HMA unveils shortlist for 30th Hotel Marketing Awards

The Hotel Marketing Association (HMA) has officially unveiled the shortlist for its 30th annual Hotel Marketing Awards. 

This year’s finalists were announced during a session at the National Hotel Marketing Conference, which returned to Hilton St George’s Park in Staffordshire.

Now celebrating its 30th year, the Hotel Marketing Awards have become a “touchstone for creativity and impact” within hotel marketing. The winners are set to be revealed at a celebratory ceremony at The Savoy, London, on Monday 16 June. 

In a change from previous years, the event now looks to combine education with celebration by hosting hospitality luminary Alex Polizzi as guest speaker before Patryk Luszcz of Profitroom issues a welcome. This will be followed by a leaders panel featuring top names in hotel marketing before the awards ceremony itself.

Commenting on this year’s occasion, Pamela Carvell, life president of the Hotel Marketing Association, said: “To be marking 30 years of the Hotel Marketing Awards is a real moment of pride – not just for us as an association, but for everyone in hotel marketing. The quality of this year’s entries reflects just how far our industry has come, and how vital creative marketing is to the success of the hospitality sector. These finalists represent the very best in the business.”

Martin Evans, HMA committee member and organiser of the conference, added: “It was a pleasure to host our biggest conference yet, and a perfect setting to announce this year’s awards shortlist. The energy and creativity on show at St George’s Park was outstanding – it shows just how much momentum we have as a profession. With the awards ceremony now just weeks away, we’re looking forward to an unforgettable evening at The Savoy.”

This year’s shortlisted entries span six categories:

Best website (sponsored by Clockwork Marketing):

• Exclusive Collection
• The QHotels Collection – Project Phoenix
• The Retreat (Signet Hotels Ltd) – The Retreat Website

Best partnership marketing (sponsored by HBD Partners):

• Marriott International – Create Your Own Traditions with That Christmas
• Royal Lancaster London – A Blooming British Afternoon Tea with the Natural History Museum
• The Grove – Christmas in the Mansion with Jo Malone London

Social media campaign of the year (sponsored by GuestRevu):

• Mad Monkey Hostels – Mad Pass
• Red Carnation Hotels – Luxury Through Our Lens
• The Grove – Behind The Grove Doors

HMA creative excellence award (sponsored by Net Affinity):

• BWH Hotels GB – Year of the Free Breakfast
• Hart Shoreditch – SPECTRUM
• Marriott International – Create Your Own Traditions

Best hotel marketing team (sponsored by Agilysys):

• Hilton London Metropole
• Switch Management
• The Belfry Hotel & Resort

Rising star in hotel marketing (sponsored by For-Sight):

• Molly Peel – Red Carnation Hotels
• Emily Poole – The QHotels Collection
• Alexandra Sanders – Hilton London Metropole

Jane Pendlebury, CEO of HOSPA, said: “Our industry is in need of inspirational figures to help us successfully navigate the challenges ahead. There are so many leaders in hospitality, and they often don’t necessarily recognise their talent – so recognising them and thanking them for their guidance and example is hugely important.”