The 196+ forum Munich, in cooperation with Hospitality Pioneers and with significant involvement from mews, aobis, dailypoint, Fairmas, ProjektPuls and Schneider Electric, is presenting the “Hospitality UPGRADE Award”. This accolade is aimed at start-ups that develop smart, sustainable and marketable solutions across the entire hotel value chain. A jury, chaired by Christian Fiedler, the founder of Hospitality Pioneers, reviewed the submitted applications and made a selection from a multitude of business ideas.
Fiedler highlighted the importance of direct feedback from industry curators, which was cited by participating start-ups as the strongest aspect of the format. This confirms the award's objective. From a total of 24 applications and 10 concepts nominated for the semi-finals on 9 September in Berlin, five finalists were chosen. These will compete on 7 October at the Bayerischer Hof on the pitch stage as part of the 196+ forum to win the award.
Innovations presented by the finalists
The selected finalists present diverse technological approaches for optimisation and sustainability in the hotel industry. Ecomates introduces a compact on-site biogas plant that converts food waste directly into biogas within the establishment. This can be used to generate heat and hot water, while also producing fertiliser and reducing disposal costs and CO2 emissions. Läkkerai offers a digital sous-chef for professional kitchens, which integrates the entire process chain from production planning to logistics and quality control into one system. Protabo addresses the automation of HACCP regulations, occupational health and safety requirements, and waste management for gastronomy and hospitality with its compliance platform, using software, physical products and service offerings.
UniqueGreen is developing a SaaS solution for hotels that sends automated, AI-generated voice messages for guest communication via WhatsApp or iMessage. The goal is to boost Google reviews and increase sales of higher-category rooms. Vinoteqa offers software for wine cellar management in hotels and restaurants, enabling digital inventory tracking. An integrated database of one million wines supports the creation of wine lists with sommelier analyses.
Focus on real business applications
Harro Grimmer, board and jury member from ProjektPuls, emphasised that the application of Artificial Intelligence or its use as a tool is no longer a unique selling point this year, but has become commonplace. The focus has therefore shifted to genuine applications and solving specific problems. The business idea is once again coming to the forefront, a criterion that all five finalists meet. The 20 board members in the semi-finals, including representatives from Scandic Hotel Berlin, B'mine Hotels, PKF hospitality group, and Hotel MOA Berlin, represent broad expertise in the industry.
The finalists receive an invitation to the PKF hospitality group's Expo Real dinner in Munich on 6 October, as well as a full-day ticket for the 196+ forum Munich. This includes a stand in the exhibitor area and participation in the gala evening on 7 October. The award winner will also receive complimentary participation in the 196+ forum Munich 2027 with gala and exhibition space, as well as a one-year complimentary membership in the Arbeitskreis Hotelimmobilien (Hotel Property Working Group), including participation in networking dinners and the ancillary programme of the four annual AK meetings from October 2026 to September 2027.
