Events

🏨 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.

📱 In June, 125 industry professionals gathered at Viceroy Chicago for *Hospitality Design*’s CitySCENE: Next Generation networking event. Sponsors included Better Designed Lighting, Durkan | Mohawk Group, Kimball Hospitality, Solaire Lighting, Waterworks, Williams-Sonoma Business to Business, and Wolf-Gordon.

🏨 Dave Jacoby, owner of Hotel Lucine, and Kaleigh Wiese, CEO of Ode Places, discuss the indie hotel landscape and the 2026 Independent Hotel Show Miami in an episode of Suite Spot. Since 2016, Hotel Lucine in Galveston focuses on community integration and unique offerings, using local events and customized guest experiences to attract visitors. Independent hotels can capitalize on local markets, the three-hour travel trend, and "bleisure" trips, blending work and leisure stays to drive revenue and enhance guest experiences.

📅 2026 will see the Independent Hotel Show in Miami. Genna Panagopoulos, VP of Development at Minor Hotels, discussed the event on Suite Spot. She highlighted recent successes, including the launch of 12 brands and the upcoming Wolseley hotel in New York (2024), Anantara Turks and Caicos (2029), and Miami (2030). The focus is on experiential travel and expanding Minor's footprint in North America with strategic development and innovative hospitality concepts.