Record attendance and industry insights define HOSPACE 2024 as Inspirational Leader award winners announced

The Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) is celebrating record attendance at its annual conference, HOSPACE 2024, which took place on 14th November at the Royal Lancaster London.

This year’s conference brought together more than 600 hospitality leaders, professionals and innovators from across the UK and beyond. The event was packed with insightful sessions, robust discussions and invaluable networking opportunities that reinforced HOSPACE’s position as the premier forum for addressing the current and future challenges of the hospitality industry.

Delivering a day of insight and innovation, HOSPACE 2024 was supported by an exceptional lineup of speakers and sessions addressing critical areas affecting the sector, such as economic trends, technology advancements, cybersecurity and sustainability.

Economist Thomas Pugh from RSM provided a macroeconomic analysis tailored to the hospitality landscape, equipping delegates with a deeper understanding of the trends likely to impact the sector in the coming year. And Kate Nicholls’, CEO of UKHospitality, interview with James Stagg, Editor of the Caterer, centred on, "Navigating the New Normal," delved into the industry’s policy landscape, emerging challenges and the strategies essential for sustainable growth.

In an intriguing fireside chat, design innovator Neal Stone, known for pioneering British Airways’ business class flatbed, explored the transformative role of automation and design in enhancing guest experiences. Cybersecurity expert Nikhil Desai also shared crucial insights into data security best practices for hospitality businesses navigating a digital future.

In addition to the core programme, the conference also offered a series of workshops tailored to address pressing issues faced by hospitality professionals, centred on the following:

• Revenue management – Providing insight on the best strategies for optimising revenue streams in a fluctuating economic climate.
• AI in hospitality – Offering practical applications for AI in guest services, finance and operational efficiencies.
• Localisation strategies – Imparting techniques for connecting with guests on a local level to foster loyalty and enhance the guest experience.
• Inclusion in hospitality – Workshops focused on cultivating inclusive workplace cultures to boost employee engagement and guest satisfaction.

The event’s closing session, the highly anticipated Leaders' Panel, featured top executives from Corinthia Hotels, Crerar Hotels and the Sloane Club. Together, they discussed leadership, resilience, mentorship and more, highlighting the impact of strong leaders on their own careers and the importance of keeping your door open to help the development and growth of the next generation of hospitality leaders.

The day concluded with HOSPA’s signature gala dinner, a night of celebration that included the Inspirational Leader Awards. The awards ceremony honoured outstanding individuals across various categories, including a new category, Inspirational Commercial Leader of the Year, acknowledging exceptional contributions to the industry’s commercial landscape. The winners were:

• Inspirational ESG Leader Of The Year Award Sponsored by RAW Charging – Raymond Duncan, Group Compliance, Operations & Procurement Manager, Hastings Hotels
• Inspirational Revenue Manager Of The Year Award Sponsored by Edwards & Finn – Rachel Cabirol, Revenue Manager, Royal Lancaster London
• Inspirational Technology Leader Of The Year Award Sponsored by BT – Jon Davis, CTO, Ivy Collection
• Inspirational Finance Leader Of The Year Award Sponsored by BDO – Emma Catterall, Finance Director, The Belfry Hotel & Resort
• Inspirational Commercial Leader Of The Year of the Year in Hospitality Award Sponsored by Profitroom – Tracey Ractliffe, Commercial Director, Grantley Hall

Reflecting on the event, HOSPA CEO Jane Pendlebury commented: HOSPACE 2024 underscored the dynamism, resilience and forward-thinking spirit of our industry. From discussions on AI and revenue management to panels on inclusion and localisation, this year’s event offered invaluable insights and a powerful platform for collaboration. We’re thrilled with the turnout and the calibre of discussions that took place, further solidifying HOSPACE as the essential gathering for hospitality professionals.

She added: A huge well done to all of the HOSPA team and a massive thank you to our sponsors for their continued support and our wonderful hosts at the Royal Lancaster London.

HOSPACE 2024 marks another milestone for HOSPA in its mission to connect, educate and inspire professionals across the hospitality sector. With record attendance and positive feedback from delegates, HOSPA looks forward to building on this success in the coming years.

The event also saw money raised for Hospitality Action, a charity that provides support to all those who work or who have worked in hospitality in the UK, with a total of £5,305 raised across the day and evening.