Events

🏟 Stadium Events & Hospitality Awards 2027, now in their 20th year, will occur on July 1, 2027, at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. Entries close March 24, 2027. The event will host 500+ guests from 70+ UK venues and includes 15 award categories, featuring new awards like the Sustainable Initiative Award. Tickets start at £150+VAT. The awards are independently judged and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Stadium Experience.

🎨 Louise Giovanelli's exhibition "In the Light of False Suns" will be at White Cube, Mason's Yard, London, from 20 November 2026 to 16 January 2027. Giovanelli, a Manchester-based artist, graduated from the Manchester School of Art in 2015. Her work explores the tension between figurative and abstract, often focusing on motifs like curtains. This show introduces more discernible brushstrokes and new themes, including the incorporation of faces within curtain images. Her art blends beauty with a darker, macabre tone.

🚧 Hundreds of union workers from six downtown Chicago hotels commenced a strike on Friday, October 9, two days before the Chicago Marathon. Initiated by Unite Here Local 1, the strike may expand to 40 more hotels. Over 7,000 workers from 46 hotels voted for a strike as contracts expired on August 31. Currently, the walkout includes three Marriott, two Hilton, and one Millennium property. Local 1 President Karen Kent suggests possible further actions.

📊 On October 7, Hozpitality Group hosted the Women Leadership Forum 2026 at Cameo Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, uniting 70+ leaders from hospitality and related sectors. Key speakers included Jackie Filla and prominent women from various industries. Discussions focused on women's roles in leadership, mentorship, and workforce development. Event partners and sponsors included Cameo Beverly Hills, RokketMed, másLabor, and NEFT Vodka. The forum is part of Hozpitality's expanding U.S. initiatives, including the Best GM Powerlist 2026.

📅 November 2026, London hosts the Hotel Owner Conference. The event addresses rising operational pressures and technological changes in hospitality. Expect discussions on actionable strategies, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership.

🏨 Registration opens October 1 for the California Boutique Hotel Conference in San Diego, occurring April 12–14, 2027. Formerly the InnSpire Conference, it focuses on California’s boutique hotel industry evolution. Courtland Palmer, President of Appellation, will be the keynote speaker, highlighting trends and strategies for independent hotels. Early Bird pricing is available until December 31, 2026. Appellation Healdsburg, led by Palmer, was named No. 1 Resort in California and the Continental U.S. in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 Awards.

🌎 Between January and June 2026, 690 million tourists traveled internationally, 3 million more than the same period last year. Q1 saw a 2% increase in global arrivals, but Q2 experienced a 1% drop, with April declining by 3%. This decline was attributed to the Easter holiday starting in March and the Middle East conflict's impact. The data is based on the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism.

📅 FHS World 2026 kicked off in Dubai from September 29 to October 1, attracting 1,000 delegates from 50 countries. The event features 170+ speakers and 200+ investors with over USD $6 trillion in assets. Approximately 25% of investors attend for the first time, and 40% come from outside the GCC. The summit includes more than 30 seminars and the FHS Awards, where Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Tim Clark.

🍴 Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Dominican Republic, hosts its 4th Casa de Campo Food & Wine Festival on October 9-10, 2026. Michelin-starred chefs Michael Mina, Hubert Keller, and Joe Isidori headline. Set on a 7,000-acre property with 63 golf holes and a 250-slip marina. Festival highlights include "Dinner Under the Stars" at Minitas Beach Club and immersive culinary showcases. Tickets available online.

💬 October 5-9, 2026: Customer Service Week is celebrated globally, with Global CX Day on October 6. This tradition, started in 1987 and nationally recognized by Congress in 1992, emphasizes the importance of customer service. In 2011, Bruce Temkin and Jeanne Bliss founded the Customer Experience Professionals Association, leading to the first CX Day in 2013. Organizations are encouraged to appreciate employees and customers year-round, beyond this celebratory week.