The game-changing thought leadership event, Festival of Hospitality, has announced Togetherness as the headline theme for 2022, in celebration of the individuals that represent the wide-ranging and diverse skills across the industry.

Launching in October 2022, the festival aims to help shape a better connected, positive future for hospitality with events that dare to be different from the norm and bridge the gap between a traditional design fair and investment conference.

Taking place both on and offline, the event will invite all levels to participate with a focus on intimate events that encourage conversations.

The festival offers exclusive access to some of London’s hottest new hotel openings with behind-the-scenes tours, fireside chats with panels of high-profile industry leaders, digital content focussing on current and future trends as well as providing skills-based workshops helping individuals develop their networking and communications skills.

In addition, a new series of conceptual events launches during the festival with engaging and creative content designed to be insightful, fun, and inspiring.

Conceptual events include:
Devil’s Advocate – lively debates that challenge status quo and current thinking.
Under the Covers – real life case studies behind-the-scenes of hotels and their teams.
Community Table – invitation-only round table discussion events hosted by guest chefs.
MyStorySlam – industry professionals share their experiences and career journeys.
Urban Safaris – a guide to the best places to visit in London for inspiration.

“Our mission is to create a better-connected industry and to shake up old-fashioned ideas on how people should network,” comments Karen Willey and Katie Tobin, Founders of Festival of Hospitality. “Just recently, we’ve seen how great it is when we all come together through the most challenging of times and now, we have the chance to recalibrate, address old ideals and make positive changes.

Throughout our events, we are hoping to inspire the next generation by sharing learnings from hospitality leaders demonstrating just how rich and varied a career it can offer, and we also want to give them a voice – by offering them a seat at the table to help shape their future.”

The future-focussed festival provides the opportunity for participating partners and businesses to pay it forward. A percentage of all sponsorship contributions and ticket proceeds will contribute towards extra events that are aimed at those looking to break into the industry, additional proceeds will also fund two people on the annual membership programme, which provides mentorship and development.

The festival’s steering group is made up of an impressive line-up of individuals representing a wide range of industry professions, including:
Eric Jafari, Creative Director, Edyn
Maurice Petignat, Vice President, Cedar Capital
Adam Mursal, Founding Director, Pillar
Phillipa Wagner, Founding Director, PW/c
Ella de Beer, Director, Electric Mayonnaise
Phoenix Chow, Associate Director, Hotel Capital Markets Savills
Marie Carcassonne, CEO, Dynamo
Dean Culpan, GM, Birch.

Event speaker Maurice Petignat remarks: “The Festival of Hospitality brings together some of the industry’s brightest and most creative minds to discuss some of the hot topics that are top of the agenda for investors, designers and operators during panel discussions and networking events. An event not to be missed!”

Tickets go on sale from mid-July starting from £250 for the core programme, with accessible pricing making the events open to all levels, from graduates to senior leaders. There are also company passes available to enable multiple people from an organisation to share the access, and an annual membership programme giving continued learning and events throughout the year.

The full programme of events will be announced throughout the summer with an impressive line-up of speakers and partner brands.