Press information – Heritage Hotels of Europe Awards
Pezinok, 16 November 2024
THE HERITAGE HOTELS OF EUROPE AWARDS GALA CEREMONY 2024 was held on Saturday, 16th November 2024 at Palace Art Hotel in Pezinok, Slovakia honouring the Best European Heritage Hotels
EUROPE’S BEST HERITAGE HOTELS 2024 ARE REVEALED
This year, the winners of the Heritage Hotels of Europe Awards were announced for the 5th time since “Heritage Hotels of Europe” was founded in 2017. The winners of the Heritage Hotels of Europe Awards were announced at the prestigious awards ceremony 2024, held in the Golden Hall of the Palace Art Hotel in Pezinok, Slovakia. The ceremony brought together an array of heritage hotels owners and journalists from across Europe.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AWARDS
The Heritage Hotels of Europe Awards are dedicated to recognize the unique excellence among Heritage Hotels and to honour all the people who are the soul of these outstanding properties.
AWARDS PROCESS
Each property out of 11 countries, nominated by the public has been evaluated by an experienced committee. Also considering guest reviews, the jury looked closely at all aspects of the guest experience, in seven categories: Design, Wellness, Gastronomy, Hospitality, Culture, Romance as well as Host of the Year.
HERITAGE HOTELS OF EUROPE AWARD WINNERS 2024
This year’s “Heritage & Culture” award goes to the Altstadt Vienna in Vienna, Austria. Owner Otto E. Wiesenthal has put together a unique art collection over the years, which you can marvel at, or question as you roam the hallways or rooms of the hotel. The Wiesenthal Collection includes works by acclaimed as well as up-and-coming international and Austrian artists.
The “Heritage & Gastronomy” award goes to Hungary in 2024. This year’s winner is the Prónay Castle in Alsópetény. Head chef István Oláh fuses traditional flavours of the Nógrád region – particularly famous for its pumpkin seeds and truffles -, with the cuisines of other nations, while prioritizing local producers.
The newly renovated wellness and spa centre of Grandhotel Starý Smokovec in Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia, with its relaxation pool, water bar, Finnish and infra-red sauna, cooling pool Tepidarium, freshwater whirlpool and innovative beauty & wellness treatments convinced the jury. Grandhotel Starý Smokovec was therefore chosen as the winner in the “Heritage & Wellness” category.
Kaštieľ Kubínyi in Vyšný Kubín, Slovakia, winner of the “Heritage & Design” award went through turbulent times before it was restored to its former glory. Built in the first half of the 17th century, the castle initially was a Renaissance manor house with a large park. The typical onion towers were added during the Baroque reconstruction in the mid-18th century and give the castle its incredibly special appearance.
Katia Herrlitz and Stefan Wiese-Gerlach are the hosts in the 5th generation of the Hotel Jagdhaus Wiese in Schmallenberg (Germany), a country hotel with over 150 years of history. With attention to the small, inconspicuous pleasures, the host family and their team endeavour every day to give their guests moments of happiness and inspiration. This dedication to hospitality convinced the jury to grant the “Heritage & Hospitality” award to the Jagdhaus Wiese.
For the first time, the host team at Zámocký Hotel Galicia Nueva in Halič, Slovakia, has been honoured with the “Heritage & Romance” award. It defines itself as a place where guests can relax and experience the romantic atmosphere of a bygone era. Private lounges, exceptionally furnished rooms and an exclusive wellness space guarantee unforgettable romantic moments.
This year’s “Host of the Year” award goes to the Kössler family, owner and host at Ansitz Felsenheim in Lermoos, Austria, first chronicled in 1727 and initially built as a hunting lodge and brewery. Today’s owners and hosts Caroline and Othmar Kössler together with their son Benedikt are enthusiastic and thoroughbred hosts and proud guardians of the estate’s history.
Seven awards have been granted in seven categories during the Heritage Hotels of Europe awards ceremony 2024. Surprisingly, an eighth award was presented: The Special Award 2024 “Heritage & Experience” has been granted to the property and hosting team of the event itself: Palace Art Hotel in Pezinok, Slovakia.
OVERVIEW OF AWARD WINNERS 2024
Heritage & Culture Altstadt Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Heritage & Gastronomy Prónay Castle, Alsópetény, Hungary
Heritage & Wellness Grandhotel Stáry Smokovec, Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
Heritage & Design Kaštieľ Kubínyi, Vysny Kubin, Slovakia
Heritage & Hospitality Hotel Jagdhaus Wiese, Schmallenberg, Germany
Heritage & Romance Zámocký Hotel Galicia Nueva, Halič, Slovakia
Host of the Year Ansitz Felsenheim, Lermoos, Austria
Special Award Heritage & Experience Palace Art Hotel, Pezinok, Slovakia
ABOUT HERITAGE HOTELS OF EUROPE
“Heritage Hotels of Europe” is a federation of hotel associations and historic properties from different countries in Europe. They all got united to present their beautiful, one-of-a-kind and tradition-rich hotels under one flag. The portfolio of these properties features historic castles and fortresses as well as manor houses, country homes, palaces, and city palais in currently eleven European countries.
For full information, photos from the awards ceremony and of the winning properties, please contact info@heritagehotelsofeurope.com