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2026 Programme
09:40 – 10:25 Market Insights

Beyond the Horizon

A sharp, data-driven deep dive into the financial and economic currents shaping the UK hotel industry. The panel will unpack raw macroeconomic data, tying CPI changes and debt finance realities directly to RevPAR, ADR, and disposable guest spend.

Jeavon Lolay
Jeavon LolayLloyds Banking
Dave North
Dave NorthLloyds Banking
10:25 – 11:10 Operations

Frontline Fortitude

Hotel operators are caught in a pincer movement: skyrocketing supply chain and labour costs on one side, guests demanding flawless value on the other. This panel digs into asset management, smart cost-control, and building operational agility across diverse portfolios.

Julie White
Julie WhiteAccor
David Anderson
David AndersonAimbridge EMEA
David Hart
David HartRBH Hospitality
11:30 – 12:15 Leadership

The Modern Anchor

Managing a modern hospitality workforce demands a shift from old-school hierarchy to empathetic, visionary leadership. These industry standard-bearers explore how to inspire loyalty across multi-generational teams, foster open communication, and maintain personal mental resilience.

Christian Masters
Christian Mastersart'otel Hoxton
Caroline Gregory
Caroline GregoryThe Lovat Hotel
Simon Numphud
Simon NumphudAA Media Services
12:15 – 13:00 Events Market

The New Roar of MICE

The MICE sector looks radically different than it did a few years ago. From hyper-personalised retreats to tech-heavy hybrid conventions, this session uncovers what today's corporate planners actually want from a venue — and how to maximise yield per square foot.

Shonali Devereaux
Shonali DevereauxMIA
Varun Shetty
Varun ShettyThe Belfry Resort
14:00 – 14:45 Development

Blueprint for Growth

Despite tight credit markets, the appetite for strategic hotel development remains fierce. Brands and asset managers discuss the shift toward conversions, brand repositioning, and adaptive reuse over ground-up builds.

Tim Davis
Tim DavisPACE Dimensions
Gavin Taylor
Gavin TaylorClermont Hotels
Paul Blackmore
Paul BlackmoreHilton
David JM Orr
David JM OrrResident Hotels
14:45 – 15:30 Technology

Beyond the Buzzwords

AI is already driving revenue and plugging labour gaps. This panel cuts through the jargon to showcase how automated guest messaging, contactless check-ins, and predictive analytics can save thousands of labour hours.

DB
David BeersChoice Hotels
RBH
AI SpecialistRBH Management
CT
Canary PanelistCanary Tech
15:55 – 16:40 People & Culture

People First

Recruitment is tough, but retention is where the real battle is won or lost. Industry leaders share actionable advice on mental health initiatives, flexible working models, and defined career progression pathways.

Mark Lewis
Mark LewisHospitality Action
Suzanne Speak
Suzanne SpeakRadisson Group
16:40 – 17:05 Crisis Management

When the Custard Hits the Fan

In a 24/7 digital world, a single bad incident can escalate into a viral PR nightmare within minutes. A compressed, highly practical session delivering an actionable blueprint for emergency communication and brand protection.

CC
PR Leadership TeamCustard Comm.
Companies Joining Us
Accor Hilton Radisson Aimbridge RBH Hospitality The Resident Clermont The Belfry art'otel Hoxton Lloyds Banking Accor Hilton Radisson Aimbridge RBH Hospitality The Resident Clermont The Belfry art'otel Hoxton Lloyds Banking
Headline Sponsor
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Interested in partnering?
Please contact Michael Northcott, Editor and Event Director, at mjn@mulberrymedia.co.uk.
Canary Technologies: The #1 AI-powered guest management system. Trusted by 20,000+ hotels, Canary streamlines operations via contactless check-in, AI guest messaging, and secure transactions that reduce chargebacks by 90%.
Hop Software: A cloud-based Property Management System (PMS) built to reduce hotel expenses and drive direct bookings via commission-free engines. It simplifies complex operations for properties of all sizes at a fraction of legacy costs.
HBD Partners: Industry specialists in hospitality recruitment with 30 years of expertise. HBD focuses on sourcing elite talent and interim leadership to help leisure and travel firms achieve their impact goals.
Home > Features > Advice > Unlock Your Competitive Edge with Seamless Tech Integration
Unlock Your Competitive Edge with Seamless Tech Integration

Unlock Your Competitive Edge with Seamless Tech Integration

In this episode we speak to Nico Tréguer, co-founder of Roberts and Treguer and The Culpeper Family. Nico spoke about founding the group alongside his longtime friend Gareth, having had a vision for bringing more nature spaces to cities, the planned extension of The Buxton in Spitalfields, and how the site’s storytelling engages guests and the local community, how the Culpeper Family’s core sustainability ethos helped it secure its B-Corp status and why hospitality has a responsibility to educate and innovate when it comes to sustainability.

In association with

Running a hotel is more complex and competitive than ever. Between operational demands, rising guest expectations, and the pressure to keep costs low, it’s hard to know where to focus. But there’s one area that can make a big difference quickly: technology.

Whilst it can occasionally mean modernising core tech systems, often the biggest impact can be made with modern, easy-to-integrate tech that plugs into your existing PMS. Even small changes, such as introducing a guest experience app, upsell solution, or direct booking engine, can lead to transformative results that are frequently overlooked or deprioritised.

Being Slow to Prioritise and Adopt Tech—and Why That’s a Mistake

Many hoteliers hesitate when it comes to adopting new technology. And it’s understandable—bad past experiences, fears of high costs, and concerns over complex integrations have made tech adoption feel risky. However, the reality is that the technology of today is light years ahead of what you encountered 20 years ago  or even 10 years ago.

Modern solutions like Chicostay’s platform are designed with ease of use in mind, allowing for straightforward implementation that doesn’t disrupt daily operations. These tools deliver results right away—whether it’s reducing operational complexity, increasing revenue per guest, or saving your staff valuable time.

Tech adoption has moved from a burden to a clear opportunity.

The Cost of Falling Behind

What happens if you don’t adopt modern hotel tech? Your competitors will.

Hotels that have embraced these solutions are already seeing the benefits—higher revenue, reduced costs, and more satisfied guests. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to catch up.

There’s an urgent need to act now as competitors that are leaping ahead because of tech are not only more profitable but in turn have more leeway and options on how they want to compete. Thats why Hotels implementing tech like Chicostay’s solutions not only cut costs but also enhance every step of the guest journey. From personalized pre-stay communications to automated upsells and seamless check-in and checkout, tech can transform how you operate—and guests notice.

Quick Tips for Adopting Hotel Tech Without the Hassle:

  1. Start with Simple Plugins: You don’t need a complete system overhaul. Focus on tech that enhances your PMS with minimal disruption.

  2. Choose a Partner That Takes on the Work: Look for tech providers who handle setup, integration, and ongoing management so you don’t have to and you get more time.

  3. Automate Upsells for More Revenue: Automated upsells create additional revenue streams without extra effort. In-person sales to guests can be uncomfortable for both parties—Chicostay’s retailing solution is designed to solve this.

  4. Reduce Complexity for Staff: Select tools that save your staff administration time, such as automated communication and digital check-in/check-out solutions.

  5. Choose a Tech Partner, Not Just a Supplier: Ensure you select a tech partner who is invested in your success, not just a vendor.

  6. Be Wary of the Partner’s Business Model: Look for tech partnerd whose pricing aligns with your success by not having fixed costs attached to number of rooms but instead correlating to value created; this helps remove risks.

  7. Invest in the People Behind the Tech: Focus on strategic partners with the right skills and experience to help you succeed beyond just the product itself.

Why It’s Critical to Act Now

Here’s the bottom line: modern technology is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s a necessity. Guests expect seamless, tech-enabled experiences. Hotels that don’t keep up with these expectations risk losing out on revenue and guest satisfaction.

More importantly, competitors are already adopting these technologies. Hotels leveraging solutions like Chicostay are experiencing higher revenue per guest, lower operational costs, and smoother day-to-day management. These improvements don’t just help in the short term—they set hotels up for long-term success.
By investing in modern solutions now, you ensure your hotel stays competitive. Chicostay’s platform offers a no-hassle way to implement personalized guest communications, digital check-ins, payments, and upsell opportunities—all in one place. And because it’s web-based, there’s no app to download or complex integration process.

The longer you delay, the more difficult it becomes to compete with hotels that have already adopted these systems. Technology can transform your operations, increase your margins, and improve the guest experience. And the best part? It’s simpler and more cost-effective than ever before.

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