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UK: The Annual Hospitality Conference (AHC) has confirmed its speaker lineup for 2026, with the event taking place at Manchester Central Convention Complex, 14-15 September.
This year’s event has been created around the theme – All In: Mastering Risk for Reward.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Ritesh Agarwal, founder and group CEO, OYO
- Jack Meaning, UK chief economist, Barclays
- Ian Dunt, political journalist
- Caspar Berry, professional poker player
- Karin Sheppard, SVP managing director Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Cody Bradshaw, group CEO Hotels, London + Regional
- Kevin Styles, CEO, THE PIG Hotel Group
- Natalia Kolotneva, head of asset management partnerships, LaSalle
- Jens Blomdahl, managing director, KSL Capital
“UK hospitality is dealing with real cost pressure right now, but the opportunity in this market hasn’t gone away,” said Olga Andreevskikh, senior conference producer for AHC. “This year’s programme is built for people who need to make decisions in that environment. That’s what All In: Mastering Risk for Reward is about.”
Boutique Hotel News is a media partner for AHC. Readers can claim a 10 per cent discount on tickets to conference by registering here.
In July 2026, Questex – the organiser of AHC – was acquired by Apollo Funds, alongside B2B event and media company Emerald. A new corporate brand called Forge has since launched, united Emerald and Questex.
Highlights:
- The Annual Hospitality Conference (AHC) has announced its 2026 speaker lineup for the upcoming event at Manchester Central Convention Complex on 14–15 September.
- Designed around the theme “All In: Mastering Risk for Reward,” the event will focus on navigating cost pressures, economic headwinds, and strategic growth opportunities across UK hospitality.
- Keynote speakers include OYO founder and group CEO Ritesh Agarwal, Barclays UK chief economist Jack Meaning, political journalist Ian Dunt, and professional poker player Caspar Berry.
- Additional industry leaders joining the agenda include IHG’s Karin Sheppard, London + Regional’s Cody Bradshaw, THE PIG Hotel Group’s Kevin Styles, LaSalle’s Natalia Kolotneva, and KSL Capital’s Jens Blomdahl.
