Young Leader Award
Backing what comes next.
A fully funded seat at EHL in Lausanne for one young leader from the Adriatic. Applications are now closed.
A fully funded seat at EHL in Lausanne for one young leader from the Adriatic. Applications are now closed.
A fully funded seat on the Hospitality Concept Strategy programme at EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne — one virtual kick-off session and three days on campus, taught in English, ending in an EHL Certificate of Completion.
Award partner
In the room: hotel and restaurant owners, developers, brand CEOs and general managers from around the world. EHL — founded in Lausanne in 1893 as the world’s first hotel school; QS #1 for Hospitality & Leisure Management 2019–2026. Ambassador role: content around the programme, updates during the year, and an appearance at HOW 2027.
How it works
Official jury: 5–10 people announced before the festival — senior leaders from regional hospitality groups, an EHL representative, a HOW founding partner, a previous HOW speaker and at least three international figures.
Adriatic region: Croatia · Slovenia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Montenegro · Serbia · Albania · North Macedonia · Kosovo. No university degree required — but EHL admits either a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, or five or more years in hospitality management, so a candidate without a degree needs five years to take up the prize.
How the winner is chosen
Jury total 100 · maximum 130. Voting can shift the result, but it cannot outweigh the jury. Votes are verified and locked before the final.
Thank you to everyone who applied. The Top 10 finalists will be announced in October, and the winner on the main stage on 30 October.
The Pulse · Doors open in