Hospitality industry awards to honor hotel real estate and startups in Munich

The European hospitality sector is preparing for two major industry awards to be presented at the +196 Hotel Forum in Munich on October 7, 2026.

The Hotel Real Estate of the Year 2026 award has reached its final round, with ten nominees selected from 24 applicants. The finalists include various urban and holiday hotels across Europe, recognized for excellence in architecture, design, and innovation. Notable mentions include the Arcotel Tabakfabrik in Linz, Austria, and the Brach Madrid in Spain.

Simultaneously, the Hospitality Upgrade Award has announced its five finalists from a pool of 24 startups. These companies will pitch their solutions at the Munich forum. The finalists include Ecomates (biogas technology), Läkkerai (digital sous-chef), Protabo (compliance automation), Unique Green (AI-driven guest communication), and Vinoteqa (wine cellar management software). The selection process emphasized practical use cases and solving specific industry pain points over general AI implementation.