European Hotel Awards 2026: Official Honours and Acknowledgements
Official statement | Eighth European Hotel Awards — Bordighera, 28 September 2026
The European Hotel Awards formally recognise the distinguished recipients of the 2026 edition and express their appreciation to the individuals, establishments, institutions and partners who contributed to the eighth annual ceremony, held on 28 September 2026 at the Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa in Bordighera, Italy.
Set on the Italian Riviera overlooking the Ligurian Sea, the occasion brought together representatives of European hospitality, hotel management, tourism, professional services and the wider international community. The programme offered an opportunity to honour achievement, acknowledge professional responsibility and reaffirm the values of excellence, integrity, service and continuity that inform the European Hotel Awards.
The organisation extends its congratulations to the 21 recipients of the 2026 distinctions and records its gratitude to the host establishment, the selection committee, the participating partners, the event team and all guests.
Official roll of honour — European Hotel Awards 2026
The 2026 distinctions recognise achievements across hotel leadership, landmark properties, guest experience, service excellence, tourism governance, heritage and regional hospitality. The following recipients and categories constitute the roll of honour for the eighth edition:
- Lidija Bajarūnienė — European Tourism Governance Award
- Hôtel Plaza Athénée, represented by François Delahaye — Palace Hotel of the Year
- Antoine Le Van — General Housekeeping Manager of the Year
- Alessandro Dorrucci — General Manager of the Year
- Salvatore Pisani — Area General Manager of the Year
- La Réserve de Beaulieu — Legend Hotel of the Year
- Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin — Iconic City Hotel of the Year
- Courtyard by Marriott Vilnius City Center — Business Hotel of the Year
- Hilton Vilamoura — Wellness & Spa Hotel of the Year
- Michel Morauw — Managing Director of the Year
- Vincent Schuit — Hospitality Executive Achievement
- Simone Marigliani — Ethical Luxury Hotelier of the Year
- Esplanade Zagreb Hotel — Art of Hospitality Excellence
- La Bastide Saint-Antoine — Heritage Boutique Hotel of the Year
- The Dominican — Urban Sanctuary Hotel of the Year
- The Schloss Fall — Historic Castle of the Year
- Château La Calisse — Wine Estate & Wine of the Year
- Donatas Burneika — Hotel F&B Manager of the Year
- Vasile Chirilă — Hotel Service Excellence
- City of Grasse, represented by Jérôme Viaud — Territorial Tourism Leadership
- City of Bordighera — European Hospitality City
The European Hotel Awards congratulate every recipient on this recognition. Taken together, these distinctions reflect the diversity of European hospitality: the stewardship of historic establishments, the leadership of contemporary hotels, the quality of individual service and the contribution of public institutions to tourism and destination development.
Recognition is conferred in respect of professional achievements and the standards represented by the selected individuals and establishments. The organisation remains committed to an independent selection process and to the principle that an award is a distinction of merit, not a commercial product.
Presidency, honorary members and selection committee
The European Hotel Awards express their appreciation to Michel Stalport, President of the 2026 Chapter, for his commitment to the distinction programme and the standards it represents. His professional experience in international hospitality contributes to the institutional continuity of the Awards.
Special acknowledgement is extended to Thierry Lavalley, honorary member since 2018 and former President of the Société des Hôteliers de Genève; Albert Rouwendal, honorary member since 2023; Sigita Rudzevičienė, honorary member since 2026 and General Manager of the Grand Hotel Vilnius, Curio Collection by Hilton; and Marie-Fleur Raynard-Laude, honorary member since 2026 and a Meilleure Ouvrière de France recognised for her expertise in hotel service.
The organisation also acknowledges Jérôme Chapman, Founder and Executive Director of the European Hotel Awards, whose involvement in hospitality, publishing, communications and event development supports the initiative’s international scope.
The complementary experience of these individuals provides an important foundation for the Awards’ institutional character, its understanding of the professions and its commitment to recognising achievement throughout European hospitality.
Official acknowledgement of the host hotel
The European Hotel Awards convey their particular thanks to the Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa for hosting the eighth edition in Bordighera. The setting and hospitality of the property provided a distinguished environment for the ceremony, the reception and the gala dinner.
We express our sincere appreciation to Alessandro Dorrucci, General Manager, for his personal commitment, operational leadership and attention to the requirements of an international event. His contribution, together with that of the hotel’s teams, was essential to the occasion.
The organisation thanks the colleagues responsible for reception, guest relations, concierge services, housekeeping, culinary operations, food and beverage, banqueting, technical production and all associated departments. Their coordinated work exemplified the professional standards that the European Hotel Awards seek to honour.
Recognition of our official partners and contributors
The European Hotel Awards gratefully acknowledge the companies and individuals whose support, professional knowledge and contributions accompanied the 2026 edition.
Our thanks go to MARCY PARIS and its founder Marcy de Soultrait, whose work in professional attire reflects the importance of presentation and craftsmanship in high-end hospitality. We also acknowledge Dominique and Irina Roitel and Groupe D.ROITEL, associated with Henryot & Cie and Dissidi, for their contribution to the world of interiors, furnishings and artisanal excellence.
We thank Répondia for its work in artificial intelligence applied to guest relations and reservations, and Digital Mountain Consulting and Ludivine Langlois for their participation and communications contribution.
Appreciation is also extended to Techno Car Luxe, Maïtza Mezzadri, Maria Jacota and Kateřina Srbková, together with the other professionals, service providers and collaborators who contributed to the preparation and delivery of the event. Every contribution is acknowledged with gratitude.
Official press relations
The organisation wishes to thank the Bureau de Presse Pascale Venot, its founder and director Pascale Venot, and her colleagues, including Émilie Delbos and Éléonore Jalou, for their involvement in the 2026 edition.
Established in Paris in 1994, the agency brings longstanding experience in communications and press relations across luxury, hospitality, tourism, gastronomy and lifestyle. Pascale Venot received the International PR Agency of the Year distinction at the European Hotel Awards 2025. The continuation of this professional relationship is sincerely appreciated.
Event production, official communications and lasting recognition
The European Hotel Awards recognise the sustained work undertaken by the organisational and production teams throughout the year. The ceremony is the culmination of months of selection, professional correspondence, guest coordination, partner relations, technical preparation and protocol planning.
Official communications will continue to document the recipients and their distinctions through the European Hotel Awards website, alongside complementary coverage published by Références Hôteliers Restaurateurs International and Références CHR. These publications have different editorial functions: the official website communicates the institution’s announcements and records, while the professional media provide independent editorial presentation and coverage.
Photography, recipient profiles, institutional notices and information for the press contribute to the preservation of an accessible record of the 2026 edition. The Awards regard that continuity as an essential part of meaningful professional recognition.
Our gratitude to the guests and participating institutions
The European Hotel Awards extend their sincere thanks to the distinguished guests, award recipients, hotel representatives, public officials, professional colleagues and friends who attended the ceremony in Bordighera. Their participation strengthened the spirit of collegiality and international exchange that is central to the event.
From the welcome reception and the official presentation of distinctions to the gala dinner, the gathering reflected the shared commitment of its participants to the future of hospitality in Europe. The organisation particularly acknowledges the city of Bordighera and the representatives of the territories and institutions recognised during this edition.
Continuity and the 2027 edition
As preparations for the next edition develop, the European Hotel Awards reaffirm their mission: to recognise exceptional establishments, professional leadership, exemplary service, heritage preservation and initiatives that strengthen European tourism and hospitality.
To the 21 recipients, the Presidency and selection committee, our host Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa, General Manager Alessandro Dorrucci and his teams, the Bureau de Presse Pascale Venot, our partners, collaborators and guests, the European Hotel Awards offer their formal congratulations and heartfelt thanks.
European Hotel Awards 2026
Eighth Edition — 28 September 2026
Grand Hotel del Mare Resort & Spa — Bordighera, Italian Riviera
European Hotel Awards — Official Website
