Founding-Year Prestige
Be remembered as a winner of the very first Hospitality Excellence Awards — a distinction no one who comes after can ever claim.
Birmingham · Award Ceremony
Recognising Hospitality Excellence
This time next year, someone in this industry will walk on stage to a standing ovation — their team on their feet, their name in lights. There is no reason that story can't be yours.
Thur, 26 November 2026
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever · Explore the 0 categories
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Free to Nominate
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Hospitality Excellence Awards 2026
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Why enter
Recognition that works for your business
An award is more than a trophy. It is independent proof of excellence that compounds across brand, sales, talent and growth.
Every business in this industry has a story worth telling — the service that turned a bad night around, the room nobody else would take on, the team that stayed when it would have been easier to leave. Whether you are a new opening, an established group or a specialist nobody outside the trade has heard of yet, this is your opportunity to gain the recognition your work deserves.
Build Credibility
Earn independent industry recognition and the guest trust that comes with it.
Increase Visibility
Gain exposure through trade press, social reach and year-round award promotion.
Celebrate Your Team
Honour the people behind your success and give them a moment they will never forget.
Stand Above Competitors
Differentiate your business and prove your excellence where it matters most.
Attract More Guests
Leverage powerful, third-party social proof that turns interest into bookings.
Accelerate Growth
Open doors to new partnerships, investment, talent and expansion opportunities.
Explore the Categories · Free to enter
There's a category with your name on it
0 honours across the industry — each a different stage for a different story. Find the one built for yours, and enter as many as genuinely fit.
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Your awards journey
Six steps from entry to ovation
A clear, considered path — designed so the only hard part is deciding to enter.
01
Nominations Open
Entries and public nominations are open now — completely free to enter.
02
Submit Your Entry
Tell your story across one or more categories. Enter as many as you like.
03
Independent Judging
A panel of independent experts reviews and scores every single entry.
04
Finalists Announced
The highest-scoring businesses are revealed and celebrated as finalists.
05
The Awards Gala
An unforgettable celebration at National Conference Centre,, Thur, 26 November 2026.
06
Winners Revealed
Gold winners are crowned live and the Overall Winner is named.
The Judging Process
Credibility is earned, not awarded
The value of recognition rests entirely on how it is judged. Ours is independent, transparent and built on merit — so winning genuinely means something.
Independent Judges
No pay-to-win. Judges are external experts with no commercial stake in the outcome.
Transparent Scoring
Every entry is scored against a published, weighted criteria framework.
Merit-Based Evaluation
Winners are decided on evidence and results — never on reputation or budget.
Industry Experts
Panels are matched to each category so your entry is judged by people who get it.
Scoring Framework
100 pointsAn illustrative weighting. Each category publishes its own criteria so you know exactly how you will be assessed.
- Guest Experience30%
- Innovation25%
- Leadership & Culture20%
- Sustainability15%
- Evidence Quality10%
The Inaugural Edition · 2026
Be among the very first
This is our first celebration of hospitality excellence — and the rarest edition there will ever be. The founding class of 2026 won’t be following a benchmark. They’ll be the benchmark.
Set the Standard
As an inaugural winner, your business becomes the benchmark every future entrant aspires to match.
Only Ever One First
There is just one inaugural edition. Once it has been held it can never be entered again — this moment does not come back.
Claim Your Place in Year One
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever
The Awards Ceremony
One day. A career-defining moment.
Winners are revealed at an awards ceremony in Birmingham — a day of celebration, high-calibre networking and the kind of recognition you remember for a lifetime.
Thur, 26 November 2026
Awards ceremony,
Birmingham
Venue to be announced
Finalists & guests
Leaders, finalists & partners
An unforgettable day
Recognition & networking
FAQs
Questions, Answered
Everything you need to know about eligibility, fees, judging or the ceremony. Our team is glad to help.
Any business working in or serving hospitality — hotels, restaurants, bars, cafés, pubs, venues, caterers and the teams within them. Most categories are open to all sizes and specialisms, whether you are based in Birmingham or operating nationally.
Entry is completely free. There is no fee to nominate, to be shortlisted or to win, and no obligation to attend the ceremony — you can enter as many categories as you like at no cost.
Absolutely. Guests, colleagues and the wider industry can nominate any business or individual they believe deserves to be recognised. A nomination is a genuine way to champion work you rate.
Every entry is scored independently by a panel of industry experts against a published, weighted criteria framework. Scores are moderated for consistency, and judges declare any conflicts of interest.
Yes. Many businesses enter several categories to reflect different sides of the operation — a hotel might enter for guest experience, for its restaurant and for its workplace culture. There is no extra cost.
Winners receive a trophy and certificate, the official winner's digital mark, a press-ready PR toolkit, a feature in our winners' showcase, and a full year's licence to use the recognition across marketing and recruitment.
Entries are open now. Finalists are announced ahead of the ceremony, where winners are revealed live — full dates are confirmed on the event page.
Winners are revealed live and in person at the Awards Ceremony at National Conference Centre, on 26 November 2026 — the highlight of the Birmingham hospitality calendar.
Contact us
We'd love to hear from you
Questions about entering, sponsorship, tickets or judging? Send a message and we will reply within one working day.
- Emailhello@hospitalityexcellenceawards.org
- Phone+44 20 3451 7166
- AddressLevel 18, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB, United Kingdom
Nominations for 2026 are open · Free to enter
Ready to gain the recognition you deserve?
Join the organisations turning independent recognition into real momentum. Your strongest year starts with a single entry.
Save the date · 26 November 2026
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever
Be one of the first businesses ever recognised at Hospitality Excellence Awards.
Pre-Launch — Limited Places
Join the Pre-Launch
Hospitality Excellence Awards
Some moments in business are bigger than deals or profits — they're about recognition, influence, and legacy. The Hospitality Excellence Awards Pre-Launch is one of those moments. It's where the journey begins, and where you can choose to be seen, heard, and remembered.
Ceremony
Thur, 26 November 2026
Pre-launch registration is free. We'll reach out with exclusive early-access details ahead of the public launch.
Get A Pre-Launch Ticket
Secure your place — we'll be in touch with details.