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Hospitality UPGRADE Award

The Hospitality UPGRADE Award is an award dedicated to start-ups from all over Europe which provide innovative and forward-thinking solutions contributing to the entire value chain, from hotel development to hotel operations:

✅ for process optimization
✅ for providing improved basis for decision-making
✅ for increased efficiency and conservation of resources
✅ for enhanced services and an elevated guest experience

Start-ups are eligible to take part, which were founded within the past five years that can demonstrate a scalable business model, and whose market activities are innovative and growth orientated.

Change will not happen without the courage, the visions and the perseverance of young people who are shaping the future. The ongoing transformation is affecting all sectors, and ours is no exception. This is where we want to make a difference with the prize that we are offering.

Hospitality UPGRADE Award 2024

The next Hospitality UPGRADE Award will be presented on 9 October 2024 at the 196+ forum Munich for the 8th time in collaboration with Hospitality Pioneers.

The prize will be awarded to the winner of the start-up pitch on the same day by a jury of hotel experts. Five finalists have the opportunity to pitch to an expert jury and to stakeholders from the hotel and property industry. An advisory board nominates in September up to five start-ups from among all applicants.

All finalists will be able to:

  • attend the entire programme, including the gala evening;
  • participate in a speed dating session attended by ten experts from the hotel and property industry;
  • benefit from a place in the exhibitor area on 9 October 2024;
  • to network with industry representatives in the Seehaus restaurant in Munich’s English Garden on the evening before, on 8 October;
  • Hospitality Pioneers will publish podcasts with all five finalists.

The winner of the “Hospitality UPGRADE Award”:

  • will be given a one-year membership of the Arbeitskreis Hotelimmobilien, providing access to 400 market players;
  • will receive an invitation to attend next year’s 196+ forum Munich 2025, including the gala dinner and a stand in the exhibitor area;
  • will receive an invitation to attend a 196+ roundtable event of their choice;
  • will be able to attend the 196+ forum Vienna free of charge.

Want to know more? Contact us 

Advisory board 2024:

Jannik De Winter, PT1
Madlen Dietrich, Werner-von-Siemens Centre
Petra Emmerlich, Scandic Hotels
Wolfgang Gattringer, Fairmas
Harro Grimmer, ProjektPuls
Olga Heuser, DialogShift
Joe Mezger, GlobalPoints Network
Nik Riesmeier, Founders Foundation
Henning Schneekloth-Plöger, Lindner Hotels
Tobias Siegel, PKF hospitality group
Anika Tammling, Union Investment Real Estate
Patrick Theis, Drees & Sommer
Holger Tielesch, Gira
Hilda K. R. Weit, little BIG hotels

The Hospitality UPGRADE Award 2024 is powered by GIRA.

Want to know more about the Hospitality UPGRADE Award 2024? Contact Stephanie Wende at stephanie.wende@196plus.com 

Winner 2024

Congratulations to workay for winning the Hospitality UPGRADE Award 2024!

Worcay: The matching platform that connects travel communities with companies that are looking for staff – perfect for anyone who wants to travel cheaply and is looking for a temporary job.

The prize was awarded together with Hospitality Pioneers and in cooperation with GIRA.

 

Other finalists in alphabetical order

Delicious Data: Uses AI and automation to reduce food waste in the food sector, in order thus to improve sustainability in the F&B and catering industry.

Fahrrad-Hotels: The platform offers suitable accommodation, route planners and cool extras for cycle tours in Europe, making it easier for leisure cyclists to plan their trips.

turn of beauty: What about sustainable showering? Using smart dosing devices and natural shower balls for an environmental-friendly experience - and without any microplastics.

Whispers: With an AI co-pilot and data-based insights for smarter hotel controlling that enables decisions to be taken to achieve better results.

This is what two of the members of the advisory board say about the finalists:

Petra Emmerlich, Scandic Hotels: “It is impressive to see how innovatively AI and sustainability have been thought through and developed in the projects that were submitted. This is a remarkable demonstration that it is possible to successfully combine being environmentally friendly and making business models successful.”

Jannik De Winter, PT1: “In addition to many start-ups which are addressing sustainability and the potential for optimisation in the operation of a hotel, we also saw interesting business ideas that dealt with the real estate properties themselves. Among other things, this involved energy supply and consumption, a topic that is already attracting a great deal of attention in the residential property sector and is now also becoming more and more relevant for commercial real estate properties.”

All the finalists will get to attend the entire 196+ forum Munich programme, including the gala evening and they will also benefit from a place in the exhibitor area. The PKF hospitality group will be inviting all the finalists to network with industry representatives in the Seehaus restaurant in Munich on the evening before, on 8 October. In addition, a speed dating event with ten experts from the hotel and property industry will be arranged and Hospitality Pioneers will publish podcasts with all five finalists.