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UK: International Hospitality Media is to combine two of its sector-leading conferences to create one of the most exciting dates in the hospitality calendar.
UK: Leading industry publisher and events organiser International Hospitality Media has announced it is to combine two of its sector-leading conferences to create what promises to be one of the most exciting dates in the hospitality calendar.
The Hostel and Budget Traveller conference is to be merged in to the Boutique and Lifestyle Hotel Summit, in a move which recognises the increasingly blurred lines between different hospitality sectors.
Coupled with the unprecedented growth in affordable luxury, innovative design and variety of accommodation choices the conference focuses on many aspects of the boutique, hybrid and lifestyle hotelier toolbox, including how to attract the guest of the future and the millennial traveller mindset.
“We have been finding that an increasing proportion of the audience and subject matter of the two conferences has been overlapping as the traveller continues to take a closer interest in their accommodation journey,” said George Sell, editor of Boutique Hotel News
Taking place in London May 22 and 23, 2017, the combined event will focus on boutique and lifestyle hotels, affordable luxury, hybrid hotels and upmarket hostels.
International Hospitality Media CEO Piers Brown said: “We have always been the first to identify and provide dedicated b2b forums for senior industry professionals within growth areas of hospitality. This has been somewhat reflected with the subsequent speed with which new hotel, hybrid hotel and complementary hospitality brands have been launching.Lots of boutique hoteliers for instance are striving to deliver a sense of community, place and belonging and it’s somewhat ironic that hostels have been delivering this type of experience for decades. I’m really excited that by combining the best parts of both events will allow even better networking and learning opportunities for this exciting market. The single event will be greater than the sum of its parts.”
New features for 2017 include sessions on technology v humanity; the hotel investment hub; the launch of IHM’s digital personalisation white paper sponsored by Avvio; Airbnb benchmarking and the impact of the sharing economy; a co-working incubator; the influence of fashion and retail; the art of place-making, an exclusive snapshot of the online boutique, hybrid and lifestyle hotel search market and numerous on and off-site networking opportunities over the two days.
“It’s great news that the HBT conference is being merged with the Boutique and Lifestyle Hotel Summit. As the distinction between the various types of hospitality offering becomes increasingly blurred, it makes perfect sense for MEININGER as a hybrid hotel operator to be involved in an event that will look at the fast evolving market for the value conscious and design-led traveller and much more. We are delighted Meininger is a Platinum Sponsor,” said Navneet Bali, CEO of Meininger Hotels.
For speaker, sponsor and exhibitor enquiries call +44 (0)208 340 7989 or email info@boutiquehotelsummit.com.
