Hospitality Tech360 2026: Leadership, AI and the next decade of hospitality
The 2026 Hospitality Tech360 seminar programme is set. It brings hospitality operators, technology specialists and senior leaders into one room to talk about what actually works - from AI to decision-making to commercial results.
The show runs at Excel London, 30 March-1 April 2026 as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. It sits alongside HRC, IFE, IFE Manufacturing, the Pub Show, Hospitality and International Salon Culinaire.
Content is split across two stages: the Tech Talks Theatre and the Hospitality Leaders Forum. Expect practical sessions led by operators, technologists and marketers who work inside the sector every day.
Leadership, AI and real commercial outcomes
The Hospitality Leaders Forum lines up senior figures including Gavin Smith (CEO, Pizza Pilgrims), Sarah Pope (CIO and IT director, Big Table Group), Shereen Ritchie (CEO, Kuvi), Tim Doubleday (CFO, Burger King UK) and Tom James (managing director, Bill's Restaurants). Topics cover leadership, kitchen innovation and the women moving hospitality tech forward.
A keynote from Georgia Lewis Anderson will break down practical principles for AI content and prompt design - how to create interactions that feel natural, useful and on-brand.
Tommy Giraux, head of restaurant systems at Honest Burgers, leads a session on AI forecasting and its real-world limits and upside. "It's one of the few events where the conversation goes beyond hype," he said. "If you're a CEO, CFO or operations leader trying to understand where AI genuinely adds value, this session is for you."
Simone Puorto (head of emerging trends and strategic innovation, Hospitality Net) brings a strategic and human perspective - focusing on what creates value for guests, teams and the business.
On the build-or-buy question, Prezzo CTO David Broom, Kieron Williams (IT director, Brunning & Price) and Ross Pyres (customer technology director, PizzaExpress) will compare bespoke and off-the-shelf tech. Expect a frank look at data integration: efficiency gains, how to empower teams, and improving customer experience.
Harry Jones (head of marketing, QVO Hospitality) will unpack human connection and word-of-mouth - how trust and recommendation actually spread within hospitality.
Tech Talks Theatre: implementation without the fluff
These sessions focus on what happens after the pitch deck. Thomas Texido (operations manager, Casa do Frango) will share lessons from integrating systems across operations. "I'm keen to share what I believe genuinely works when implementing technology. This session is about practical ideas you can actually use."
If you're exploring operational forecasting and demand planning in hospitality, see the AI Learning Path for Supply Chain Managers for practical resources.
Gregers Knudsen (co-founder and CEO, Monotree) will explain why teams must be heard before any rollout. "Expensive tech is useless if your team hates using it," he said. The goal: a people-first approach that staff adopt willingly.
Jo Lynch (KAM account director) will moderate across Hospitality Tech360 and HRC, connecting technology with operations and guest experience. "What excites me… is the chance to connect real operator challenges with the technology shaping the future of hospitality," she said. "Hospitality Tech360 creates the space for honest, practical discussion about what's genuinely moving the needle."
Innovation Lab trial goes live
The Hospitality Sector Council will use the show to kick off the trial phase of the new Hospitality Innovation Lab, testing technology solutions with operators. For broader context on the council's work, see the UK Government overview of the Hospitality Sector Council: gov.uk/hospitality-sector-council.
If you're attending, use this quick checklist
- Set your outcomes: reduce wait times, boost cover turn, improve forecasting accuracy, increase return visits.
- Bring a snapshot of your current stack and data flows. It speeds up vendor conversations.
- Shortlist 2-3 AI use cases to validate (forecasting, price elasticity, labour scheduling, service recovery).
- Prioritise sessions on leadership, AI forecasting, data integration and team adoption.
- Book time with both bespoke and off-the-shelf vendors; ask for pilots, not promises.
- Plan cross-functional attendance: ops, finance, IT and marketing. Better decisions, fewer surprises.
- Define pilot criteria now: success metrics, timeline, owner, and rollout plan if it works.
Dates and quick facts
- When: 30 March-1 April 2026
- Where: Excel London
- Stages: Hospitality Leaders Forum and Tech Talks Theatre
- Co-located: HRC, IFE, IFE Manufacturing, the Pub Show, Hospitality, International Salon Culinaire
- Who it's for: Operators, CIOs/CTOs, CFOs, marketers and suppliers focused on results
Prep for the AI sessions
Want a head start on prompt design before the keynote? Browse practical Prompt Engineering resources at Complete AI Training.
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