Innovation and fresh ideas are as important to the hospitality sector as to any other industry.

Driving progress and development in the field towards a more sustainable and progressive future, today's young innovators are tomorrow's industry leaders.

As a hospitality school playing a part in shaping the sector's future, we are pleased to introduce the Igeho Rising Star Award which offers up-and-coming hospitality companies the opportunity to present themselves to a broad audience and establish relationships with potential investors and partners.

Taking place at Messe Basel this November, Igeho is one of the world's largest hospitality trade fairs, welcoming over 65,000 trade visitors.

The Rising Star Award is offered in collaboration with Transgourmet/Prodega, the most important international industry platform in Switzerland, with the aim of shining a light on ideas that offer innovative strength, sustainability, market relevance and growth potential.

From the applicants, six nominees will be given a free presentation space in the Innovation Area to showcase their work to thousands of interested professional visitors at Igeho.

The winners in the two categories - Entrepreneurial Concepts and Start-ups - will be selected and announced by an independent jury at the fair and each will receive prize money of CHF 2,500.

Jury member and co-founder of successful FoodTech start-up Planted, Pascal Bieri, is happy about this new stepping-stone in the hospitality sector.

"I can only warmly recommend Star to other founders," he said.

"A great opportunity for start-ups to present themselves to an exciting specialist audience and to benefit from a broad network."

As a country with a strong reputation for supporting innovation, Switzerland is also the world leader when it comes to investment in research and development relative to its gross domestic product.

At Igeho, entrepreneurs and start-ups gain direct access to unique networking opportunities and the chance to gain greater visibility in the industry and position themselves as forward thinkers.

You can find out more about the event and the Rising Star Award here: https://www.igeho.ch/en/igeho-rising-star