HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2024: THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
On Thursday November 28, the 24ᵉ edition of the industry's must-attend Hospitality Awards took place at the Intercontinental Paris le Grand. |
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HOSPITALITY AWARDS 2024: THE SPOTLIGHT ON HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION
On Thursday November 28, the 24ᵉ edition of the industry's must-attend Hospitality Awards took place at the Intercontinental Paris le Grand. |
Category: Worldwide - Exclusive experiences
- Rewards - Calendar
Article written by Julie Frontali on 2024-12-02
 Vanguélis Panayotis, CEO MKG Consulting & Hospitality ON
Photo credit © Julie Frontali Excellence and innovation meet, hospitality reveals itself every day
Under the magnificent dome of the Opéra lounge, more than 400 of the world's hospitality leaders gathered. Vanguélis Panayotis, CEO MKG Consulting & Hospitality ON, and Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, opened the evening with a reminder of the celebratory spirit of the event, and its commitment to promoting constant advances in the hospitality industry, whether in human resources, diversity, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, marketing or communication...
Mr. Chhatwal emphasized the extent to which our industry affects lives - not only those of our customers, but also, and more importantly, those of our employees and the community: “The spotlight is often on the experiences we create for others, while the extraordinary efforts behind the scenes go unnoticed. Tonight, that changes. We are shining the spotlight on you, the individuals, teams and organizations who define what it means to serve with passion, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
He went on to discuss the many challenges the sector has faced and will continue to face in the future: conflict, economic uncertainty, the urgency of climate change, changing consumer behavior, technological advances...: “These challenges drive us to adapt, innovate and excel. The initiatives selected for these Hospitality Awards demonstrate the sector's formidable ability to rise to any challenge and turn every obstacle into an opportunity.”
Mr. Chhatwal also pointed out that the Hospitality Awards were also a celebration of excellence: “The most important thing now is to recognize the human spirit. As we celebrate these achievements, let's not forget the heart of hospitality. These are the heroes. These are the people who serve every hour of every day. They are the chefs, the maids, the concierges, the managers, the receptionists... These are the unsung heroes who make hospitality a way of life, not just a job. However, let's also recognize the reality that hospitality isn't always easy,” and point out that our industry demands long hours, patience and empathy... And yet, he stresses, “we persevere, driven by the shared conviction that creating joy and comfort for others is a goal worth pursuing” before concluding: “Let's reaffirm our commitment to collaboration, innovation and inclusion. Let's continue to invest in our people, empower our teams and champion initiatives that make the hospitality industry more sustainable and resilient.”
Marina Ferrari, Minister Delegate for the Tourism Economy, opened the ceremony with her inspiring speech on the hospitality sector as an economic and social catalyst. She highlighted the role of people, the challenges facing the sector, the country's tangible and intangible heritage, and the objectives she wishes to set in place for a tourism that is constantly evolving.
Ten trophies for outstanding initiatives
During the evening, the master of ceremonies, Genie Godula, a journalist with France 24, orchestrated the presentation of ten trophies. With the help of boxes handed out at the start of the evening, the public was able to actively participate in the voting, rewarding the most significant initiatives in the sector.
Discover the ten categories and their winners below:
- Best innovative talent management initiative: B&B Hotels
- Best innovative environmental protection initiative: Sunlife
- Best innovative social responsibility initiative: Minor Hotels
- Best marketing initiative: Accor
- Best destination marketing campaign: Institut Suédois Paris. This campaign, highlighting the confusion between Sweden and Switzerland, particularly caught the attention of guests, with its humor and creativity. You can find it on YouTube: “Sweden (not Switzerland)”.
- Best media campaign: Accor
- Best technological operation support innovation: Korner
- Best innovation guest experience: Minor Hotels
- Best brand concept innovation: L'Escale Royale
- Best F&B experience innovation: Minor Hotels
Hospitality Awards: a show in itself
From start to finish, guests were treated to an evening of dance performances, maintaining a lively, festive atmosphere. Each winner was presented with a trophy emblazoned with the wings of the Hospitality Awards logo, a metaphor for the flight the sector is taking day by day.
The ceremony continued in the Salon Berlioz, where all the guests gathered for cocktails. Sushi, oysters, cold meats, a chocolate fountain and fruit brochettes rounded off the evening on a gourmet note, where everyone could meet, chat and enjoy this moment of celebration.
A concentration of leaders
Minor Hotels, Accor, Sunlife, B&B and many others, the presence of these internationally recognized groups confirmed the Hospitality Awards' major position as the industry's key event for “celebrating excellence and innovation in the hotel industry”. The evening was a reminder of the extent to which hospitality is a world of sharing and innovation, driven by the ambitious players who bring it to life.
 Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of IHCL, outlined the challenges and strengths of our industry
Photo credit © Julie Frontali
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