HOSPA CEO looks forward to November’s event
This time of year, every year the HOSPA office buzzes with excitement, energy and activity. All year round we prepare for HOSPACE but September and October never cease to deliver an additional boost of adrenalin to the team!
We are delighted to be back at The Royal Lancaster again this year. Over the last 12 months they have continued to update the hotel - so it will be an opportunity for our delegates to see how it has transformed.
We welcome back our regular exhibitors and sponsors who make HOSPACE what it is - and we are particularly thrilled to see some new names this year. We are always grateful to those who invest in HOSPACE for their continued support, which makes a massive contribution to the success of the conference.
Our search for newcomers to hospitality technology to take part in our small business competition continues - so please encourage any of your entrepreneurial contacts to get in touch. Winning a year’s worth of sponsorship with HOSPA is a fabulous prize for the right company, as well as having the opportunity to present to the good and the great of hospitality!
Our continuing and ever strengthening relationship with the Hotel Marketing Association along with our new Asset Management community means that we expect the audience numbers to exceed all previous conferences - improving the fabulous networking opportunities that we already have such a great reputation for! Can I just add here that it’s utterly brilliant to see our newly created Asset Management committee up and running - and, indeed, flying - and I’m sure they will deliver a fantastic debate.
It’s impossible to pick out the session I am most looking forward to, but I have no doubt that our regular Brexit panel made up of Mark from KPMG, Martine from ETOA and Jeremy from WFW, with the addition of Martyn Ball from Ascott Management who run apart-hotels, and all ably lead by Robert Barnard of BDO, will be one of the most anticipated discussions.
Another highlight is bound to be When Harry Met Sally - our charming and entertaining host Peter Hancock will be interviewing two Master Innholders - HOSPA’s president Harry Murray and The Royal Lancaster’s General Manager Sally Beck.
Some of hospitality’s most successful women will discuss the future for women working in the industry, which could create some controversy! In recent years, we have been particularly careful to ensure the male to female balance of main stage speakers is reflective of the industry as a whole - perhaps next year I will be encouraged to have a panel on the industry’s most successful men?!
As always, there will also be a programme of industry specific workshops and technical updates, led by top specialists in their subjects.
And who can forget the dinner? Our guest this year at the Gala Dinner is a gold medal winning Olympian, and to keep up the theme of the powerful influence of women - she is female!
As usual we will be presenting our Finance, IT, Revenue Management and Marketer of the year awards during the evening. There is still time to enter a colleague if you have not already submitted your nomination. We are looking for individuals that have made an impact on others, or an employer who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting and investing in education. Please do give your co-workers an opportunity to shine at HOSPACE this year.
I really look forward to seeing you all on November 1st - ensure you book your place soon!