From Rome to Warsaw: EHMA’s 51st Annual Meeting Position Poland serves as the best European hub for luxury travel

Sunday, March 23, 2025

As European travel and hospitality industries evolve towards design-centric innovation, Warsaw is ready to become the global epicenter of this transformation. From March 28th to 30th, 2025, the Polish capital will hold the 51st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the European Association of Hotel Managers (EHMA) under the theme of “hospitality by design.”

This much-anticipated gathering brings together nearly 500 general managers and hospitality executives of Europe’s most well-known hotels. Representative of over 400 luxury hotels in 24 countries, EHMA is the foundation of hospitality leadership on the continent. With over 86,000 rooms and 66,000 employees under the member management team, the association’s strategic direction will affect service standards and travel trends around the world.

The future of 50 years of celebration and hospitality

Founded in Rome in 1974, EHMA has spent the past half century shaping its luxurious hospitality through innovation, sustainability and service excellence. As organizations move into the next era, Warsaw AGM is positioned not only as a reflection of past achievements, but as a launchpad for future benchmarks in European tourism and global hotel management.

Panos Armilatis, president of EHMA, who also serves as Chief Growth Commercial Officer at Ella Resorts in Athens, emphasized that this new chapter will build on the legacy of EHMA, pushing boundaries. “The last 50 years have been extraordinary,” he said. “Now we are more committed than ever to innovation, sustainability and leadership. Europe’s supply remains the gold standard for luxury hospitality around the world.”

Why Warsaw? A city where heritage meets modern hospitality

Chosen for the dynamic combination of history and innovation, Warsaw offers an attractive stage in hospitality’s thought leadership. The city’s revitalized old town, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and its bold modern skyline have become a model for cities that strive to balance cultural preservation with future-looking infrastructure.

Paweł Lewtak, general manager of Polonia Palace Hotel, EHMA’s Central Europe vice president and national president, repeated this sentiment. “Warsaw fully embodies the theme of AGM, reflecting how thoughtful planning and collaboration can shape the future of travel experiences, combining heritage with modern service delivery.”

Tourism and Design Agenda Restructuring the Travel Sector

A central theme of AGM, Design By Design reflects the fast-growing trends in the travel industry. It combines aesthetic excellence with operational innovation. This year’s session explores how interior design, guest journey mapping, sustainable practices and advanced hospitality technologies increase guest satisfaction and brand value.

Key highlights of the tourism and hospitality industry include:

A curated royal and cultural programme that presents the rich arts, architecture and culinary heritage to visiting hotel executives and their partners in Warsaw. Education Day Meeting was held on March 29th at the Renaissance Warsaw Airport Hotel. Europe Hotel Manager of the Year and Hanskoch Lifetime Achievement Awards. Strategic discussions on talent development, sustainability and market shifts driven by the partnership between Young EHMA Group 2025 and EHL Hospitality Business School and Nolan Cornell.

From Warsaw to London: What’s to come for EHMA and European tourism?

The meeting will also announce London as the host city for the 2026 AGM, but the nominations for the 2027 candidate city will be announced. With a clear focus on continuity, growth and global impact, the role of EHMA in promoting cross-border tourism collaboration and hospitality excellence is central.

Closed due to Polish warmth and international friendship

On Sunday, March 30th, the Ludwikowska Ballroom at the Polonia Palace Hotel will host a farewell brunch, offering representatives and guests the opportunity to network, reflect and forge enduring connections. This personal touch reflects the enduring spirit of the Society. The Luxley may be designed, but you have to feel hospitality.

Regional and global tourism impact

As the event attracts top general managers in Europe, the conference positions Warsaw as a major destination for Mouse (Conference, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) tourism. The city’s excellence as a host raises awareness among luxury travelers and investors seeking culturally rich and connected urban destinations in Central and Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile, the discussion of future prospects on EHMA’s sustainability, talent and design will spill over the global travel industry, affecting how hotels in Europe, the UK and other countries will adapt to the expectations of new guests in the post-pandemic era.

As Ehma stepped boldly into the second half, the 2025 Warsaw AGM promises not only a celebration, but a blueprint for the future of luxury travel.