Hospitality Fair - Hospitality Award Winners Announced: Mochela

Hospitality – Il Salone dell'Accoglienza and WMF – We Make Future recognize two projects that use music, acoustic comfort, and technology to promote well-being, inclusion, and guest relations.

From Trentino to Puglia, inclusive hospitality spans Italy, transcending geographical boundaries and embracing hospitality with a shared vision: transforming sound into a defining element of a place and creating an experience that moves and leaves a lasting impression.

Mochela of Rovereto (TN) and OOOM Homely Suites of Lecce are the winners of the “Hospitality Award – Notes on Inclusivity and Hospitality”, the contest promoted by Hospitality – Il Salone dell'Accoglienza , a leading international event in Italy for hotels and restaurants organised by Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, in collaboration with WMF - We Make Future , the largest Italian fair dedicated to digital innovation.

Awarded on stage at WMF 2026 in Bologna, Mochela and OOOM Homely Suites interpret the role of sound in the hospitality experience in different but equally effective ways: the former as a tool for relationships and social inclusion, the latter through technology, accessibility, and experience design.

"Sound impacts comfort, the quality of relationships, and the way people experience and perceive a place. Mochela and OOOM Homely Suites demonstrate how music and soundscapes can become distinctive elements of hospitality, fostering well-being and inclusion. This approach reflects the values of DI OGNUNO—Riva del Garda Fierecongressi's Hospitality initiative dedicated to accessibility in the HoReCa sector, developed with Lombardini22 and Village for all – V4A. It's a vision we share and which also guides this project, through which we promote an increasingly broad reflection on the themes of inclusion and universal design," comments Giovanna Voltolini, Group Exhibition Manager at Riva del Garda Fierecongressi .

The winners were selected by a jury composed of Giovanna Voltolini, Group Exhibition Manager of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi; Lisa Battaglia, PM & Event Manager of WMF – We Make Future and Search On Media Group; and Michelangelo Guarise, CEO & Founder of CORRD and Volumio. The panel evaluated applications from across Italy and from organizations ranging in size and scope, confirming the increasingly central role of acoustic design in the evolution of contemporary hospitality.

The winners will also participate in the 51st edition of Hospitality – Il Salone dell'Accoglienza, scheduled in Riva del Garda from February 1 to 4, 2027, where they will have the opportunity to meet a large audience of HoReCa professionals.

Mochela: Music as a tool for community and inclusion

Mochela, a venue in Rovereto, received recognition for integrating music into its daily routine, transforming it into a tool for connection, well-being, and participation. Among its distinguishing features were its investment in acoustic comfort, with the installation of certified sound-absorbing panels, and its collaboration with Rock Spectrum Experience, an initiative that promotes accessibility for neurodivergent individuals through the language of music. What won over the jury was the project's balanced approach, in which music is not merely entertainment but a genuine means of connection. It is a model capable of combining structural inclusion, replicability, and professional hospitality.

OOOM Homely Suites: Technology and Sensory Hospitality

Located in the historic center of Lecce, OOOM Homely Suites is a hospitality facility designed by a blind entrepreneur. "OOOM – Hospitality Mantra" uses motion sensors that activate sound tracks designed to guide guests through common areas, which are enriched by iconic design objects. Throughout this journey, the lack of sight is compensated for by an immersive sensory experience meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, transforming the passage through the spaces into a moment of discovery and connection. Attention was also paid to lighting comfort: music and light become two complementary tools of inclusion. The jury recognized the value of a proposal that discreetly yet effectively integrates technology, focusing on the element of surprise and thoughtful design.