InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) was awarded the Jury Grand Prix at this year's Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.

Overall, the event paid tribute to hotelier achievement, especially triumphant during one of the most difficult periods for the industry. The ceremony was also joined by newly elected French Minister of Tourism Fr�d�ric Lefebvre who addressed the audience with his plans and strategy, stating that just because tourism in France is already working much better than other industries it should not receive any less investment from the government.

Over 1000 people from around the world gathered at the InterContinental Paris Le-Grand's Opera Garnier to congratulate the winners. Among the award participants were 200 hotel brands from 27 countries , including the world's leading operators and groups.

"Throughout the year there are many conferences and awards related to the hospitality and hotel industry, but this evening's Worldwide Hospitality Awards is surely the best of its kind," Chairman of the ceremony, President & CEO of Carlson Group, Hubert Joly said in his address to the audience.

This year's Lifetime Achievement was presented to Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group. "It's fantastic to be recognised here in Paris at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards. This award is truly representative of the hard work and dedication of the entire team I work with at Jumeirah," said Lawless, dedicating the award to his many inspirations, including his wife, current employer Jumeirah Group and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as former employer Rocco Forte.

Winners and finalists at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2010:

• Lifetime Achievement
  WINNER : Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman, Jumeirah Group
  
  
• Jury Grand Prix
  WINNER : InterContinental Hotel Group
  Finalists: Louvre Hotels / Golden Tulip Hospitality NH Hoteles
  
  
• Best Advertising Campaign
  Winner : Ibis
  Finalists: All Seasons Kyriad
  
  
• Best Marketing / e-Commerce operation
  WINNER : Royal Riviera
  Finalists: Dolce Hotels and Resorts The Rezidor Hotel Group
  
  
• Best Initiative in Sustainable Development
  WINNER : B&B
  Finalists Accor Hospitality Pierre & Vacances / Center Parcs
  
  
• Best Human Resources Management Program
  WINNER : Novotel
  Finalists: InterContinental Hotel Group Shangri-La
  
  
• Best Clients' experience program
  WINNER : Swissotel
  Finalists: Hi Park R�sidences The Pavilions Phuket
  
  
• Best Innovative concept in the limited service category
  WINNER : Campanile
  Finalists: Freestyle - Milan Onomo - Dakar
  
  
• Best Innovative concept in the full service category
  WINNER : Andaz Hyatt
  Finalists: Hotel Missoni So Spa Sofitel
  
  
• Best hotel novelty of the year
  WINNER : W Barcelona
  Finalists: Le Gray Beirut Pantone Hotel Brussels
  
  
• Best General Manager
  WINNER : Michel Jauslin, General Manager Park Hyatt Paris Vend�me
  Finalists: Geraldine Dobey - General Manager, Hilton Arc de Triomphe Fr�d�ric Picard - General Manager, Mazagan Resort Morocco

Winners and finalists at the Worldwide Hospitality Management Schools Awards 2010:

• Best Hospitality management school communication
  Winner : Blue Mountains International Hotel School Australia
  Finalists: Escola de hotelaria e turismo de lisboa Vatel Group
  
  
• Best Hospitality management school educational innovation
  Winner : Vatel Bordeaux
  Finalists: Blue Mountains International School Australia Glion Institute of Higher Education
  
  
• Best professional success
  Winner : Guillaume Verchere, Regional Financial Controller Benelux - The Rezidor Hotel Group / Vatel Lyon
  Finalists: Elsa Biscaut, General Director Hidden Hotel / Les Roches, International school of hotel management, Switzerland Jan Kroeckel, Operations Manager, Novotel Phan Thiet Ocean Dunes & Golf / Vatel Bangkok
  
  
• Best young graduates integration program
  Winner : Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
  Finalists: Accor Hospitality Louvre Hotels / Golden Tulip Hospitality

Event Official Partners: Accor Hospitality, Atout France, Baccarat, Evian/Danone Water, Equip'Hotel Paris, H�tel Fouquet's Barri�re, France 24, HTR Magazine, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, INEO GDF Suez, InterContinental Le Grand H�tel, Karcher, Louvre Hotels/Golden Tulip Hospitality, MKG Group, Palmes d'Or/Nicolas Feuillatte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Samsung, Sealy, Soft Audiovisuel, TV5MONDE, Vatel Group.

About MKG Group
Established in 1985, MKG Group has built a reputation for solid business expertise and substantial know-how in the fields of tourism, lodging and food service. MKG Group meets the needs of each of its clients by providing the valuable analytical and decision-making skills necessary for success.

Methodology & Innovation
With a team of over 60 experienced consultants, as well as advanced research and analytical tools and applications, MKG Hospitality provides a unique savoir-faire in four major areas of expertise: Market Research; Financial Feasibility Studies; Consulting; and Sector publications.

MKG Hospitality is a global leader in tourism, hotel and catering consulting, with the largest database in the world (outside the US), representing all segments from budget to upscale hotels. MKG’s customised database, Hotel CompSet, contains a sample of over 200 brands and 11,000 corporate chain hotels, representing more than one million rooms. Hotel CompSet provides daily, monthly and yearly monitoring of hotel indicators and analyses of its sample.

Together with other specialised brands, MKG Qualiting, OlaKala, Worldwide Hospitality Awards, Global Lodging Forum, HTR Magazine and Hotel Restau Hedbo, MKG Group supports investors, hoteliers and key tourism players improve performance, boost productivity and achieve results.