Events

📈 On August 19, in Washington D.C., a panel of experts will gather at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf for the annual State of the Industry event. Registration starts at 4 p.m. Early-bird registration is available until August 10, costing $90 for HSMAI members and $115 for non-members. After August 11, fees increase to $105 and $130, respectively. Sponsored by multiple organizations, attendees are encouraged to donate backpacks for middle school students in the DMV area.

🍴 Tom Kerridge, a Michelin-starred chef, will host a dinner event at Old Course Hotel's Road Hole Restaurant on 14 November 2026, showcasing Scottish ingredients. Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean baker, will host a Scottish-inspired afternoon tea on 17 October 2026, featuring family recipes and island storytelling. These events are part of a Chef series, following previous ones with chefs Rachel Allen and Alex Dilling, aiming to offer unique culinary experiences at this iconic St Andrews location.

📷 On September 3-4, 2026, the Hospitality Social Media Summit (HoSS) will occur at Chicago Booth London. This event, produced by Kordie, focuses on transforming social media into a measurable commercial channel for hospitality leaders. Key figures include Whitney Reynolds and Laura Ferrari. The summit offers practical outputs, like a Social Media Strategy Blueprint and Paid Campaign Blueprint. The event aims to connect social activity to business outcomes, with six months of post-event digital resources provided.

🏨 Birmingham hotels saw a 62.5% rise in room nights during the European Athletics Championships from August 10-16, compared to last year. This increase is linked to more bookings and longer stays, with the average length of stay increasing from 1.38 to 1.67 nights. The event has significantly boosted hotel activity in the area.

📅 In November 2026, the Hotel Owner Conference will be held in London. Shonali Devereaux, an advocate for the business meetings and events sector, highlights challenges in 2026, including staffing, consumer expectations, and rising operational costs. She emphasizes integrating events into hotel strategy to optimize yield. The conference aims to address these issues and foster resilience and leadership in the evolving hospitality landscape. Devereaux recalls career milestones, such as contributing to the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the UK smoking ban.

🎉 On Thursday, 29th October, the 21st annual MHA ball will take place at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, attended by over 800 guests. The event aims to surpass last year's £45,000 charity funds for Barnabus, the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, Wood Street Mission, and Hospitality Action. The Roaring 20s-themed ball will feature MHA’s awards with nine trophies, supported by sponsors like WGC, Expedia, and MMU. Key partners include Nespresso, Silentnight, and others.

📚 In 2026, the HSMAI Commercial Awards Asia Pacific judging was held in Singapore. Judges reviewed dozens of submissions, emphasizing genuine strategies over operational work dressed as strategy. Key evaluation criteria included measurable outcomes, resilience beyond individual contributors, necessary cross-departmental changes, and original language. Submissions showing durable impact, despite initial setbacks, scored higher. Judges valued evidence over claims, seeking clarity in presentations, a skill crucial for advancing careers and ensuring revenue growth.

🏆 46th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design will be judged by industry leaders like Dala Al-Fuwaires and Paul Haslhofer. The awards cover 24 categories, including hotels and restaurants. Winners will be announced on November 9th, 2026, at Cipriani 42nd Street, New York, during BDNY. Submissions are open until July 31, 2026. The event will honor the 2026 Ones to Watch class and BD's Up-and-Coming Hotelier of the Year.

🌑 On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mallorca, part of its path covering Arctic regions, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic, northern Spain, and the Balearic Islands. In Mallorca, notable hotels offering unique viewing experiences include Hotel Corazón, Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor, Jumeirah Mallorca, Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Nakar Hotel, Nobis Hotel Palma, and Sant Francesc Hotel Singular. These venues provide programs ranging from astronomy masterclasses to private yacht trips and luxury dinners.

🏢 BDNY returns to New York’s Javits Center on November 8-9. The event, presented by *Boutique Design*, will feature global hospitality discussions, custom-designed spaces, and the BDNY Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast. Notable collaborations include IHG and CRÈME, and Ennismore with Avenue Interior Design. The 46th Gold Key Awards concludes BDNY on November 9 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The Platinum Circle gala kicks off on November 6 at Cipriani Wall Street.