HIX 2024 in review

Rounding off the UK’s event calendar for the design world, HIX has quickly become one of the industry’s best loved shows for it’s focus on the guest experience and happy party vibe – 2024’s installation was no exception…

Surprisingly, 2024 only marked the fourth edition of HIX – a show that has become a firm favourite on the design calendar, and that is so rooted in the industry it feels as though it must have been established much longer ago than in 2021.

A fresh face to the scene post pandemic, HIX made a name for itself as being the event that saw the design community emerge and reunite following uncertain times for the hospitality world – a moment of celebration, which is a theme that has continued with each show.

Crowds in the walkways of HIX at The Business Design Centre

Image credit: HIX

2024’s edition was underscored by a theme of ‘a sense of place’, which set the agenda for the packed talks programme exploring the unique relationship that exists between a hotel and the locale it serves, be that a single building, a neighbourhood, a district or an entire country, and asks how the spaces we visit become places we remember.

Many of the topics covered during a variety of panel discussions and talks reflected the ideas, concepts, and perspectives focused on the power of change as guests come to demand more from their holiday and travel experiences.

Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper leads a panel discussion entitled 'Leave No Trace' on the main stage at HIX 2024, with guests Louis Thompson, Jerry Tate, and Anomien Smith.

Image credit: HIX

Hotel Designs played a major role in the show’s first day of talks with Editor Sophie Harper hosting three separate panels: Leave no Trace with Louis Thompson (Founder, Nomadic Resorts), Anomien Smith (Creative Director, Luxury Frontiers), and Jerry Tate (Founder, Tate & Co); Ensuring the Design Stays True to the Design with Elizabeth Walton (Associate Director, ReardonSmith Architects), John Paul Pederson (Creative Director, Wimberly Interiors), and Martin Radley (Director, ESquared Consulting); and Designing the Brand with Arun Rana (Head of Interior Design, Europe & North Africa, Accor), Grace Kelly (Design Director, Architecture, Design & Construction, EMEA, Hilton), Henry Reeve (Director of Interior Design, IHG Hotels & Resorts) and Justin Meath Baker (Director of Interior Design, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Hyatt). Each of the discussions was focused on different aspects of the design process, but the parallel between them was the need for communication and collaboration. Check out what the design directors of the world’s biggest hotel brands had to say about Designing the Brand.

Also on the show floor, Assistant Editor Meg Taylor was carrying out interviews for Hotel Designs’ Sofa Sessions series – so keep an eye on our Instagram feed for those.

A large crowd gathers around the Ligne Roset and Balsan stand at HIX 2024 to listen to a talk entitled 'Designing the Brand' hosted by Sophie Harper with guest speakers Henry Reeve, Arun Rana, Grace Kelly, and Justin Meath-Baker.

Image credit: HIX

A hive of activations across the two-day event saw not just talks, but workshops, demonstrations, and design concepts unveiled by exhibiting brands. The content for which was curated by exhibitors and the HIX event team to ensure interactive and meaningful insights were provided to the 4,700 attendees.

Utilising every square inch of the Business Design Centre with the Main Hall, the Collection, and the all-new Gallery Hall, HIX played host to 164 exhibitors including highlights from: Laufen, Roca, Hansgrohe, Schluter Systems, Grohe, Sanipex, Chelsom, LedsC4, Balsan, Ligne Roset, Franklite, Porta Romana, Atlas Concorde, Ege, Hypnos, Sekers, Keuco, Aliseo, Luma Mirrors, Edmund Bell, TOTO, and Alape.

Sophie Harper leads a talk on the Schluter Systems stand at HIX 2024 with speakers, Elizabeth Walton, John Paul Pederson, and Martin Radley.

Image credit: HIX

A number of immersive installations could be seen across the show floor including a number of linked concepts centred around the idea of pockets of the Business Design Centre being turned into a boutique hotel resulting in bespoke video experiences set within abstract design vignettes.

Marking its HIX debut, Aliseo gave designers the opportunity to discover the brand’s tailor-made solutions with a focus on the personalisation of first-class products such as cosmetic mirrors, bathroom accessories and hair dryers.

In addition to showcasing its AEGEAN collection, Sekers launched Lunar – a sleek double-faced blackout, Darkness – a recycled FR-One blackout and Locomotion – a sophisticated FR-One textured sheer.

The Laufen stand at HIX 2024 showcases the colour archaeology collection with one of the brand's terracotta coloured sinks taking centre stage on a plinth and Egyptian artefacts pictured in the background.

Image credit: HIX

Ligne Roset was showing the full extent of its bespoke manufacturing and recent collaboration with the designers from Viewport Studio for the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, as well as co-hosting with carpet partner Balsan the Hotel Designs‘ Designing the Brand panel discussion.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Laufen stand explored Colour Archaeology – a meticulously curated room set that presented the outcome of an academic research project led by Roberto Sironi.

Capped by the usual after party vibes, day one drew to a close with DJ sets and numerous exhibitor stands making swift transitions to pop-up cocktail bars. A roaring success, we look forward to seeing what HIX 2025 brings to the party on 26 & 27 November.

 

Main image credit: HIX