Vilnius, the green and welcoming capital of Europe 2025

© Grand Hotel Vilnius – Curio Collection by Hilton

As Vilnius prepares to host the next edition of the European Hotel Awards, the city is making headlines well beyond tourism. European Green Capital 2025, it asserts a unique way of life, between heritage and renewal. We met with Sigita Rudzeviciene, director of the Grand Hotel Vilnius – Curio Collection by Hilton, to discuss Lithuanian hospitality, the role of hotels in the radiance of a city, and the human vision she champions in her profession.

How would you describe the soul of Vilnius to someone who does not yet know the city?

Vilnius is a human-sized, warm city, with a deeply European soul.
It is a dynamic capital, but never overwhelming, where history and nature coexist in harmony.
It often surprises visitors with its light, its contrasts, and this impression of balance between tradition and modernity.

The Grand Hotel Vilnius occupies a strategic place in the city. What is its role in this dynamic?

Our hotel is both a landmark and a link.
Through its location, its history, and its service, it embodies a certain idea of Lithuanian elegance.
But beyond the building, it is the teams, the attention to detail, the care given to the welcome that make it a living actor in the city.
We want every guest to leave with a genuine emotion.

Vilnius has been designated the European Green Capital 2025. What does this distinction mean to you?

It is an immense pride.
It reflects years of efforts to make the city more sustainable, more breathable, more pleasant to live in.
In hospitality too, this green awareness is essential.
We have integrated many sustainable practices, not as constraints, but as natural choices aligned with our environment.

© Grand Hotel Vilnius – Curio Collection by Hilton

In November, the city will host the European Hotel Awards ceremony. What is your view of this event?

I see it as an opportunity, but also as recognition.
That Vilnius has been chosen among so many European cities shows that it is perceived as a place of excellence and future.
It will be a strong moment for our teams, but also for all the professionals in the country who work passionately in this demanding sector that is hospitality.

What is your greatest satisfaction as the director of a hotel of this level?

Seeing a guest leave with stars in their eyes.
Feeling that we have been part of their story, that we have offered more than a service: an atmosphere, a memory, perhaps even a lasting attachment to our city.
This is where the profession takes on its full meaning.

Vilnius does not just welcome: it touches, inspires, and makes you want to return.

Sigita Rudzeviciene, General Director
Grand Hotel Vilnius – Curio Collection by Hilton