The EHMA Management Council, together with the Organising Committee, opened the 52nd EHMA Annual General Assembly at The Dorchester in London.
London, 16 March 2026 – The European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA) held its 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in London, United Kingdom, from 13 to 15 March 2026, uniting general managers and senior hospitality leaders from Europe’s most prestigious luxury and premium hotels. Under the theme “Transforming Hotel Hospitality for a Thriving Future”, the gathering explored how leadership, innovation, sustainability and technology are shaping the next chapter of European hospitality — while reaffirming the enduring, human essence at the heart of service excellence.
Charting the Path Ahead
Under the continued leadership of President Panos Almyrantis (National Delegate for Greece & Cyprus and Chief Growth & Commercial Officer at Ella Resorts in Athens), alongside First Vice President Paweł Lewtak and Vice President Stephan Stokkermans, the Association remains committed to pursuing the shared ambition to lead with vision, innovate with purpose and strengthen the standards that define European luxury hospitality.
“As EHMA looks to the future, we see transformation not as a disruption to be feared, but as a responsibility to be thoughtfully embraced,” said Panos Almyrantis. “This theme goes beyond a statement. It reflects our shared commitment to preserving the human essence at the heart of hospitality, while guiding our industry forward with clarity, purpose, and integrity.”
Awards Recognising Excellence in Hospitality
Four prestigious awards were presented during the AGM, celebrating leaders whose work exemplifies excellence, integrity and forward-thinking performance:
EHMA Best Practices Award 2025: Andreas Keese, General Manager of Hotel Sacher Wien (Austria) – awarded for the project “How IoT and AI Help Hoteliers Enhance the Guest Experience”, highlighting how digital tools can refine service precision, personalisation and predictive engagement, while strengthening operational intelligence. The programme also featured the AHLEI scholarship benefit supporting professional development.
European Hotel Manager of the Year 2026: Andreas Keese, General Manager of Hotel Sacher Wien (Austria) – recognised for an exceptional leadership journey shaped by discipline, humility and people-first culture, coupled with strong operational performance at one of Europe’s most distinguished grand hotels.
EHMA Sustainability Award by Diversey 2026: Stephan Stokkermans, Managing Director of Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin (The Netherlands) – honoured for an evidence-led “Responsible Luxury” strategy, combining measurable impact, independent verification and meaningful guest engagement while exceeding baseline European sustainability expectations.
EHMA Hans Koch Lifetime Achievement Award 2026: Francisco Pereira da Silva, Owner and General Manager of Hotel Albatroz Beach & Yacht Club (Portugal) – recognised for a lifetime of dedication to hospitality excellence and decades of exemplary service and contribution to EHMA and its community.
Event Website: https://ehma.com/london2026/
For information, please contact:
EHMA Press Office
Gianni Buonsante
Ingenia Direct s.r.l.
Mobile: +393356510124
gianni@ingeniadirect.com
www.ingeniadirect.com/en/