A glimpse into the future of hospitality: many seek it and many boast that they have it, but to really understand where innovation is heading, with the certainty that comes only by producing designs, there is a prize, a green label that turns the future into something tangible, something that can bring benefits today. The Smart Label – Host Innovation Awards are now internationally recognised prizes for innovation in the professional hospitality sector, organised by HostMilano and Fiera Milano in partnership with POLI.design and sponsored by ADI – the Industrial Design Association.

The awards go to the most innovative products, services and designs that are distinctive for their functional efficiency, technological content, or their environmental sustainability and ethical or social correctness in three categories, named Smart Label, Innovation Smart Label and Green Smart Label. There are also Special Mentions for food & beverage items that display particularly innovative content.

“There has never been a better time in today’s complex economic and social contexts for design to be turned into a resource capable of gearing society and production systems towards new development models and of becoming a strategic asset,” says Matteo Ingaramo, president of Poli.design. “I am sure that this year’s competition will be a very tough context, with an extremely high level of designs submitted.”

The last five editions (the awards were launched at HostMilano 2013) attracted more than 790 entries with awards made to 256 products and services.

And once again in this sixth edition the winning products, services and designs will be published in a dedicated INDEX and displayed in the SMART Products area during HostMilano 2023, the world’s leading show for professional hospitality and out-of-home eating, which will be held at fieramilano from 13 to 17 October.

Entries can be made by all companies that have signed up for HostMilano 2023 between now and 30 April 2023. A panel of experts and lecturers at Politecnico di Milano will judge them on their efficiency and effectiveness, technological content and usability, as well as on the advantages they give their users.