Article 1
Organizing company
Hospitality ON with a capital of 61 091.50 € having its registered office at 5 rue de Danzig 75015 Paris, having the identification number RCS 379 089 295 00016 and represented by Mr. Vanguélis PANAYOTIS, President (hereinafter also referred to as the "Organizing Company" or "the Organizer") is organizing on Thursday June 25, 2026, an event entitled the "Hospitality Icons", according to the terms and conditions described in these rules.
Article 2
Presentation of the event
The Hospitality Icons are a competition that is honoring hospitality establishments and talents for their exceptional achievements.
Hospitality Icons Categories
OPENING
1. Iconic Luxury Hotel Opening
2. Iconic Upscale & Midscale Hotel Opening
3. Iconic Economy Hotel & Hostel Opening
EXPERIENCE & MEDIA
4. Iconic F&B Experience Innovation
5. Iconic Wellbeing Experience
6. Iconic Event Execution In-House
7. Iconic Media Impact
PEOPLE, IMPACT & RESPONSIBILITY
8. Iconic Community Impact Initiative
9. Iconic Sustainable Initiative
10. Iconic Employee Experience & Satisfaction
11. Iconic Young Hospitality Professional
PRIX SPECIAL
12. Hospitality ON Editorial Award
Article 3
Description of Categories
Iconic Luxury Hotel Opening
This award recognises the opening or re-opening of a luxury hotel that sets new benchmarks in terms of positioning, guest experience and operational excellence, and positions itself as a reference on its market.
Iconic Upscale & Midscale Hotel Opening
This award recognises an upscale or midscale opening or repositioning that successfully combines guest experience, operational efficiency and a robust business model.
Iconic Economy Hotel & Hostel Opening
This award recognises an economy hotel or hostel project opening or reopening that rethinks the guest experience, redefines value-for-money standards in hospitality and responds to new travel behaviours.
Iconic F&B Experience Innovation
This award recognises an F&B signature concept that enhances hotel attractiveness and contributes to its identity and performance. Short-term / pop-up concepts must have been in operation for at least 3 months.
Iconic Wellbeing Experience
This award recognises a holistic wellbeing and lifestyle concept that goes beyond traditional spa or fitness facilities, fully embedded in the hotel’s positioning and guest journey. It rewards experiences that positively influence guests’ physical, mental and emotional state.
Iconic In-House Event Execution
This award recognises an event executed by a hotel’s internal teams that demonstrates operational excellence, creativity and coordination even under constraints. It rewards properties that successfully transform their spaces, mobilise their internal resources, and deliver exceptional guest experience regardless of the event’s scale.
Iconic Media Impact
This award recognises a remarkable digital, media or influence activation led by an individual hospitality property, which significantly increases visibility, engagement or desirability through a well-executed and creative campaign.
Iconic Community Initiative
This award recognises a community-driven initiative that generates tangible and lasting social impact within its local ecosystem. It rewards actions that go beyond standard CSR communication and are genuinely embedded in the hotel’s operations and identity.
Iconic Sustainable Initiative
This award recognises an innovative environmental initiative that goes beyond standard sustainability commitments, is fully embedded in hotel operations or development strategies and delivers measurable, long-term reductions in environmental impact.
Iconic Employee Experience & Satisfaction T
his award recognises a hospitality property that has placed employee experience at the core of its operational model, creating an engaging, supportive and attractive working environment that has positively influences service quality and team stability.
Iconic Young Hospitality Professional
This category recognises a young professional who has demonstrated measurable performance, leadership and strong growth potential within the hospitality industry.
Hospitality ON Editorial Award (not open to applicants)
This award is granted by the Hospitality ON editorial team to a project, organisation or individual whose vision, trajectory or impact strongly resonates with the sector’s key challenges.
Article 4
Conditions of participation
Participation in the Hospitality Icons Competition is open to hospitality establishments and related industry stakeholders operating at property level.
Eligible participants include individual hotels, resorts, hotel residences, hostels, serviced apartments, campsites, cruise ships, and other accommodation concepts worldwide, whether independent or affiliated to a national or international group.
Hotel groups and brands may submit an application on behalf of a specific property, provided that the submitted project relates exclusively to that individual establishment.
Independent properties are fully eligible to participate.
The submitted project must concern a single property and must be effectively implemented and operational at the time of application submission. The project must have been launched or significantly deployed within the last two (2) years preceding the year of the competition.
Projects must be physically open to the public at the time of submission.
Suppliers, technology providers, consulting firms, architectural firms, design studios, and other external service providers are not eligible as Candidates. However, such partners may be mentioned within the application when relevant. The application must be submitted exclusively by the eligible property or the group/brand representing it.
Article 5
Announcement of the Hospitality Awards
The event is announced on the following communication media:
- Official website of the event: https://www.hospitalityicons.com/
- Official website to register and upload the projects: https://n3kjfo7y40o.typeform.com/Icons
- Social medias: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…
- Event organizer: www.hospitality-on.com
- Hospitality ON magazine and e-mailing campaigns
Article 6
Terms and conditions of participation
To take part in the competition, Candidates must register and submit their application through the official Hospitality Icons online form accessible via the dedicated Application platform(https://n3kjfo7y40o.typeform.com/Icons).
All submitted entries will undergo a review by the Hospitality ON Committee.
Submission process
Applications must be submitted through the official Hospitality Icons Typeform platform within the deadlines indicated below.
Applications must be submitted in English only.
The Competition is organized in a single (1) round. Applications must include:
- Title of the project (3 to 8 words)
- Property name Name of the group or brand (if applicable)
- Name, function and contact details of the submitter
- Summary of the project (200 to 350 words)
- Official picture of the project Additional supporting materials (brochures, images, videos, etc.) may be attached (not mandatory).
Following the Committee’s deliberation, the three (3) Finalists in each category will be contacted and required to provide: Name, function, photograph and contact details of the project representative attending the ceremony.
Application deadlines
- Applications are open from February 26, 2026, to May 20, 2026.
-The Hospitality Icons Ceremony will take place on June 25, 2026.
Rights of use and publication
By applying, Candidates expressly authorize the Organizing Company to use the materials provided for communication and promotional purposes on:
- www.hospitality-on.com
- www.hospitalityicons.com
- Hospitality ON social networks
These materials may also be used during the Hospitality Icons Ceremony.
This authorization is granted worldwide for the entire duration of the legal protection of the related intellectual property rights in France.
Completed applications must be submitted online through the official Hospitality Icons Applications platform. Candidates authorize the Organizer to publish elements of their application on the above-mentioned websites and communication channels, unless expressly specified otherwise in advance. The Organizer cannot be held responsible for the publication of materials voluntarily submitted by the applicant.
Legal compliance and content restrictions
Applicants must ensure that their submission complies with all applicable laws and regulations in France and does not contain any content that is contrary to good morals, insulting, defamatory, infringing, xenophobic, homophobic, antisemitic, or otherwise discriminatory.
Exceptions
Entries cannot be submitted for Hospitality ON Editorial Awards category as the winner is selected directly by the Hospitality ON Committee based on its contributions to the industry.
Acceptance of the rules
Participation in the Hospitality Awards implies full and unconditional acceptance of these rules.
Article 7
Participation in the Ceremony
The public may attend the Hospitality Icons ceremony by purchasing a ticket via the official Hospitality ON online store available on https://store.hospitality-on.com/en. Ticket sales remainopen until the day before the event (June 24, 2026), subject to availability.
One (1) complimentary ticket will be granted per project. Only the winner in each category will be invited on stage to receive the award. The complimentary ticket provides access to the ceremony only and does not include travel or accommodation. Complimentary access is granted to both finalists and winners.
Team members of finalist projects, and other candidates whose applications have been validated but who are not finalists, may purchase tickets at a preferential rate of €200 per ticket, subject to availability.
Due to limited seating, the Organizing Company reserves the right to prioritise registrations from hoteliers, hospitality and tourism professionals, clients and partners, according to quotas defined by participant profile.
Participants in the Hospitality Icons ceremony accept that their name and photograph may be used in online and printed publicity materials relating to the Hospitality Icons (including the Organizing Company’s websites and social media channels) for a period of ten (10) years from the date of participation, without additional compensation, in accordance with Article 14.
The Organizing Company shall not be liable for travel, accommodation, or other ancillary costs incurred by participants.
Article 8
Selection process
The selection process for the Hospitality Icons Competition is conducted under the authority of the Organizing Company, in accordance with the present Rules.
The evaluation of applications is entrusted to a Selection Committee composed of qualified professionals from chosen for their expertise and experience.
The Rules of the Competition and the general principles governing the selection process are subject to internal oversight procedures intended to ensure consistency with principles of fairness, independence and professional integrity.
8.1 Evaluation and deliberation
All eligible applications received within the official deadline are examined by the Selection Committee.
Each project is assessed qualitatively in accordance with the evaluation criteria defined in Article 9.
Following its deliberations, the Selection Committee determines for each category:
- The three (3) Finalists
- The Winner
There is no public vote.
The selection process for the competition is conducted in several stages under the supervision of the Hospitality ON Committee and the Advisory Committee, ensuring the integrity and impartiality of the evaluation process.
The Advisory Committee ensures that the categories, guidelines, evaluation methodologies and criteria are relevant to the hospitality industry, consistent with industry standards, and aligned with principles of fairness and transparency.
The Hospitality ON Committee is solely responsible for the review, evaluation, and selection of applications submitted within the framework of the competition.
Article 9
Selection criteria and evaluation procedures
All applications submitted in the Hospitality Icons Competition are evaluated based on transparent, objective, and consistent criteria designed to highlight excellence, creativity, and positive impact within the hospitality industry.
The evaluation is qualitative and focuses on three main pillars:
9.1 Innovation and Creativity
- Originality and inventiveness of the concept
- Creativity in the design, guest experience, or operational execution
- Ability to set new benchmarks or inspire the hospitality sector
- Distinctive identity of the project within its category or market
9.2 Quality of execution and operational excellence
- Coherence between concept, brand positioning, and operational delivery
- Attention to detail in guest experience, service standards, or event execution
- Effective use of property resources to deliver high-quality outcomes
- Consideration of scalability or adaptability where relevant (optional, not mandatory)
9.3 Measured Impact and Contribution
- Tangible results achieved by the project (e.g., guest satisfaction, occupancy, engagement, operational efficiency)
- Positive social or environmental outcomes, where applicable
- Contribution to the property’s identity, attractiveness, or market positioning
9.4 Selection procedures
All deliberations, evaluations, and results are treated with the strictest confidentiality. No information regarding Finalists or Winners may be disclosed prior to the official announcement during the Hospitality Icons Ceremony.
The Organizing Company reserves the right to interpret these Rules and adjust procedures as necessary to ensure fairness, integrity, and proper conduct of the Competition.
Article 10
Final selection and announcement of results
10.1 Evaluation by the Selection Committee
Following the submission deadline, all eligible applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Selection Committee, in accordance with the evaluation criteria described in Article 9.
Each project is assessed on its merits, and the Committee determines the three (3) Finalists and the Winner for each category.
The Selection Committee’s decisions are final and binding.
10.2 Announcement of results
The Winners will be officially announced during the Hospitality Icons Ceremony on June 25, 2026.
All deliberations, evaluations, and results remain strictly confidential prior to the Ceremony.
No member of the Selection Committee, Organizing Company, or any individual with prior access to results is authorized to disclose any information regarding the Finalists or Winners before the official announcement.
Article 11
Allocations for competition nominees
A diploma and a trophy attesting the Winner status, signed by the President of the Organizing Company, will be awarded to the winning Candidates on stage for each category. These prizes have no financial value.
Each submitted application will be included in the Hospitality ON innovation database, which may be referenced in future editorial content, including thematic articles published in Hospitality ON’s print magazine and on www.hospitalityicons.com.
Finalists and Winners will receive a Communication Pack designed to amplify the visibility of their recognition. This pack includes:
- A visual badge (vignette) to share on LinkedIn indicating the prize received
- Guidelines for properly referencing the award and Hospitality ON in communications
- A digital and print version of the magazine featuring their project
The Organizing Company reserves the right to determine the format, content and scope of the Communication Pack.
Article 12
Identification of winners and elimination of participation
The Candidates and participants in the Hospitality Icons ceremony accept that the Organizing Body reserves the right to verify their identity and any information contained in the registration form. Application forms that are not fully completed and/or contain incomplete or false contact information will not be taken into consideration and will result in the elimination of the application.
Article 13
Modification of the dates of the event and extension of the number of prizes
The Organizing Body shall not incur any liability whatsoever if it is forced to cancel the present event in the event of force majeure or events beyond its control. The Organizing Body also reserves the right, within the limits provided for by the law in force, to extend or limit the participation period, to postpone it or to modify the conditions thereof, and may not be held liable in this regard.
Additions and modifications may be made to these rules. They will be considered as amendments to these rules. The amendment to the present rules will be filed with the bailiff's office that holds the present rules.
Article 14
Use of winner’s identity
The Candidates agree that their name, first name, position, city of residence as well as any recording of their image or the sound of their voice made during the awards ceremony may appear for ten (10) years from the date of their participation in the ceremony on online advertising media (the Organizing Company's websites, communication media (brochures, application files, invitation cards, emailing, press publications, Hospitality ON magazine) and printed materials related to the Hospitality Icons, worldwide and without reference, payment or compensation other than the awarding of their trophy/diploma.
Article 15
Submission of regulations
Candidates accept the entirety of these rules, which are filed with the Bailiffs of justice. It is reminded that the names of the finalists and/or winners of each Category will be announcedduring the ceremony that will take place on June 25th, 2026.
Article 16
Interpretation of the regulation and attribution of jurisdiction
Any dispute concerning the interpretation of these rules shall be decided solely by the Organizing Body. No written or verbal request concerning the mechanism of the event, or the interpretation of the rules will be answered.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 2254 of the French Civil Code, any action by Candidates against the Organizing Body arising from the validity, interpretation, performance or non-performance, interruption or termination of these rules shall be barred within one year of the award ceremony.
These rules (including their interpretation and any disputes arising from them) are governed by French law.
ANY LITIGATION ARISING FROM THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION, EXECUTION ORNON-EXECUTION, INTERRUPTION OR TERMINATION OF THE RULES SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMERCIAL COURT OF PARIS.
Article 17
Personal Data Protection
Personal data of participants and Candidates are collected and processed by the Organizing Company for the purposes of organizing, managing, and promoting the Hospitality Icons.
Such processing is carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and the French Data Protection Act (Loi Informatique et Libertés) as amended.
Participants and Candidates have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or object to the processing of their personal data, under the conditions provided by applicable law.
These rights may be exercised by contacting: Hospitality ON – Hospitality Icons 5 rue de Dantzig, 75015 Paris – France.
Article 18
Postal address of the Organizing company
The postal address of is " Hospitality ON - Hospitality Icons", 5 rue de Dantzig, 75015 PARIS - France.
Article 19
Transfer of copyright and author's rights
It is expressly agreed that participation in the Event entails the transfer by the Candidates, to the benefit of the Organizing Body, of all copyrights relating to their application file as well as to any element provided within the framework of the Event, except for the logo of their brand. In this regard, the Candidates acknowledge that they are giving up free of charge their rights of reproduction, representation and adaptation of their contribution(s) to the Organizing Body, for the entire world and for the entire duration of the legal protection of said rights in France, on all digital media (websites, social networks, community platforms, mobile applications, etc.) and printed media(books, guides, leaflets, brochures, posters, postcards, etc.) for commercial, promotional and/or advertising purposes by the Organizing Body and for its activities, products and/or services. The Candidate affirms that he/she is the author of the contributions he/she submits and guarantees that the works submitted are original and unpublished. In this respect, the Candidate is responsible for obtaining the authorizations of any third party having directly or indirectly participated in the creation of the contribution and/or who consider that they have any right to claim against it. The Respondent shall be responsible for any payments arising from such authorizations. In general, the Candidates guarantees the Organizing Body against any recourse, action or claim that any third party may make, in any capacity whatsoever, in connection with the exercise of the authorizations granted herein and, more generally, in connection with all guarantees and commitments made under these rules.
The Candidate agrees to hold the Organizing Body harmless from any claims by third parties due to copyright infringement or violation of exploitation or property rights, regardless of the nature thereof. In addition, the Applicant must ensure that the images, sounds, and videos transmitted as part of the event do not violate the intellectual property rights or image rights of third parties. The Candidate shall be responsible for obtaining from any third party any license or authorization to use these elements in the context of the event and shall also ensure that these elements may be used commercially by the Organizing Body.
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