Events

📅 On November 9th, 2026, the BDNY Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast will be held at River Pavilion, Javits Center, New York. The event features eight industry leaders, including Alison Bowman Sobeck from Marriott and Sarah Dusek from Few & Far. Running from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., attendees will enjoy breakfast, a NEWH presentation, and a panel discussion moderated by Alissa Ponchione, BD's editor in chief.

🏨 The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) in McLean, VA, begins nominations for the Robert A. "Bob" Gilbert Award and 2027 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds on August 10, 2026, closing on September 30. Winners will be honored at events in Orlando and Las Vegas in 2027. HSMAI, with over 5,000 members globally, supports hotel industry growth through programs like the Adrian Awards.

🏨 June 3, New York: The Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association (BLLA) hosted its investment conference, themed "The Third Space Renaissance." Led by Ariela Goharik Kiradjian, the event emphasized authenticity and a move away from hustle culture. Panels included Shane Davis's Public Records highlighting cultural authorship, and discussions on wellness misconceptions by industry leaders. Predictions suggest the "third space" concept could become mainstream by 2028, challenging Kiradjian to adapt.

📱 April 25–27, 2027, Boca Raton, Florida: Luxury Summit™, a new forum, will debut, gathering 150 invitation-only leaders from the luxury industry. Hosted by The Boca Raton, the event aims to foster collaboration across the luxury sectors. The summit will include keynotes, panels, and reports like the "State of the Luxury Economy Report" for tracking trends. Organized with Montfort Group, the forum seeks to redefine the luxury landscape through innovation and thought leadership.

📈 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.