mai and Marie Allet for their “The Bubble Team” project, creating a sensory room for hotels, designed to enhance guest well-being. The finalists for this challenge were Chirag Patel, Le My Nguyen, and Koilia Paraskevi, for Team Impact and Sofiane Ladraa and Chen Xiangrui with Project Namek.
- Grape Hospitality’s Loyalty Program Challenge: Well done to Carl Hayek, Julie Labbe, and Vianney Hartmann for The Cyclists Project a gamified app that connects guests to hidden gems near hotels. The finalists were Ka Wai (Carrie) Chui and Yui Sun (Zach) Koo the Grapeful Elves, and Yelyzaveta Kirii, Enzo Louis, and Agatha Pacheco Faugeron team LEA.
- Radisson Hotel Group’s Future of Work Challenge: Congratulations to Jean-Auguste van Willigen and Emma van den Berg for their Studio HSML project, an AI tool that enhances both employee and guest experiences. Finalists include Maria Neves, Sebastian Zischg, Anaïs Hupont Team Symphony, and Ellen Grandmougin and Camille Valiquette Team Hotel Net.
Angélique de Courtivron for Booking.com and Mariana Machado for IHG were also on hand to encourage students to apply during season 4.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for their exceptional creativity and vision! These innovative projects demonstrate the future of hospitality and the pivotal role that young talent plays in shaping the industry.
The Hospitality Awards have been organized by Hospitality ON for twenty-four years and received over 200 applications from around the world this year. A true showcase for the diversity of the global hotel industry and reveal the most innovative approaches and concepts.
