Vilnius:Azerbaijan took part in the 93rd General Assembly of the European Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés Association (HOTREC) and the 12th General Assembly of the Hotelstars Union (HSU) in Vilnius, Lithuania. The country was represented by Rashad Aliyev, Deputy CEO of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, and Asmar Shabanova, Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Hotel Association.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, discussions at the assemblies focused on the development of the hospitality sector, covering topics such as hotel classification criteria, service quality improvement, regulatory and institutional reforms, digitalization, and sustainability. European hotel association representatives exchanged views on industry best practices and explored opportunities for cooperation.

Rashad Aliyev presented Azerbaijan's initiatives in hotel classification and outlined efforts to advance the country's hotel sector. Meetings were also held with HOTREC President Alexandros Vassilikos and Hotelstars Union President Markus Luthe to discuss the application of international best practices in Azerbaijan and explore future cooperation opportunities.

Participation in these events is intended to bolster Azerbaijan's cooperation with European partners, enhancing the development of its hospitality sector through the exchange of best practices in hotel classification and service quality.