Evolution of Hotels Conference – Tuesday 29th October.

The conference on 29th October, timed to take place just before Brexit, is a partnership between leading law firm Bird & Bird, The European Hotel Managers Association, HVS and EP. Customers today are looking for new experiences that will inspire them and create the memorable. All over the world, there are hotels creating new service offers and taking advantage of new opportunities which makes this an exciting time for the hotel sector. We look forward to an interesting day of knowledge sharing and debate from industry experts with a global perspective. Three industry experts that will be joining us on the day: David Read – Chairman, Prestige Purchasing David has worked in the industry for over 40 years. He leads the business where it needs to go, and is very involved with products, services and particularly clients. Alum Williams – Managing Director, Men's Lifestyle and Health & Fitness Alun oversees Hearst’s market-leading portfolio of Men’s Lifestyle and Health & Fitness brands – Esquire, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World and NetDoctor. Under Alun’s tenure, Men’s Health has become the best-selling male lifestyle title in the UK and  Runner’s World the biggest-selling sports magazine. Edward Griffiths, CVO, Chair of The Gold Service Scholarship Award He is a founding Trustee of The Gold Service Scholarship and acts as Chairman of the Competition Group. He is on the Board of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and is a Patron of the University of West London, from where he holds an Honorary Doctorate of Science. Programme 8.00am - 8.30am: Arrival and breakfast   8.30am - 8.45am: Welcome: Chris Sheppardson, Founder, EP and Karen Friebe, Partner, Bird & Bird. 8.45am - 9.15am: The landscape of today. Key performance trends, indicators and influencers in the hotel market - Russell Kett, Chairman, HVS. 9.15am - 9.40am: The Consumer’s perception of F&B in hotels. Is it good or bad? – HGEM Guest Experience Management will be presenting the research that they have conducted specifically for this conference on how F&B is perceived in hotels. James Robson, Restaurateur, Mews of Mayfair, will give his views alongside HGEM. 09.45am - 10.15am: Breakout session The European perspective: What is Europe’s view on consumer changes and the evolution of hotels? – Gioele Camarlinghi – Director, EHMA, Michael Gray - National Delegate UK & Ireland, EHMA, Stephan Stokkermans - Managing Director, Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, The Hague. OR What does wellness look like in the future? Consumer demand for wellbeing is accelerating rapidly, but how is it evolving? Anni Hood, Co-founder & Chief Exec, Well Intelligence.  10.15am - 10.35am: Coffee Break 10.35am - 11.05am: Maximising the purple pound. How can hotels benefit from the value of disabled guests and their families? – Robin Sheppard, Chairman, Bespoke Hotels. 11.10am - 11.40am: Breakout session How can hotels use social media and influencer marketing to engage with their guests: Rebecca Clarke, Associate, Bird & Bird and Alun Williams, Managing Director, Esquire | QP | Men's Health | Runner's World | Women's Health. OR The rising importance of customer service and experience: Edward Griffiths, CVO, Chair of the Gold Service Scholarship Award, the UK's most prestigious front of house award.  11.45am - 12.15pm: Breakout session Sustainability is becoming a major influencer on the consumer: are you behind the times? David Read, Chairman, Prestige Purchasing. OR The need for visible leadership to engage the next generation: How will UK hotels change with Brexit and the need to engage and retain good people. Beverly Payne, General Manager, London Conrad St James Hotel, Mark Pitcher, Founder, Smash The Box and Stuart Sunderland, Founder & CEO City Pantry. 12.15pm - 12.35pm: Coffee Break   12.35pm - 1.05pm: Investor View - Karen Friebe interviews Simon Halliday Chair European Professional Club Rugby and ex England Player on The issue of hotels and hospitality for major global sporting events. 1.05pm - 1.35pm: Hotel distress on the horizon – Tom Paterson, Director, Alix Partners. 1.35pm - 1.40pm: Karen Friebe to round up the day.   1.40pm: Lunch 2.00pm: End