Málaga, February 5, 2025.– A great edition of H&T, Hospitality Innovation Trade Show, has come to a close with more than 18,000 professional visitors from the hospitality, hotel, and tourism industries, attending three days of maximum activity at FYCMA (Málaga Trade Fair and Congress Center). The 2025 event has grown in key indicators—more than 500 companies and entities, as well as 17 represented countries—and has improved in quality regarding the visitor profile, which has been characterized by its high purchasing power. The scale of the trade show is also visible in the attendance of national sector associations, which have supported the event and contribute annually with their knowledge, commitment, and their own meetings and forums. This includes the Confederation of Hospitality Businesses of Spain and the Federation of Hospitality Entrepreneurs of Andalusia, which hosted the 5th National Hospitality Forum; the Málaga Hoteliers Association (Mahos); the Costa del Sol Hoteliers Association (Aehcos); the Costa del Sol Beach Entrepreneurs Association (Aeplayas); and the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations, which also held its Executive Committee meeting.

All of this reinforces its positioning as one of the most important sector events in the national arena, providing the industry with top-level business opportunities, internationalization, and trends for a global market.

It is worth mentioning that on its last day, the career of José Luis Yzuel, president of the Confederation of Hospitality Businesses of Spain, was recognized in the field of hospitality and the hotel industry, as part of the H&T Awards. The Best Wines of H&T 2025 awards were also presented, celebrating their eighth edition, and hospitality schools from the province were recognized in the XI Provincial Young Chef Contest Sabor a Málaga. The closing ceremony was attended by the Councillor for Innovation, Digitalization, and Investment Attraction from the Málaga City Council and the person responsible for FYCMA, Alicia Izquierdo; the president of the Provincial Council of Málaga, Francisco Salado; the managing director of the Public Company for the Management of Tourism and Sport of Andalusia, Lisardo Morán; the president of the H&T 2025 Organizing Committee, the Málaga Hoteliers Association (Mahos), and Hospitality of Andalusia, Javier Frutos; the executive vice president of the Costa del Sol Hoteliers Association (Aehcos), Javier Hernández; and the vice president of the Costa del Sol Beach Entrepreneurs Association (Aeplayas), Patricia Ojeda.

They all agreed in highlighting the high level of the exhibition area, with a display of cutting-edge products and projects in the sector, in addition to the expertise of the professionals involved in the content program, which further reinforces the excellence and quality of H&T.

H&T Awards and Best Wines of H&T 2025 Awards

H&T has closed the 2025 edition with the award ceremony for key distinctions for the trade show, recognizing its commitment to innovation, knowledge, and quality, both in the hospitality, hotel, and tourism sectors, as well as in a product that is crucial for the gastronomic leadership of destinations, such as wine.

In the H&T Awards, whose aim is to recognize talent and innovation within the hospitality and tourism industry, alongside the career of José Luis Yzuel, the work of large companies and SMEs, as well as micro-SMEs, entrepreneurs, spin-offs, startups, and Andalusian SMEs, has been recognized from different perspectives. With 21 applications submitted, the award for Best Andalusian SME went to IURBAN, with Paraty Hotels also being a finalist. In the category for micro-SMEs, entrepreneurs, spin-offs, and startups, the award went to Orbisk, which will also receive a financial prize of 1,000 euros. The finalists in this category were AMALia and Yurest. Meanwhile, Macrun-Girbau won the award in the category for large companies and SMEs, with Winterhalter and Bunzl as finalists.

On the other hand, the nine categories of the eighth edition of the Best Wines of H&T Award were also presented. This competition has become consolidated at the trade show for its commitment to the quality of the wine industry, and its final tasting was held on the first day of the event. In the category of dry liqueur wines, the winner was Carpe Diem Blanco Seco Bajo Velo de Flor from Bodega Carpe Diem, with the exhibitor Sabor a Málaga. In the sparkling wines category, the award went to Tartratos from Bodega Antonio Muñoz Cabrera (Dimobe) and exhibitor Sabor a Málaga. The winner in the rosé wines category was Capuchina Vieja Kium, made by Bodegas y Viñedos de la Capuchina, exhibitor H&T Vinodoble. In the category for young white wines, the award was given to Colección Mil from Marqués de Villalua, exhibitor Viñafiel. In the category for whites fermented and/or aged in barrels, the winner was Lagar de Proventus Alvarinho Sobre Lías, made by Tresmano, exhibitor Pebar. In the red wines oak category, the winner was Viña Salceda ‘La Rellanilla’ from Viña Salceda, exhibitor Pebar. In the sweet wines category, Piamater from Antonio Muñoz Cabrera (Dimobe) and exhibitor Sabor a Málaga was chosen. The best red wine with aging was Balcón de Pilatos, made by Valdemar, exhibitor Pebar. Finally, in the young red wines category, the winner was Tinajas de Fontedei, exhibitor Sabor Granada.

XI Provincial Young Chef Contest Sabor a Málaga

On this final day, the work and effort of the students from the hospitality schools in the province were also awarded and recognized, which is the main objective of the XI Provincial Young Chef Contest Sabor a Málaga, organized by the Provincial Council through its promotional agro-food products brand. This year, the award went to Javier López León from the Benahavís Hospitality School, with José Antonio Portillo Moreno from La Fábrica Hospitality School in Antequera and Rubén Ruiz Machuca from IES La Rosaleda also being finalists.

H&T has been organized by FYCMA (Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga), part of the Málaga City Council. The Tourism and Andalucía Exterior Department of the Andalusian Government has been a Premium Partner. The event was promoted by the Málaga City Council, the Provincial Council of Málaga through Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol and the promotional brand ‘Sabor a Málaga’. Sectorial promoters included the Association of Beach Entrepreneurs of Málaga-Costa del Sol (Aeplayas), the Málaga Hoteliers Association (Mahos), and the Costa del Sol Hoteliers Association (Aehcos). Makro and Nespresso Professional participated as Golden Partners, while Cervezas San Miguel and Solán de Cabras were Silver Partners. Additionally, Gastrocampus de Innovación, promoted by the University of Málaga through its Faculty of Tourism, was a Bronze Partner.

All the information about the event can be found at http://www.salonhyt.com/, and on the social media profiles of Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.