The 9th edition of the Young Hoteliers Summit, taking place from March 12th to 14th, 2018, focuses on digitalisation and its future in the hospitality industry. With the objective of analysing the industry from different perspectives, the three-day summit consists of panel discussions and keynote speeches revolving around one central topic: “Eyes on the Future: Following the Momentum of Growth”.
With the panel “Redefining Luxury in the Age of the Millennial”, the summit will commence with a discussion inspired by the challenge faced by many luxury brands in response to the millennial generation’s emergence as a major customer segment. A growing spending power, combined with a modern approach towards luxury makes this segment particularly complex for the industry. The focus of this panel lies in finding how different hospitality players can respond to the significant changes and cater to these novel needs. The panel has invited, among others, Klaus Kabelitz, General Manager of Belmond London, as well as Francois Delahaye, COO of Dorchester Collection, to interpret the topic through their own eyes. The panel will be moderated by David Samson, Associated Director of in the Travel, Leisure & Hospitality Advisory Team for Deloitte London.
In the afternoon, YHS delegates and guests will have the opportunity to take part in the panel "How Technology will change the future Hospitality Industry". The main topic of this discussion is how the implementation of technology in hotels can improve guest experience and operational efficiency. The panelists will also explore how hotels can take advantage of technological opportunities to improve customer satisfaction. The panel has invited Uli Pillau, founder of Apaleo GmbH, as well as Nick Price, CEO and CIO of NetSys Technology and Citizen M.
On Tuesday, the focus lies on "The Changing Dynamics of Hotel Ownership". Moderator, Russell Kett, Chairman of HVS London, will lead the discussion around trends in hotel property investment. An increasing number of institutions are investing in the hospitality sector, looking for stable and high-yield returns. Oliver Judge, Director of Asset Management of Park Hotels and Resort as well as Marc Socker from Invesco, will delve into the motives, actions and visions of the institutional investors.
Andreas Stiven, Partner and Head of Hospitality Leisure at Deloitte, will lead the panel on “The Rise of the Lifestyle Brands: Revolutionizing the Hotel Experience” along with Jessica Emde, the brand manager of nhow at NH Hotel. Together, they will analyse the emergence and development of lifestyle brands in the millennial age.
On the last day, the topic evolves around "Exploring Niche Markets: Seizing the Untapped Opportunities". The panel has invited, among others, Yves Wencker, director of Lodging for Disneyland Paris and Christopher Cox, Regional Director at Preferred Hotels and Resorts. They will explore how niche markets allow companies to differentiate themselves in order to gain competitive advantages.
The three-day summit is not only a unique opportunity to hear first-hand views on current topics in the hotel industry but it is also fully packed with activities, networking sessions as well as a very special gala dinner hosted at the Lausanne Olympic Museum. The YHS organizing team is working very hard to make the 9th summit very memorable.
Tickets to the summit can be purchased through: https://www.eventbrite.de/e/young-hoteliers-summit-2018-tickets-42058451962
For further information, please visit: (www.yhsglobal.com).
