/ Witold Ignatowski honoured with the European Hospitality Foundation Award

Krakow, 19 October 2018 - Witold Ignatowski, receives the European Hospitality Foundation (EHF) Award during the 77th General Assembly of HOTREC. This prize recognises the dedication of Mr. Witold Ignatowski to the hospitality sector in Poland.  “I am glad to honour Mr. Witold Ignatowski with the symbol of prestige of the hospitality sector, for all these years of work contributing to the development of tourism in Poland.”, said Ms. Susanne Kraus-Winkler, President of HOTREC and of the EHF. “This award aims at recognising Mr. Ignatowski’s contribution in the field of the tourism sector over the last decades”, added Mr. Joan Gaspart, Vice-President of EHF. Witold Ignatowski has dedicated his entire life to hospitality. In 2006, he became CEO and one of the founders of the Hotele De Silva chain, whose mission has been creating a locally owned, friendly and efficient hotel group. Presently the company manages 15 hotels, including hotels under the De Silva brand, as well as Accor Hotel group’s brands such as Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles. Furthermore, he was chairman of the Hospitality and Gastronomy Commission at the National Institute of Public Health and of the Professional Standards Commission with the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. “I am very grateful  to  receive  such  a  valuable  recognition  on  behalf  of  the  European hospitality industry. It has always been a pleasure to be involved in this wonderful sector” said Mr. Ignatowski. The European Hospitality Foundation award is delivered twice a year to a personality who has contributed, in a remarkable manner, and/ or for a significant number of years to the activities of the hospitality industry. The EHF award was designed by Miquel Planas, famous artist and chairman of the Sculpture Department of Fine Arts of the Fine Arts Faculty of Barcelona. The next EHF award ceremony will take place on 16 May in Finland. For further information: www.hotrec.eu PRESS CONTACT: Marta Machado +32(0) 25136323, [email protected] The European Hospitality Foundation (EHF) was created in 2006 and its objective is to finance non-profit projects related to HOTREC's activities. For more information: http://www.hotrec.eu/about-us/european-hospitalityfoundation.aspx HOTREC represents the hotel, restaurant and café industry at European level. The sector counts in total around 1.9 million businesses, being 99,5% small and medium sized enterprises (90% are micro enterprises, i.e. employing less than 10 people). These businesses make up some 60% of value added. The industry provides some 11.1 million jobs in the EU alone. Together with the other tourism industries, the sector is the 3rd largest industry in Europe. HOTREC brings together 43 national associations representing the interest of this industry in 30 different European countries.