Hospitality Tech 360 is shaping up to be one of the most forward‑thinking events in the industry calendar – bringing together operators, technologists and leaders who are redefining how hospitality runs, markets itself and connects with guests.
Taking place across three packed days (March 30th – April 1st), the conference goes far beyond shiny tools and buzzwords. Instead, it tackles the real questions facing hospitality businesses right now: how AI should feel to guests, why culture still matters more than software, where human connection delivers measurable ROI, and what the next wave of intelligent systems means for operations and growth.
Hotel Speak is proud to be a media partner for the inaugural event and has curated a shortlist of sessions not to miss. If you’re planning your agenda and want to focus on the ideas that will genuinely stretch your thinking, here are five must-attend sessions at Hospitality Tech 360 – plus one honourable mention.
Find out more and register for the event here >
1. Give your AI a soul: Designing natural, helpful and on‑brand conversations that guests love
30th March | 10:30 – 11:15 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
As AI moves from behind‑the‑scenes automation into direct guest interaction, the stakes are rising fast. It’s no longer enough for AI to be efficient – it needs to sound right, feel human and reflect your brand.
In this standout session, Georgia Lewis Anderson, one of the world’s leading experts in conversational AI, explores what happens when hospitality brands start designing personalities, not just systems. Drawing on her experience shaping the voices of Cortana, Google Assistant and Meta’s Llama 3, Georgia unpacks what the next era of human–AI communication looks like.
From bookings and enquiries to in‑venue service, you’ll learn how voice interfaces and AI assistants are reshaping the guest experience – and why your tone of voice now needs translating into algorithms, not just marketing copy. Expect practical frameworks for building human‑centred AI that feels natural, helpful and unmistakably on‑brand, alongside insights into how conversational AI can act as a smart co‑pilot for frontline teams.
Speaker: Georgia Lewis Anderson, AI Consultant (ex Google, Microsoft & Meta)
2. Humans as luxury: Redefining value in an automated hospitality future
31st March | 12:15 – 13:00 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
As automation becomes the norm on the hospitality frontline, the true differentiator is no longer technology – it’s people. In this session, hospitality futurist and author Simone Puorto challenges the industry’s long-held obsession with efficiency, arguing that human presence is evolving into a premium experience in its own right. He explores how AI and robotics are reshaping service models, not by eliminating people, but by elevating when and how they matter most. Expect sharp insight into how luxury and experience-led brands can design service that feels rare, intentional and deeply human — using empathy, authenticity and personal connection as strategic advantages in an increasingly automated world.
Speaker: Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends & Strategic Innovation – Hospitality Net
3. Hairdressers, hospitality and the human touch: The new ROI of word‑of‑mouth marketing
31st March | 13:15 – 13:45 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
In a world dominated by dashboards, attribution models and AI‑driven personalisation, this session is a timely reminder that some of hospitality’s most powerful growth drivers remain deeply human.
This panel explores why brands are increasingly tapping into trusted frontline professionals, like hairdressers, not as traditional influencers, but as natural conversation starters who spark genuine word of mouth through high‑trust, everyday interactions.
You’ll hear how these human recommendation networks translate into measurable commercial returns, from trial and repeat visits to long‑term loyalty, and how technology can enable and scale advocacy without stripping away authenticity. It’s a reframing of word‑of‑mouth as a strategic growth channel – blending human trust with smart, supportive tech.
Moderator: Nicole Goodwin, Marketing Director – Comptoir Group
Speakers: Harry Jones, Head of Marketing – QVO Hospitality · Julie‑Anne Pugh, Marketing Manager – Blacklock · Lotti Bruce, Brand & Marketing Director – The Pig
4. From generative to agentic: The next leap in hospitality AI
31st March | 14:00 – 14:30 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
AI in hospitality is evolving fast – and this session looks beyond content generation and chatbots to what comes next.
Here, the focus is on agentic AI: systems that don’t just create, but can decide, act and optimise in real time. The panel explores how this shift unlocks self‑directing operational support, hyper‑responsive guest journeys and continuously optimised revenue performance.
Expect a forward‑looking discussion on how autonomous intelligence will reshape efficiency, experience and creativity across restaurants and hotels – and what leaders should be doing now to prepare for a future where AI becomes an active participant in operations, not just another tool in the stack.
Moderator: Chris Fletcher, Founder & CEO – Tech On Toast
Speakers: Florian Montag, VP Business Development – Apaleo · Matt Bell, Managing Director – Mollie’s · William Connors, International Retail Systems Manager – Starbucks
5. How to market to algorithms: Generative engine optimisation in action
1st April | 14:00 – 14:30 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
As search becomes conversational, hospitality brands are no longer competing for clicks — they’re competing to be the answer.
This session dives into Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and what it means for visibility in AI‑driven discovery environments like ChatGPT. The panel will break down how brands can optimise content, data and tone of voice for generative search, with live examples showing GEO in action.
If you’re responsible for driving demand, visibility or brand relevance in a rapidly changing hotel search landscape, this is essential viewing.
Moderator: Sam Weston, Head of AI & Marketing – 80 DAYS
Speakers: Fergal Byrne, Group Director of Revenue & Digital – The Doyle Collection · Olivia Harrison, Senior Marketing Executive – The Mandrake · Joshua Ryan‑Saha, Director – Traveltech for Scotland
Honourable mention: Live podcast recording with Ryan Haynes
1st April | 12:15 – 13:00 | Hospitality Leaders Forum
Alongside the main programme, don’t miss a live podcast recording with Ryan Haynes, Director of Haynes MarComs, who will be joined by Scot Turner, Founder & Managing Director of Auden Hospitality.
While the exact topic is still to be confirmed, expect a candid, wide‑ranging conversation – recorded live in front of the Hospitality Leaders Forum audience.
See you there?
Whether you’re attending to sharpen your tech strategy, rethink guest experience or get ahead of the next AI shift, Hospitality Tech 360 is packed with sessions that balance innovation with real‑world hospitality insight. These five, plus the live podcast, should be firmly at the top of your agenda.
Hotel Speak
2026-02-06 16:30:00