ILUNION Hotels and TecnoHotel launch the second edition of “The 25+ Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector”

The Top 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector Returns, Powered by ILUNION Hotels and TecnoHotel

July 09, 2026

ILUNION Hotels and TecnoHotel launch the second edition of The Top 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector, awards created to give visibility to the people who are reshaping the way tourism and hospitality are understood in Spain.

The initiative highlights professionals capable of turning new ideas into real improvements for the sector. Individuals who, across fields such as technology, sustainability, accessibility, customer experience, or leadership, are driving a new way of doing tourism.

Following the great reception of the first edition, held last October at the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) in Seville, the initiative returns to recognize those who are translating innovation into tangible results.

People capable of converting ideas into results

The Top 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector focuses on the people who make changes happen. The recognition is aimed at professionals who drive companies and projects forward, ensuring they achieve a concrete impact.

For ILUNION Hotels and TecnoHotel, innovating means solving problems, identifying opportunities, and enhancing the experience of everyone in the sector. For this reason, the panel of judges will pay special attention to the results achieved over the past year and each candidate’s ability to turn a proposal into a useful and measurable initiative.

“Innovation holds value when it moves beyond words and enters the reality of organizations. With these awards, we want to shine a light on individuals who have successfully transitioned from idea to action, and from action to a result that improves the industry,” notes Carlos Bello, Director of Innovation, Technology, and Transformation at ILUNION Hotels.

An open call for the entire tourism ecosystem

The call is open to professionals from any area related to tourism. Submissions are welcome from individuals working in hotels, tech companies, startups, agencies, catering/restaurants, transportation, destinations, public bodies, universities, and consultancies.

Candidates may submit their own application or nominate another professional whose work deserves greater visibility. The goal is to bring together diverse profiles and uncover initiatives that, while not always making major headlines, are generating real change within their organizations and the wider industry.

Applications will be evaluated by an independent jury of professionals from the tourism and technology sectors. The panel includes Antonio López de Ávila, Director of Innovation, Education, and Investments at UN Tourism; Silvia Avilés, Director of the Tourism Innovation Summit; Pilar Górriz, Director of Innovation at Renfe; Álvaro Carrillo, General Director of ITH; Albert Pérez Llanos, Co-founder of Hospitalidad Emprendedora; and Yolanda Aguilar, Deputy Minister of Tourism for the Regional Government of Andalusia.

Evaluation criteria include an innovative mindset, leadership, execution capability, practical use of technology, collaboration with other ecosystem stakeholders, and proven impact.

Professional trajectory will also be considered, though primary emphasis will be placed on actions carried out during the evaluation period. The goal is to recognize what each candidate has accomplished recently and the results delivered through their work.

ILUNION Hotels’ InnovACTION Model

This initiative aligns with how ILUNION Hotels approaches transformation. For the company, innovation does not belong solely to the tech department; it spans accessibility, sustainability, efficiency, customer experience, and team management.

This approach is embedded in its InnovACTION model, a way of working focused on identifying specific needs, testing solutions, and implementing them into the hotels’ daily operations.

“At ILUNION Hotels, we talk about InnovACTION because we believe that ideas require methodology, people, and the execution capability to bring them to life. We want to recognize those who dare to challenge how things have always been done and are able to turn that curiosity into a tangible improvement,” explains Carlos Bello.

With this second edition, ILUNION Hotels and TecnoHotel aim to consolidate The Top 25 Most Innovative in the Tourism Sector as an annual fixture for the industry and as a showcase for professionals who are breaking new ground in tourism and hospitality.

Applications Open Until September 8

Applications can be submitted until September 8 via the official call for entries website.

The twenty-five selected professionals will receive their recognition on October 7 during the Tourism Innovation Summit in Seville.