HIX Talks is our two-day programme of panels, presentations and keynotes exploring the big hotel questions. Featuring a line up of leading industry voices taking on topics at the cutting edge of hotel design, the programme is guided by the 2023 theme ‘A room with a point of view’ and curated to shine a light on the next generation of hospitality interior experiences.
Ahead of a full programme reveal in September, we’re highlighting three of the subjects and speakers from our first set of panels. Stay tuned to hear more about our keynotes and special guests, and register to attend for free.
All Together Now: What’s next for inclusive design?
Can we create a hotel that works for everyone? A push for more inclusive spaces and experiences is forcing the hospitality industry to readdress form and function alike. For an industry that has traditionally operated along highly segmented and exclusive lines, questions of accessibility and inclusivity might require wholesale design reinvention to properly answer.
Speakers:
Lorraine Copes, CEO and Founder, BeInclusive Hospitality
Tarek Merlin, Director and Co-founder, Feix&Merlin
Alexander Matthams, Senior Inclusive Design Consultant, Buro Happold
Something Old, Something New: Adaptive Reuse and the future of historic hospitality
According to Deloitte, some 90% of future building developments will be renovation or reuse projects, setting the hospitality industry up for a wave of experiences constructed upon historic foundations. How can architects, designers and operators prepare for this surge, and sensitively balance modern values within legacy spaces.
Speakers:
Sebastian Ricard, Director, WilkinsonEyre
James Twomey, Board Director, ReardonSmith
Ryan Butterfield, Associate, David Chipperfield Architects
Local Heroes: Why hyperlocal hospitality is shaking up the neighbourhood
How can big brands go truly local? As major chains occupy increasingly close-knit locales, designers are being asked not only to design suitably local experiences for guests, but to bridge the gap between the property and its surrounding community. Here we ask how best hotels can serve these hyperlocal neighbourhoods, and how designers can balance commercial interests with social responsibility.
Speakers:
Henry Reeve, Director for Interior Design, IHG
Marie Soliman Berglund – Founder and Creative Director, Bergman Interiors
Jonathan Ashcroft, Founding Principal, AnArchitect
Veerle Donders, Director of Brand and Concept, Zoku
