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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.
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Home > Latest News > Hotels > Travelodge reveals list of ‘bizarre requests’
Travelodge reveals list of ‘bizarre requests’

Travelodge reveals list of ‘bizarre requests’

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.

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Travelodge has today released its annual list of the most bizarre requests that some of its guests have made over the past 12 months.

Questions posed to hotel teams at the company’s 506 UK properties ranged from: “Is haggis an animal?”, to “What time do the Northern Lights come on?”, and “Where can I find Cameron’s Northern Powerhouse?”

Other questions included: “What time does Nessie come up for visitors?”; “What time does Big Ben go to sleep?”; “Can you ask the seagulls to be quiet?”; and “Can you babysit my family of gnomes whilst I go out to dinner tonight?”

A Travelodge spokesperson said: “With over 17 million customers staying annually in our 506 hotels, our hotel teams receive thousands of unusual requests from business and leisure travellers.

“Our hotel teams will always try their best to accommodate all customer requests but there are some requests that we physically just cannot help with such as controlling the weather, arranging a meeting with Nessie and switching on the Northern Lights.”

In addition, the receptionist at Holyhead Travelodge was asked by one customer: “Can you ask the ferry company to stop lorries arriving on the freight ferry?”. At Macclesfield Central a customer asked if the hotel could be redesigned, suggesting: “Can Travelodge move the rooms so that they are all at the back of the hotel?”.

Meanwhile, at King’s Cross Central Travelodge, a Harry Potter fan asked the hotel manager: “What train do I get from Kings Cross to Hogwarts?”

The full list:

Hotel Customer Request
Aberdeen Justice Mill Lane What time do I need to wake up to see the Scotch Mist?
Bath Waterside Can you babysit my family of gnomes whilst I go out to dinner tonight?
Bicester Cherwell Valley Can you come shopping with me to Bicester Village and be my translator and help carry my shopping?
Birmingham Airport Can I have a room close to the runway as I don’t want to miss my plane?
Birmingham Broadway Plaza Can you find us someone to perform a multi faith wedding?
Birmingham Bull Ring I know checkout is at 12pm but am I allowed out before then or do I have to stay inside?

Please can you divert the marathon while I leave the city?

Bodmin Roche How do I get out of the front door?
Bradford Can you accompany me to my meeting and pretend to be my PA?
Brighton Seafront Can you count out 100 beans as that’s my limit for breakfast?
Bristol Central Mitchell Lane Can you arrange for the moon to look into my room as I want to propose to my girlfriend under the moonlight?
Cambridge Central Can I have an instruction manual next to the sink to show me how to use the tap?
Cambridge Orchard Road Can you please write me a letter in Spanish?
Cardiff Atlantic Wharf Does Laver bread contain real lava?
Cheshire Oakes Can someone help me get my dinosaur off the roof?
Chippenham East Can you turn the rain off?
Edinburgh Airport Does the airport shuttle take me directly to the plane?
Edinburgh Rose Street What time do the Northern Lights come on?
Edinburgh Princes Street Can you type a report on my iPhone if I dictate it you?
Glossop What’s the best time to cross Snake Pass to avoid snakes?
Gloucester Where can I find the stinking bishop?
Guildford Can you please be my chauffeur for the day as I need to impress my clients?
Harrogate West Park Can you serenade my partner with our song this evening for our anniversary?
Holyhead Can you ask the ferry company to stop lorries arriving on the freight ferry?
Inverness Is haggis an animal?

Is there a bridge to England or do I have to fly?

Kendal Where can I find Peter Rabbit?
Leeds Colton Does your saver room have electricity?
Llandudno Can you make the seagulls be quiet?
Liverpool Exchange Street Can you come to Anfield with me as I heard you cannot walk alone to the stadium?

What time will the Liver Birds be landing at Pier Head?

London Battersea Can you ask the Emergency Services to turn the siren volume down?
London City Road Can I borrow your suit as I have burnt my trousers?

Can you arrange for the changing of the guards to happen after lunch as I have an appointment in the morning?

London Covent Garden Can you reserve a whole train carriage for me as I have an important presentation and I need to rehearse on my journey from London to Edinburgh?
London Euston What time does Big Ben go to sleep?
London Kings Cross Central What train do I get from Kings Cross to get to Hogwarts?
London Marylebone Can you call me out of a meeting and say it’s an emergency so that I can catch my train?
London Park Royal Can you get me a turban as I am visiting the Neasden temple?
Macclesfield Central Can Travelodge move the rooms so that they are all at the back of the hotel?
Manchester Ancoats Do you have a Spanish member of staff that can be a translator on a conference call?
Manchester Piccadilly Where can I find Cameron’s Northern Powerhouse?
Newcastle Gateshead Can you go and pick my boss up from the airport as I need to finish off my report?
Newcastle Gosforth Does the Angel of the North ever visit the South?
Norwich Cringleford Could the electricity pylons be moved for my next stay?
Nottingham Central Whilst you are standing behind reception can you write out my wedding cards? I have 200 to post today.
Nottingham Riverside Can you sit-in on a conference call and be my translator as I don’t speak Mandarin?
Pontefract Can I walk on the A1?
Reading Central Can I hold a brainstorm with your team?
Sheffield Meadowhall Can you fill my bath with exactly 100 litres of Evian water at a temperature of 38 degrees?

Can you arrange for us to have Christmas Day in July?

St Austell Does Stargazy Pie contain stars?
Warrington Can you help me design my company website?
Watford Where is the gap in Watford?
Winnersh Triangle Can you star in our company’s corporate video as an employee?
York Central Can I please practice my pitch on you and your team?
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