Esteemed Members,
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well and thriving in your respective establishments.

I would like to extend a warm invitation to all of you to participate in our annual Best Practices Contest. This year’s theme is both timely and significant: “Why the Ultimate Hotel Guest Experience Matters.”

The hospitality industry, as you know, is continuously evolving. Technological advancements, shifting guest expectations, and the growing emphasis on personalized experiences all play a crucial role in shaping the future of our field.

However, one constant remains — the importance of delivering an exceptional guest experience. The difference between a satisfied guest and a delighted one can have a lasting impact on brand loyalty, reputation, and ultimately, business success.

This is why we’ve chosen this theme for 2024: to explore, learn, and showcase the very best approaches to creating unforgettable experiences for hotel guests.

Why This Contest Matters to You
Participating in the Best Practices Contest 2024 offers a unique opportunity to showcase the innovative strategies you have implemented within your hotels. We know that many of you are already leaders in offering unparalleled guest experiences, and this contest gives you a platform to share your successes with fellow professionals across Europe. Not only does this allow you to gain recognition within the industry, but it also fosters a spirit of collaboration, where we can all learn from each other’s insights, challenges, and solutions. The best practices shared during this contest could inspire fresh ideas for all of us, ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve in providing exceptional service.

What We Are Looking For
In this year’s submissions, we encourage you to go beyond the basics of hospitality and delve into why the guest experience is critical to your hotel’s mission, vision, and values. What sets your hotel apart when it comes to making guests feel not just satisfied, but truly valued? How do you ensure every touchpoint in the guest journey, from booking to checkout, is memorable for the right reasons? We welcome stories of how your hotel has been innovated to meet and exceed guest expectations. Whether through personalized concierge services, cutting-edge technology, sustainability efforts, or the creation of unique, immersive environments, we want to hear how you’re leading the charge in enhancing guest satisfaction and loyalty.

The Benefits of Participation
By participating, you will not only gain the chance to be recognized by your peers, but you’ll also have the opportunity to learn from others in the field. Winner(s) will receive valuable exposure and the opportunity to present their ideas within our network.

How to Apply
Please submit your detailed entry by December 31st, 2024. Each candidacy should clearly outline your approach, the reasoning behind your strategies, and the measurable results you’ve achieved in improving the guest experience. We will be looking for creativity, effectiveness, and the potential for these practices to be replicated across various hotel settings.

In closing, we encourage you all to seize this opportunity to not only celebrate your own success but to contribute to the collective growth and excellence of the European hospitality industry.

Together, we can elevate the standards of guest service across the continent and ensure that our guests leave our hotels with lasting memories of excellence and care.

We look forward to discovering the inspiring stories that will define the future of guest experience in hospitality.

Panos Almyrantis
EHMA President