Independent Hotel Show 2014 preview

The show is a forum for the independent, boutique and luxury hotels sector and will be attended by a number of hoteliers and industry professionals. There will be over 250 suppliers and service providers to the industry exhibiting and visitors can attend business sessions that offer expert advice on running boutique hotels.

The Independent Hotel Show will offer a key networking opportunity to meet and mix with industry professionals in a specially designed networking area known as The Hub.

Exhibitors ​

More than 250 suppliers will exhibit at the show where they will be split into eight categories. The categories are Interior and Exterior Design and Build, Housekeeping Products and Services, Technology, Marketing and Brand Awareness, Business, Legal and Finance, Health and Wellness, Environment and Sustainability, and Breakfast, Bedroom, Bar and Minibar.

A number of exhibitors will launch new products at the show with special offers for those attending. Fleur Elise (stand 301) will showcase a new range of Real Exquisite Roses, real flowers that use a special preserving method to retain their petals forever. Furniture makers Parker and Farr (stand 280) will launch its exclusive Mackintosh sofa, while fabric specialist Kobe UK (stand 26) will showcase two premium fabric collections.

Global Entertainment Management (stand 223) will launch The Window Channel, a programme which produces mood-setting video experiences for hotels, designed to increase guest satisfaction.

Business Sessions​

The Independent Hotel Show will host 18 free-to-attend business sessions delivered by well-known industry professionals. The sessions will take place on The Innovation Stage, where the talks will focus on latest industry trends, and in The Business Theatre, where the discussions will centre on the principles of running a profitable hotel.

Discussions on The Innovation Stage include:

• #GettingSocial (21 October, 11am)​

Panellists including Digital Blonde Karen Fewell and chief executive of Boutique Hotels Media Piers Brown will discuss ways independent hotels can use social media to gain a competitive advantage over their peers.

• Who am I? Think identity, not brand (22 October, 3pm)​

Co-owner of The Talbot Inn and The Beckford Arms Dan Brod and Richard Ball of Calcot Hotels are on the panel which will look at how an independent business can stand out from larger hotel brands by creating its own identity.

• Let’s get transparent – why sustainability is good for business (22 October, 4:30pm)​

Head of sustainability at the Considerate Hoteliers Association Chris Burgess will chair a panel discussion on the direct benefits to businesses of taking a transparent approach to sustainability.

Discussions in The Business Theatre include:

• The Year in Review (21 October, 10:30am)​

Panellists including chief executive of Nadler Hotels Robert Nadler and head of industry development at VisitEngland Pam Foden will review what has happened in the hospitality industry this year, focusing on implications and possibilities for independent hotels. STR Global will release new results from a study of the industry at this session.

• Friend Not Foe (21 October, 3pm)​

Managing director of Secret Escapes Tom Valentine and chief executive of Concept Venues Mark Fuller will be on the panel to discuss how businesses choose the right OTAs to work with.

• A Menu for Success (22 October, 11am)​

Owner of the Great Northern Hotel Jeremy Robson and founder of the Gorgeous Group Robbie Bargh will take a look at how hoteliers can create bar and restaurant offerings that stand out from the crowd.

The Hub​

For the second year running The Independent Hotel Show will use The Hub as its central networking space, offering visitors the opportunity to meet and share ideas with industry peers.

The Independent Hotel show ran a competition for the opportunity to design The Hub, which was won by Nina&Co in collaboration with Anya Fennet.

Nina Woodcroft from Nina&Co said: “Our focus for The Hub was to create an environment where individuals and businesses would be better able to improve their own problem solving processes and take innovation to a higher level. The basic shape of The Hub takes the familiar form of a house, offering an inviting and welcoming shelter from the bustling exhibition beyond.

“We aimed to create a space where visitors could maintain a visual connection with the rest of the exhibition and absorb their surroundings from within the harbour of The Hub.”

Other features​

The Independent Hotel Show will run a number of ‘event features’ designed to aid businesses, including Destination Spa and the Buell Business Clinic.

The Destination Spa area will invite visitors to speak with suppliers in the spa industry who will offer advice on designing and delivering a spa experience. Suppliers in the Destination Spa area include Cheshire Wellness, Dalesauna, Crown Sports Lockers, Spa Creators, Technogym, Majestic Towels and Topaz Consulting.

The Buell Group has partnered with the Independent Hotel Show for the second year running and will advise at the Buell Business Clinic at the show. Hoteliers can book a slot at the clinic to receive advice on many aspects of running their businesses including driving sales, boosting employee engagement, making acquisitions and more.

• The Secret of a Good Write Up (The Innovation Stage, 21 October, 12:20pm)​

The panel will discuss what exactly travel writers are looking for and how to get great reviews for your hotel.

• Let’s Get Personal – Inspiring & Retaining Your Staff (The Business Theatre, 22 October, 12:30pm)​

The discussion will focus on recruiting, training and motivating staff across all levels of a business.

• The Hub​

The central networking point will present the opportunity to meet with a number of industry professionals and explore ideas.

• Buell Business Advice Clinics​

The clinics will offer advice in many areas of business, from finances to staff training.