Events

🍳 The Craft Guild of Chefs has opened entries for the National Chef of the Year 2026 in the UK, with the theme "Our Sustainable Future." The competition includes 40 chefs advancing to semi-finals on June 24th at Sheffield College and July 1st at Capital City College. The final with 10 chefs will occur on October 6th, 2026, at Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School. Chefs must create a three-course menu in three hours, focusing on seasonal, sustainable ingredients.

📅 Who? ITB Berlin 2026 attendees, ReGuest & opensmjle booth team. When? During the ITB Berlin event in 2026. Where? Berlin, Germany. What? The booth was busier than ever despite the event's smaller scale; celebrated the first-ever Partner Event with nearly 60 partners. How? Through the introduction of a new Partner Program and hosting numerous events and reunions. The team's energy and collaboration highlighted the event, making it a memorable and successful experience.

💻 June 15–18, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, USA, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) will take place. Known as the world's largest and longest-running hospitality technology event, HITEC® is produced by HFTP® and offers access to the latest in hospitality tech, industry experts, and essential education, helping attendees find cost-effective strategies to enhance their company bottom lines.

🍴 From March 30 to April 1, 2026, HRC returns to Excel London for Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. Featuring over 100 industry leaders, the event hosts panels and interviews on leadership, equality, and food trends. Key speakers include Adam Handling MBE, Sally Abé, and Kate Nicholls OBE. Sessions cover the future of food and drinks, workplace culture, and competitive socializing. The event is free for trade professionals, with registration open on HRC's website.

🌎 Kansas City, June 2026: The World Cup draws millions, transforming neighborhoods into international hubs, but reveals coordination gaps in transit and visitor guidance. KC2026's Game Plan unites small businesses and government for smoother experiences. In Onomichi, Japan, local efforts revived tourism through coordinated projects, fostering memorable visits. Barcelona's structured visitor management now predicts tourist influxes, showing proactive planning. Effective destination coordination aligns visitor expectations with reality, enhancing retention without major investments.

📆 Thursday, May 21, 2026, London Hilton on Park Lane will host the Kimberly-Clark Professional™ Golden Service Awards. With Kerry Godliman as the celebrity host, this event celebrates over 30 years of excellence in the UK and Ireland’s cleaning industry. Networking with over 500 guests, tickets are £275 plus VAT. This biennial event is a key opportunity for industry recognition and connection. Book tickets via [email protected] or call 0203 468 0923.

📈 The Future Hospitality Summit Africa is scheduled for 31 March - 1 April 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi. Influential leaders like Juliana Kagwa, Ashish Sharma, and Rosco Wendover will discuss African hospitality trends, focusing on investment, development, and sustainability. Key speakers include Ewan Cameron, Rahul Chaudhary, and Olivier Granet. The summit provides essential insights into capital deployment and market strategies, making it a must-attend event for industry leaders.

🏃 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, from May 4-7 at Dubai World Trade Centre, highlights sports tourism's potential, with sports travellers spending twice as much as average tourists. The sector could grow by 63%, boosting Middle East tourism valued at $600 billion, while the global market could hit $2 trillion by 2030. 80% of sports event attendees return as leisure tourists or recommend destinations. The region's expanding infrastructure positions it well for this growth, with Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.