About the Hotel Innovation Award

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The annual industry Award "Hotel Innovation Award" presents outstanding operational concepts and strategies of hotel groups, hotel brands and/or individual hotels in Europe – independent of opening or implementation date. Each year, the award focuses on an inspiring topic, like HR in 2022, ESG in 2023 and Technology in 2024.

Hotel groups, hotel brands or hotels can submit either a universal technological concept, which describes several or all technologies implemented in their property/ies, OR one particular technology solution.

Out of all applications, an independent jury nominates up to ten participants and shortlists three finalists, which are presented every year at 196+ forum Vienna. The prize goes to a hotel group, hotel brand or hotel which stands out from among its competitors in terms of game changing innovativeness and impact for stakeholders.

The winner is announced during the Festive Dinner of 196+ forum Vienna on 25 November 2024.

Want to know more? Download here the Application information for the Hotel Innovation Award 2024 or contact awards@196plus.com.

Hotel Innovation Award Winner 2023

Congratulations to Kulturhotellet Højhuset, Denmark, for winning the Hotel Innovation Award 2023!

Massive congratulations to last year's winner Kulturhotellet Højhuset - where culture, art, and community collide and provide the true spirit of hospitality! Built in 1961 as a folk high school and revitalized as a cultural hotel with organic farming, culture house, restaurant and several social activities, Højhuset is an iconic building and a landmark in the city of Herning. The Kulturhotellet promotes a space of community while preserving a piece of local cultural heritage. Congratulations to our winner for their outstanding concept!

Other finalists in alphabetical order:

magdas HOTEL Vienna, Austria, a former house for priests converted from the 1960s into a climate-friendly hotel, integrating and recycling many existing items into the current interior design. Many volunteers and artists contributed their talents and skills to the renovation. magdas HOTEL is part of Caritas Vienna's Social Business group and has trained and integrated over 80 people with refugee background.

Valamar Amicor Green Resort Hvar, Croatia, a Travelife Gold certified hotel for Accommodation Sustainability, the family-friendly eco resort has been built according to the DGNB Green Building Standards. With smart home technology, guests can track their energy and water consumption and their carbon footprint, while young guests can learn about recycling, waste separation and plant cultivation through exciting eco-workshops.

Congratulations to Scandic Hotels for receiving this year’s Special Achievement Award by being a sustainability pioneer in the hospitality industry!

Scandic Hotels: Sustainability is a part of our DNA and a natural part of what we do every day at every hotel. We have a particular strong focus on MEET, EAT & SLEEP: taking our social responsibility and doing all we can to be the most inclusive company for everyone; leading the way in offering food and beverages with less impact; and driving transformation for circular and sustainable hotel room experiences.

Jury Members 2023

Thank you also to our jury for your dedication and expertise in selecting our nominees:

Previous Winners

Congratulations to Seminaris Hotels for winning the Hotel Innovation Award 2022!

The hotel group particularly impressed the jury with its New Work concept! Seminaris Hotels have successfully established a cross-departmental, cross-site and cross-hierarchical transformation team, the so-called Trafo Team, which is shaping the cultural change from within. This internal change led to a realignment of Seminaris' own product. Seminaris has recognized the changing world of work and its disruptive potential for its own business model, as it has become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain skilled employees over the long term. That's why Seminaris is focusing on change from within the workforce. They demonstrate that New Work is possible in the hotel industry. "We make people grow" is not only a slogan, they live by it!

Other finalists in alphabetical order:

Hilton Hotels Austria, which has developed a concept to open up new markets and find talent and future potential for the hotel industry. Accordingly, Hilton is recruiting targeted team members of older ages and posting jobs on websites specifically for refugees. Broadening the range of candidates ensures recruiting success and a more diverse work environment. Hilton also works with "Hilfswerk" and other institutions that support the integration of apprentices into the labor market.

MHP Hotel AG - as a further finalist - together with the IST University of Management, Düsseldorf, has set up a dual course of study in which young talents start a distant learning program at the University and complete an internship in three different hotels or brands in three different countries to graduate with a bachelor's degree in hotel management.

Want to know more about our Hotel Innovation Award Finalists? Follow this Link for the finalists Videos.