BHA Hospitality & Tourism Summit 2014: line-up revealed

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has revealed the speaker line-up for its Hospitality & Tourism Summit 2014, which it claims will be the biggest and best yet.

The summit will take place on 5 June at the Novotel West London, with more than 600 members of the hospitality industry expected to attend to discuss key issues affecting the sector.

This year’s theme is ‘making ideas happen to create a strong future’ and four elements - international and economic, technology and innovation, green issues and the people talent pipeline –will form the main agenda.

Executives from Whitbread, Premier Inn, Ed’s Easy Diner, Yo! Sushi, Hilton Worldwide and Think Hotel Apartments will take to the stage alongside representatives from the BHA, VisitEngland, VisitBritain and Barclays. The Deputy Mayor of London, Kit Malthouse has also been secured as a speaker.

The Summit will also feature breakout sessions and roundtable discussions covering key lobbying issues for the hospitality industry ahead of the 2015 general election, such as jobs, international competitiveness, infrastructure, technology and funding.

BHA chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said: “Now in its third year, the 2014 Hospitality & Tourism Summit is set to be the biggest yet.  These are exciting times for the hospitality industry. 

“Our political capital has never been higher and this Summit will be the opportunity to reaffirm our industry’s united voice to government and to demonstrate our strength as an engine of economic growth and jobs.

“The Summit is the opportunity for our industry to come together and agree upon actions which will help to ultimately shape the future of hospitality and tourism.”

Full list of speakers for the BHA Hospitality and Tourism Summit 2014

  • Eric Bellquist, Partner, Hutton Collins
  • Arnaud Bertrand, Founder and CEO, HouseTrip SA
  • Amanda Brady, HR Director, Premier Inn and Shared Services
  • Lady Penny Cobham, Chairman, Visit England
  • Patrick Dempsey OBE, Managing Director, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants
  • Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director UK and Ireland, Accor
  • Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Scottish Parliament
  • John Forrest, Chief Operating Officer, Premier Inn
  • Ariane Gorin, Vice President Market Management for EMEA, Expedia
  • Andrew Guy, Chief Executive, Ed’s Easy Diner Holdings Ltd
  • Steve Holliday, Chief Executive, National Grid
  • Gordon Innes, CEO, London & Partners
  • Clive Jacobs, Chairman Travel Weekly Group Limited
  • Adam Jay, Vice President of Global Product for Hotels.com
  • Richard Lewis, CEO Interchange & Consort Hotels, Best Western Hotels, Beacon Purchasing
  • Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor of London
  • Asier Sinde, Samsung Electronics Europe
  • Stephen McCall, Chief Operating Officer UK&I and Head of Europe Operations Performance and Support, InterContinental Hotels Group
  • Alan Parker CBE, Chairman, British Hospitality Association
  • Christopher Rodrigues CBE, Chairman, VisitBritain
  • Mark Roper, Vice President & General Manager UK and Nordics, Global Merchant Services, American Express Payment Services Limited
  • Robin Rowland, CEO YO! Sushi
  • Mike Saul, Managing Director, Hospitality & Leisure, Barclays
  • Jim Souter, CEO, Think Hotel Apartments
  • Neil Stephens, UK&I Managing Director, Nestlé Professional
  • Alastair Storey, Chairman and Chief Executive, Westbury Street Holdings (WSH)
  • Simon Vincent, President EMEA, Hilton Worldwide