CONFERENCE AGENDA
London, 25 - 26 February 2026
Schedule
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Welcome address
The road to 2030: designing the future of hospitality today
As the hospitality landscape evolves, the next five years promises major shifts driven by technology, sustainability, and changing guest expectations. This keynote explores how hotels can proactively design their future to stay relevant and impactful.
- Discover how innovation will reshape hospitality by 2030
- Debate the balance between tech advancements and human connection
- Learn about emerging trends that will redefine guest experiences
Bridging business and beauty through strategic design
From behind the bar to the boardroom: empowering the next generation of hoteliers
From car parks to department stores: Zedwell’s radical approach to city spaces
From empty desks to booked rooms: the upside of adaptive reuse in hospitality
How to make the high-net-worth customer your best marketers in a world of social media
2026 outlook: key trends and opportunities to boost revenue
Smart rooms, smarter energy: how intelligent control delivers real sustainability gains
As hotels face increasing pressure to meet ESG and net-zero targets, intelligent room control is emerging as a key sustainability enabler. In this session, Lee Nunn of Zennio UK explores how open-standard Guest Room Management Systems (GRMS) can significantly reduce energy waste through occupancy-based automation, system integration, and smart data use.
Drawing on results from Zennio’s owndata, Lee will demonstrate how intelligent control of HVAC and lighting can achieve energy savings of up to 60%, delivering measurable environmental and commercial benefits without compromising guest experience.
Placing wellness at the centre of design
Wellness is no longer optional. More than ever, guests expect spaces that support mind, body and soul health. This discussion uncovers design strategies that integrate wellness seamlessly into the guest experience.
- Discover how wellness design meets modern guest expectations
- Learn practical ways to integrate mind-body balance in spaces
- Debate wellness as a trend vs. a lasting hospitality shift
Should chatbots replace the concierge?
Automation is reshaping how accomodations run their day-to-day operations. Can chatbots really replace the warmth and knowledge of a concierge? This panel weighs the benefits and limits of technology in personalised service.
- Debate the pros and cons of automation vs. human service
- Learn when chatbots enhance guest experience and when they fall short
- Discover hybrid models that balance efficiency with empathy
The future of personalisation: how AI and data are transforming hotel marketing
In partnership with HSMAI.
Key takeaways:
- How to use first-party data to drive guest loyalty and direct bookings in the cookieless era.
- Practical examples of how AI and automation are reshaping campaigns and guest communication
- What’s next: balancing personalisation, privacy, and profitability.
What does it mean to be a sustainable hotel?
Hospitality, more than ever, is putting a focus on how to be more sustainable. It is about meaningful action that benefits the planet and the guest. This panel discusses how hotels can authentically embed sustainability into operations.
- Discover how to move beyond green-washing to real sustainability
- Learn ways to engage guests in your green initiatives
- Debate whether sustainability can enhance guest comfort
Why are hospitality graduates leaving the industry and what can we do to fix it?
The hospitality industry faces a critical talent drain as new graduates seek opportunities elsewhere. This panel dives into what’s pushing them away and how hotels can reinvent themselves to become attractive career destinations.
- Find out why young talent is walking away and what the industry can change
- Debate new approaches to retention, mentorship, and career development
- Learn about reimagining hospitality roles to attract the next generation
From scripted to self-driven: the agentic future of hospitality AI
Greening what we've got: lessons from upgrading existing buildings
Luxury 2.0: redefining aspiration in a post-material world
Beyond the booking: how real-time personalisation unlocks ancillary revenue
Live session with The Interior Design Podcast
How can AI save me money?
AI is positionied as a money-saver, but how can it truly optimise costs and unlock revenue? This session explores practical applications and the human-AI balance needed for success.
- Find out how AI can optimise costs and unlock new revenue streams
- Learn about potential risks and ethical considerations with AI
- Debate how staff can work alongside AI to improve operations
How can thoughtful spaces elevate the guest experience?
Design shapes more than looks: it creates emotional memories. This session explores how thoughtful sensory and spatial choices transform guest stays.
- Find out how design influences guest emotions and memories
- Learn the impact of sensory elements like lighting and texture
- Debate how design storytelling shapes brand identity
New voices, new vision: the future of hotel leadership
On the journey to net zero: how circular design is shaping the future of hometels
The end of SEO as we know it: what's next for digital discovery
Why digital doesn’t have to mean distant
Social commerce era: why your next direct booking will come from a reel, not a search
Beyond the buzzword: the people turning hotel sustainability into reality
Is digital convenience enhancing or diminishing the guest experience?
From self-check-in to smart rooms, digital tools are everywhere! Yet, some worry they take away from hospitality’s soul. This panel debates where digital convenience adds value and where it doesn’t.
- Debate the impact of digital tools on hospitality’s ‘soul’ and ‘heart’
- Discover which tech conveniences guests actually value, and which they could do without
- Learn how to blend digital ease with personal warmth
Outsmarting the giants: how independent hotels can use GEO to win generative searches
Small businesses can outsmart big players by using generative search technology. This session shares strategies for leveraging AI-powered search to create personalised, relevant content that drives engagement and growth.
- Discover how generative search helps independents deliver tailored, meaningful search experiences
- Learn creative ways to use AI for faster, smarter content creation
- Discuss how generative search can provide a sustainable competitive advantage
Pivot or preserve? The renovation and repositioning dilemma in hospitality
Hotels must constantly evolve, but when do you preserve heritage versus reinvent? This session discusses balancing guest loyalty with fresh appeal.
- Find out when to preserve heritage and when to renovate boldly
- Debate how to keep existing guests while attracting new ones
- Learn common renovation pitfalls to avoid
Redesigning hospitality for the future: how can we balance flexibility without compromising service?
Flexibility is key in today’s hospitality industry, but how do hotels maintain exceptional service amid growing customisation demands? This session explores strategies for delivering adaptable yet consistent guest experiences.
- Discover strategies for delivering flexible service without losing quality
- Debate the role of technology in maintaining a personal touch
- Learn how to meet evolving guest expectations on customisation and consistency
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Welcome address
Discovering the ‘hospitality’ in the hospitality industry
Justifying the spend on elevated hospitality
Using hyper-local f&b to forge an unforgettable boutique identity
Beat the burnout with Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action’s recent research shows that for an alarming number of hospitality workers, ‘burnout is just part of the job’. When resources are tight and staff are forced to do more with less every shift, poor mental health, frayed relationships and no-shows can lead to unhappy customers and lost business.
When the team is stressed, it falls on managers to steady the ship and deal with problems as they arise. That’s why it’s so important they’re trained to react with confidence and have the frameworks to solve problems as they happen.
Join Hospitality Action & training partner Elevo to discover how a simple framework of support for managers can make the difference between surviving and thriving in your business. You’ll leave the session with actionable insights and a greater understanding of the pressures your workforce are likely to be feeling right now.
Rethinking hotel success: what really drives profit?
Profitability today means more than just room rates and occupancy. This panel explores new metrics and revenue streams that define real success in hospitality.
- Discover new ways to define and measure hotel profitability
- Ancillary revenue: the role of non-room profit in financial success
- Learn how guest lifetime value changes revenue strategy
The future is boutique: trends and tools that are making guests look beyond the big brands
Guests are increasingly seeking authentic, local experiences over standardised brand stays. This panel discusses how boutique and independent hotels can capitalise on this trend by leveraging their uniqueness.
- Find out what boutique hotels offer that big brands can’t
- Discover how to authentically incorporate culture without clichés
- Explore tech tools helping independents gain visibility
The hospitality playbook: how winning hotels are staying ahead of the game
Successful hotels share common traits. This discussion uncovers winning leadership strategies that keep hotels thriving amid an ever-changing industry.
- Discover the mindsets and habits of successful hotel leaders
- Debate how to foster innovation without losing focus
- Learn why social responsibility matters more than ever for leadership
How Corinthia is using their legacy to drive modern hospitality
Maximising revenue through flexible living
The increasingly commercially critical role of the Technology Director
Resilient leadership: fostering mental wellbeing in your team and yourself
Tech-Enabled Hospitality: five forces reshaping the business of hospitality
Are independent hotels being squeezed out of the market?
In a market dominated by giants, independents face tough challenges but also unique opportunities. This discussion focuses on survival strategies through collaboration, innovation, and branding.
- Debate the challenges and opportunities facing independent hotels today
- Learn about collaboration and innovation as survival strategies
- Discover how to turn “independent” into a powerful brand identity
How can hotel leaders balance profitability with social responsibility?
Profit and purpose don’t have to be at odds. This session will explore how sustainability and ethics can drive financial success and brand loyalty.
- Debate the real costs and benefits of sustainability initiatives
- Find out how to get buy-in from stakeholders for ethical investments
- Learn practical ways to align profit goals with purpose
The new rules of revenue: selling in uncertain times
In partnership with HSMAI.
Key takeaways:
- How sales and revenue teams must collaborate to maximise total revenue in 2026 and beyond
- Strategies for dynamic pricing and responding to unpredictable demand
- Success stories: innovative approaches to drive top line growth in an uncertain economy.
Unlocking the power of diversity and inclusion in hospitality
Diversity is just the start - true inclusion transforms teams and guest experiences. This panel explores how hospitality can build cultures where everyone feels valued and empowered.
- Discover the business and cultural benefits of true inclusion
- Debate how to create welcoming, equitable environments
- Learn ways to overcome barriers and foster diverse leadership
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