Brexit and cyber security top of the agenda at this year’s HOSPACE

This year’s HOSPACE, the annual conference and exhibition of Hospitality Finance, Revenue and IT Professionals (HOSPA), will focus on Brexit, cyber security, evidence based HR and the dynamics of OTAs.

Taking place at the Royal Lancaster London on 2 November, John Guthrie, employment policy advisor at the British Hospitality Association (BHA), will be joined by last year’s Brexit panellists. This includes Martine Ainsworth-Wells, head of destination engagement, ETOA (European Tour Operators Association); Jeremy Robinson, partner of Watson Farley Williams; and Mark Essex, director, public policy of KPMG.

The panelists will discuss the impact leaving the EU will have on the hospitality industry with questions put to them by panel chairman Robert Barnard, Partner at BDO.

The value of evidence based HR and ‘people data’ will also be looked at by expert panelists Dr. Judie Gannon, senior lecturer at Oxford Brookes University; Ann Whelan, vice president human resources – Europe, Jumeirah; Emma Jayne, director of human resources, The Savoy, London; and Laura Wigley, global talent and learning director, The Dorchester Collection.

Moderating the panel will be Stephen Bevan, head of HR research development at the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), and honorary professor at the University of Lancaster Management School.

Discussing cyber security will be David Nicolson, vice president finance – Europe, Jumeirah Group; Michael Heyward, managing director of Heyward Hospitality Solutions; and David Derbyshire, director IT service delivery, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Field Technology Services, Hilton Worldwide.

Ted Horner, IT expert and managing director of E Horner and Associates will moderate.

The dynamics of OTAs is another topic that’ll be discussed at HOSPACE and moderated by Ally Northfield, director of Revenue by Design. The panellists will be Steve Lowy, chairman of the Hotel Marketing Association and creator of the Umi Hotels brand and Umi Digital; Tracy Murray, senior associate at Hamilton Hotel Partners; and Carol Dodds, vice president of commercial for the UK, Interstate Europe Hotels and Resorts.

The event’s grand finale Gala Awards Dinner will see former rugby union England number eight and Harlequins captain Nick Easter, as a guest speaker, alongside HOSPACE2017 Master of Ceremonies Peter Hancock, chief executive, Pride of Britain Hotels.

The two will present annual HOSPA ‘Inspirational Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2017’ for Finance, Revenue Management, and IT.