London, 21st October 2025 – The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance), today announces the appointment of Capital European Affairs (CEA), founded by Dr. István Ujhelyi, former Member of the European Parliament and UN Tourism Ambassador to the EU, to represent the Alliance at the European level. This appointment will deepen relationships with EU institutions, policymakers, and industry partners, while expanding the Alliance’s regional impact.
Dr. Ujhelyi, as a jurist, former Secretary of State, and former Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, has been a leading figure in European policy for over two decades. Twice named MEP of the Year, he initiated the European Capital of Smart Tourism programme and championed youth mobility through DiscoverEU. He currently serves as UN Tourism Ambassador to the EU and is the Founder and President of Capital European Affairs – Brussels based NGO that acts as a hub for international tourism organizations in the EU capital, working to unite key global stakeholders and strengthen the collective voice of the tourism industry in the EU.
“Europe is pivotal to the tourism and hospitality transition,” said Glenn Mandziuk, President & CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. “Dr. Ujhelyi’s extensive EU experience and CEA’s Brussels-based expertise will help us translate our global strategy into tangible regional outcomes, supporting members, catalysing investment, and informing policy with on-the-ground insight.”
Capital European Affairs will focus on representing the Alliance at key meetings with EU institutions, organising strategic roundtables and solutions labs in Brussel, forging partnerships to grow Alliance membership and programmes, supporting the Alliance’s Accelerator programme and related grant opportunities as well as coordinating intelligence briefings that track legislative and market developments relevant to the sector.
Commenting on their new role, Dr. Ujhelyi’s said:
“Tourism is a vital driver of the European economy, generating millions of jobs and contributing significantly to growth, regional development, and cultural exchange. The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance plays a crucial role in steering the hospitality sector towards sustainable growth, which is now more important than ever. It is a true honour for me and my team at Capital European Affairs to represent the Alliance in Brussels, strengthen its voice at the heart of Europe and to build bridges between continents, companies, and economic sectors”
The Alliance brings together the world’s largest hospitality companies, representing over 66,000 hotels across 300 brands and more than 8 million rooms. With partners ranging from investors to suppliers and NGOs, the Alliance delivers practical programmes and resources to accelerate the industry’s progress towards Net Positive Hospitality, an ambition to give back to destinations more than it takes.
For more information about the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and its initiatives, please visit sustainablehospitalityalliance.org.
