European Hotel Awards 2025: Vilnius Hosts a Landmark Celebration of European Hospitality
Vilnius emerged as the European capital of hospitality for one remarkable evening as the Grand Hotel Vilnius – Curio Collection by Hilton hosted the European Hotel Awards 2025.
The event brought together leading figures from fifteen countries, honoring hotels, innovators, and industry professionals shaping the future of European hospitality.
Chaired by Michel Stalport and directed by Jérôme Chapman, the ceremony highlighted the essential role of excellence, creativity, and service culture in defining Europe’s hospitality identity.
The gathering welcomed an exceptional audience of presidents, vice-presidents, managing directors, general managers, owners, architects, designers, and institutional representatives, all united by a shared commitment to the highest standards of the profession.
Notable Guests and Institutional Representatives
The official opening welcomed several Lithuanian and international institutions whose presence underscored the significance of this 2025 edition.
Lithuanian Institutions
Simona Bieliūnė, Vice-Mayor of Vilnius
Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, CEO, Go Vilnius
Vilma Daubarienė, Head of Tourism Department
Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, Head of Communication Department
Olga Goncarova, General Manager, Lithuania Travel
LHRA / LVRA
Evalda Šiškauskienė, President, Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association (LHRA)
Eglė Lizaitytė, CEO
Zinaida Karpičienė, Board Member
Andrius Staniukėnas, Board Member
Lidija Bajarūnienė, Vice-President, European Travel Commission (Tourism and Resort Development Division), representing the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania.
European Hotel Awards Organization
Jérôme Chapman, Permanent President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
European Hotel Awards – Honorary Committee 2025
Michel Stalport, Honorary President of the Selection Committee
Honorary Members: Stefano Brancato, Thierry Lavalley, Albert Rouwendal, Miguel Maugi Santos (Portugal)
The Ceremony
The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks from Sigita Rudzevičienė, General Manager of the Grand Hotel Vilnius.
She was followed by Simona Bieliūnė, Vice-Mayor of Vilnius, who emphasized the city’s growing visibility as a European destination. Evalda Šiškauskienė, President of LHRA, highlighted the strategic importance of hospitality for the national economy.
Michel Stalport, President of the EHA Board, underlined the value of acknowledging hotels and professionals whose achievements elevate European hospitality.
The official introduction concluded with Lidija Bajarūnienė, bringing a national and international institutional perspective to the evening.
A Continental Showcase of Excellence
The twenty-six distinctions awarded this year offered a panoramic overview of outstanding properties and personalities across Europe.
From the Netherlands to Portugal, from the Baltic States to Italy, the laureates reflected a rich diversity of heritage, innovation, design, gastronomy, sustainability, and leadership.
The Netherlands opened the list with three distinguished properties: Kasteel Engelenburg, Landgoed Groot Warnsborn, and Hotel De Zeevaartschool.
Estonia shone with Tervise Paradiis Spa Hotel & Waterpark and the iconic Vihula Manor Country Club & Spa. Latvia’s TRIBE Riga City Centre Hotel was recognized for its contemporary urban design.
Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Spain, and Lithuania were likewise represented through distinctive and influential properties.
Individual honors celebrated chefs, managers, designers, visionaries, and emerging talents whose work continues to define the excellence of European hospitality.
Official Winners’ List — 2025 Edition
- 01 — Kasteel Engelenburg – Art of Hospitality – The Netherlands
Represented by: Sander Allegro - 02 — Cubo Hotel – Slovenia Finest – Slovenia
Represented by: Amel Seferagić, Luka Ocvirk, Nejc Komac - 03 — Tervise Paradiis Spa Hotel & Waterpark – Family & Children, Wellness Resort of the Year – Estonia
Represented by: Heigo Vare - 04 — Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel – Romantic Seaside Hotel of the Year – Portugal
Represented by: Rita Ferreira - 05 — Palácio do Governador Lisbon Hotel & Spa – Historic Architecture Hotel of the Year – Portugal
- 06 — Landgoed Groot Warnsborn – Estate Hotel of the Year – The Netherlands
- 07 — TRIBE Riga City Centre Hotel – City Design Hotel of the Year – Northern Europe – Latvia
- 08 — Grand Hotel del Mare – Hospitality & F&B Excellence Award – Italy
- 09 — Hotel De Zeevaartschool – Heritage Design Hotel of the Year – The Netherlands
- 10 — Cardo Brussels, Autograph Collection – Urban Lifestyle Hotel of the Year – Belgium
- 11 — Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre – Green Hotel of the Year – United Kingdom
- 12 — Esplanade Zagreb Hotel – Art Deco Hotel of the Year – Croatia
- 13 — Vihula Manor Country Club & Spa – Countryside Luxury Retreat of the Year – Estonia
- 14 — Radisson Collection Astorija, Vilnius – Hotel of the Year – Lithuania
- 15 — BBMichaels Studio – Hotel Designer of the Year – Hungary
- 16 — Anne-Joëlle Racine – Hotel F&B Manager of the Year – France
- 17 — Donatas Satkauskas – Hotel Restaurant Chef of the Year – Lithuania
- 18 — Stijn Oyen – Global Hospitality Visionary of the Year
- 19 — Franck Sibille – Vice-President of the Year – Spain
- 20 — Pascale Venot – International PR Agency of the Year – France
- 21 — Alessandro Cabella – Hotelier of the Year – Italy
- 22 — Mathias Bernard – Hotel Restaurant Hotelier of the Year – Spain
- 23 — Véronique Stalport – Next Generation Hotelier of the Year – France
- 24 — Sigita Rudzevičienė – Woman General Manager of the Year – Lithuania
- 25 — City of Vilnius – European Hospitality City 2025 – Lithuania
- 26 — Evalda Šiškauskienė – Lifetime Achievement Award – Lithuania
A Refined Closing Evening
The celebration continued with a reception followed by a gala dinner curated by Chef Donatas Satkauskas.
Guests enjoyed a tailor-made menu paired with selected wines and Champagne Marguerite Guyot, supported by partners including Plaza del Sol, La Cantina di Solopaca, Ferrer Bobet, Grandes Distilleries Peureux-Massenez, and Aropesca & Vallesmar.
A dedicated article will highlight the culinary experience of the 2025 edition.
