Embracing Current Technology

Day 1 - 1:15PM - 2:00PM

Jeremy White is a public speaker, moderator and Senior Innovation Editor of Wired, the influential  technology and trends magazine that covers the innovations and businesses building the future.

In charge of analysing and identifying emerging trends and technological shifts that will affect both consumers and businesses, Jeremy is an expert speaker in a multitude of subjects from Internet of Things to AI, smart homes to cyber security, autonomous cars to innovation in the financial sector.

Artificial Intelligence is a particular speciality.  Jeremy offers a bespoke presentation on Generative AI that can be adapted for different business sectors, explaining LLMs, generative AI, how these differ from what has come before and how businesses are already using these as an active part of their strategy, including negotiating contracts.

At Wired, Jeremy is tasked with evaluating products and technology at the cutting edge of innovation, from wearables to supercars, architecture to autonomous cars. His expansive knowledge of the product world and forecasting design and tech trends has resulted in him being commissioned for consultancy services to some of the world's largest consumer brands on industrial design and user experience.

Jeremy appears on the BBC and Sky News representing Wired and has been writing about technology and design for more than 10 years. He is also the technology expert for Telegraph Luxury, Boat International, Robb Report magazine and is editor of Wired's luxury sister publication, Wired Desired.

Before Wired, Jeremy was a digital editor at the Financial Times, and prior to that was technology editor at Esquire magazine. 

Panel Discussion - A Hoteliers Perspective On The Guest Journey, Hospitality & Sustainability

Day 1 - 3:15PM - 4:00PM

Naga is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and journalists.

She has her own show on BBC Radio 5 live and is one of the main presenters on BBC Breakfast. In addition Naga presents Claimed and Shamed for BBC1.

Naga has grilled countless political heavyweights from Hillary Clinton, to David Cameron and Tony Blair. She also enjoys the lighter side of the job, with favourite celebrity interviewees including Mick Jagger and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Naga’s favourite subject at school was maths, but her love of reading won out and she studied English at Leeds University. After that she took a postgraduate degree in Newspaper Journalism, which led to her first jobs writing for the city pages at The Evening Standard and The Observer.

Her first job in TV was at Reuters Financial Television, followed by stints at CNBC Europe, Channel 4 News and Bloomberg Television. Her authoritative coverage of major news events including the collapse of Northern Rock and the US Federal Reserve’s introduction of "quantitative easing" won her many fans, and she joined the BBC Working Lunch team in 2008.

She appeared in the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, and was a judge on the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2016.

Naga is passionate about Golf, she plays off a handicap of 7 and in 2013 was crowned the winner of Celebrity Mastermind on the subject of The Ryder Cup.

Economic Forecast - Now & in The Future

Day 2 - 10:00AM - 10:30AM

Joe is Professor of Global Economy specialising in macroeconomic analysis and policy, business environmental analysis and strategic thinking for managers. He is also Deputy Dean and the longest serving member of Cranfield School of Management's Executive Board. He has previously served as Director of the School and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University.

During his career he has held Visiting Professorial appointments at various universities in Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Hungary, USA, and Ghana. He is a recipient of: an Outstanding Professor Award in Hungary for his contribution to curriculum development, funded by the TEMPUS Programme of the European Union; a Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Ulster, and the Best Professor Award on several occasions from several institutions including Purdue University (USA) and TIAS Business School (Netherlands).  

Joe has published 19 research and subject-based books and over 200 academic and practitioner journal articles. He was jointly responsible for the research and development of the UK's leading house price measurement systems namely the Halifax and the Nationwide House Price Indexes and the DPS Rent Price Index. He is an experienced contributor to a wide range of national and international conferences and is a consultant to many organizations in the areas of business environmental analysis, strategy formulation and management development.

Joe was recently awarded a CBE in the New Years Honors list in recongnition of his contributions to higher education, economics, business and charity. He lists his past and current hobbies as running (17 marathons – a past hobby!) golf and Ghana (which he describes as his 'second home' because of two years spent there on Voluntary Service Overseas.

Panel Discussion - A Hoteliers Perspective On The Guest Journey, Hospitality & Sustainability

Day 1 - 3:15PM - 4:00PM

Sue has had a long career in luxury hospitality, and until recently was GM at Whatley Manor Hotel. Her management roles have included Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons, Gidleigh Park and Cliveden House Hotel. Alongside being an operational GM, Sue has always been fully engaged in the wider hospitality sector and is a well-known voice on the subject of sustainability, encouraging other hoteliers to grow their knowledge of this complex subject and to take those first steps towards decarbonizing their businesses.

Whatley’s Sustainability Journey began February 2019, prompted by the owner’s belief that the business had a responsibility to reduce its negative impact on the environment.

Sue, with no previous experience in the field committed to educating herself, though research, strategic collaborations, talking with Earcheck accreditation partners and studying a Cambridge CISL course on, “Businesses transitioning to Net Zero Emissions”. Then practically applying all possible measures at Whaltey, achieving being Climate Net Positive in December 2023.

Panel Discussion - A Hoteliers Perspective On The Guest Journey, Hospitality & Sustainability

Day 1 - 3:15PM - 4:00PM

David Morgan-Hewitt was appointed Managing Director of The Goring in 2006, after he joined as restaurant manager in 1990 and was quickly promoted through the ranks to the position of General Manager by George Goring.

As one of the first recipients of the Innholders Scholarship and past Chairman of the St Julian Scholars, David is passionate about promoting our industry. He studied History and Law at Durham University, but instead developed a love for hospitality and moved to London to pursue his career. He is also an Honorary Catering Advisor to the Armed Forces.

Considered to be ‘as much of an institution as the hotel itself’, David has overseen The Goring through many exciting periods of transformation, and events including hosting the Middleton family before the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Aside from the many awards The Goring has won under his leadership, David has been recognised in his own right with esteemed accolades throughout his career, including Top General Manager worldwide by Luxury Travel Advisor in 2015, Manager of the Year 2010 at the Catey Awards and Outstanding Contribution Award 2017 at the Hotel Catey Awards.

Leadership Of The Future - proudly sponsored by Casna Group

Day 2 - 11:30AM - 1:00PM

The world needs a new leadership response to a global context ofchange, complexity and uncertainty. Keith is passionate about helping audiences around the world understand what this response looks like and equipping leaders with the tools needed to respond to this changing context.

His research and global experience of over 20 years have helped him identify the key-defining factors of a successful leader in the 21st century with the ability to learn, grow and be adaptable.

Multiple clients with whom Keith has worked frequently comment on his ‘out of the ordinary’, his ‘exceptional’, and his ‘world class’ input that has made a profound difference to their leadership thinking and practice.

Keith is regularly used to facilitate and work with Board members and Senior Leadership teams - specifically on Global trends and the Leaders response corporately and personally.

Recent engagements have been with Randstad, Amyway, Ericsson, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Institute of Directors, Aramco.

Hotels in The Metaverse

Day 1 - 4:30PM - 5:00PM

Timothy is a Principal at Wellbrook Hospitality and Co-founder of LEVEN Hotels. Prior to founding Wellbrook with his two partners, he was Managing Director for North America for Ennismore’s the Hoxton brand. Timothy launched the Hoxton in the US market, establishing a central office and North American team in New York City and led the highly successful opening of Hoxton hotels in New York, Portland, Chicago and LA.

Previously he was the group’s Global Brand Director where he played a key role in defining the Hoxton brand to enable it to scale globally. He oversaw the graphic design, PR, social media, retail, digital marketing, partnerships and events teams in the London office.

An alumnus of the University of West London where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management and Cranfield University School of Management’s Accelerated Talent Development Programme. He began his career in hospitality at New York’s The Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue and the Hilton Short Hills in New Jersey where he held various operational leadership roles.

He has taught Rooms Division Operations at NYU to post graduate students, is a member of the Savoy Education Trust’s Scholarship St. Julian’s Scholars and is on the Advisory Board for Hospitality Design Magazine and the Steering Committee for the Independent Hotel Show North of Britain.

Ethics Of A New Age

Day 2 - 11:00AM - 11:30AM

Keeley Crockett SMIEEE SFHEA is a Professor in Computational Intelligence at Manchester Metropolitan University and Chair of the IEEE Technical Committee SHIELD (Ethical, Legal, Social, Environmental and Human Dimensions of AI/CI.)

She has over 27 years' experience of research and development in Ethical and responsible AI (for both SME's and an advocate for citizen voice), computational intelligence algorithms and applications, including adaptive psychological profiling, fuzzy systems, semantic similarity, and dialogue systems. 

Keeley has led on Place-based practical AI, facilitating a parliamentary inquiry with Policy Connect and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Data Analytics (APGDA) leading to the inquiry report "Our Place Our Data: Involving Local People in Data and AI-Based Recovery." She obtained Strength In Places Policy funded engagement work with Greater Manchester businesses on "SME Readiness for Adoption of Ethical Approaches to AI Development and Deployment" and has contributed to the recent APGDA: AI and Ethics Report.

She is co-academic lead of the GM AI Foundry and is Co-Lead for AI/Cybersecurity on the new Centre for Digital Innovation. She is also a member of IEEE Computational intelligence Society ADCOM (2023-25), Chair of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee, Co-Chair of the IEEE Women in Engineering Educational Outreach, and a UK STEM Ambassador.

UKHospitality Update

Day 1 - 4:00PM - 4:30PM

Kate Nicholls OBE has been CEO of UKHospitality, the powerful voice representing the broad hospitality sector, since its inception in 2018, having previously worked as CEO and Strategic Affairs Director of the ALMR.

Kate is Chair of the Tourism Alliance and co-Chair of the London Tourism Recovery Board, representing the needs of the wider tourism sector in discussions with Government and the Mayor of London.

She sits on the Government’s Tourism, Hospitality and Food & Drink Sector Councils and has previously Chaired the London Night-time Commission. She is a Board member of Best Bar None, PASS and is a trustee at Hospitality Action. In July 2021, she was appointed as the first Government Disability Ambassador for hospitality, promoting inclusivity.

Kate initially worked as a researcher in the House of Commons and European Parliament on food, employment and environmental policy before joining Whitbread to work in Strategic Affairs.

She has extensive experience as a political and strategic communications consultant and is a graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and Kings College London.

Panel Discussion - A Hoteliers Perspective On The Guest Journey, Hospitality & Sustainability

Day 1 - 3:15PM - 4:00PM

Simon Bullingham is CEO and Founder of Journey Hospitality, a leading hotel technology business. Simon has been influential in shaping the evolution of marketing technology in the hotel space for the past decade.

Simon’s talents lie in his entrepreneurial vision and spotting opportunities as to how technology can solve problems and generate revenue. Relentless in the pursuit of his goal; to revolutionise ecommerce within the hotel space, Simon is constantly pioneering product innovation and challenging the status quo.

His portfolio of products include onejourney - the world’s first all-in-one ecommerce platform; Premier - the UK’s top spa and leisure management software and Gifted - the UK’s market leading hotel gift voucher platform.

At Journey, Simon works with over 650 luxury hotel partners around the world including Claridge’s, Beaverbrook, Calcot Collection, The Londoner, Soneva (Maldives) and Grantley Hall. His company won the ‘Innovation in Tech’ award at the Business Awards - Travel 2023 and ‘Best Website’ (for The Elms) at the Hotel Marketing Awards 2023.

Adapting For Tomorrow

Day 2 - 9:00AM - 9:30AM

Simon is a hospitality consultant at InterGlobe Enterprises. His background in fast-paced luxury hospitality businesses has given him a wide and varied experience in leadership.

Simon’s fascination with leadership techniques and styles gave him the opportunity to play an integral role in growing some of today's leading Boutique Hospitality Brands.

With a strong focus on personal leadership and the impact this can have on the people around you Simon enjoys challenging people and businesses to explore their true potential.

Outside of work, Simon can be found honing his triathlon skills in preparation for his next Ironman event and raising funds for charities close to his heart.

Workforce Trends For The Future

Day 2 - 9:30AM - 10:00AM

Leanne is a Senior Manager in PwC’s Workforce Transformation team. She has over a decade of experience working with clients helping them to navigate issues related to workforce transformation and supporting to drive people related change.

She advises a number of leading UK and global organisations, supporting them to navigate the changing workforce environment by helping them to determine future of work strategies and developing multifaceted reward and employment propositions. This has included; future focussed workforce planning, design of innovative salary and incentive structures, meaningful recognition programmes and refreshed approaches to performance management.

Before embarking upon her Consulting career, Leanne spent a number of years working in Intelligence for the Metropolitan Police. Throughout her studies, she also spent a number of years working in frontline hospitality. Leanne lives in Kent with her Chef husband.

A Futuristic Look at Hospitality & Tourism

Day 1 - 2:00PM - 2:45PM

Ella is a Business Futures Strategy Director and Consultant at GDR. She is focused on providing retailers, brands and hospitality clients with thought leadership, insights and wayfinding to the future. As a native of France, with heritage in Asia and a resident of the UK; she is not only multi-lingual, (English, Mandarin & French) but can also provide interesting cultural and social perspectives.

Ella’s driving force as a speaker and thought leader is to be a catalyst for business & human growth. Her experience with brands & agencies enables Ella to unlock consumer insights, dive into brand personas & purpose, and create compelling strategic stories that capture the zeitgeist and audience.

Peter Hancock will be the Hotel Leadership Conference's host for both days of the event.

With over 40 years in the hospitality industry, including 21 years as CEO of Pride of Britain Hotels, Peter has a wealth of experience which has fuelled his keen sense of humour and his ever-growing reputation for relating stories that have been entertaining guests and delegates at events up and down the country.