Hotel Designs to put ‘accessibility’ under the spotlight at Hotel Summit 2020

730 565 Hamish Kilburn
  • 0
Hotel Designs to put ‘accessibility’ under the spotlight at Hotel Summit 2020

Editor Hamish Kilburn will deliver a live interview at Hotel Summit with the owner and design team of Hotel Brooklyn, the new contemporary hotel in Manchester that has been designed to be seamlessly accessible… 

Hotel Summit, which this year takes place on April 27 – 28 at Five Lakes Resort Colchester, will take on the theme of accessibility in the seminar rooms.

The panel discussion, which will take on April 28 from 11.20am – 12.00pm, and will challenge pre-existing attitudes towards accessibility in design as the industry focuses more on designing meaningful spaces for modern travellers.

Accessibility doesn’t have to be boring and un-sexy. In a perfect world, hotels wouldn’t simply embrace making their rooms and public spaces accessible to guests of all physical abilities – they would also keep accessibility in mind throughout the entire design process.

One hotelier who has spent the last decade actively pioneering new thoughts on how designers and hoteliers should think about accessibility is Robin Sheppard, the Chairman of Bespoke Hotels, the Chairman of the Institute of Hospitality and who won the Outstanding Contribution Award at The Brit List Awards 2018. Sheppard’s latest hotel, Hotel Brooklyn, is a contemporary gem located in the beating heart of Manchester. It stands for the entire industry as a modern example of the paramount importance of weaving accessibility into the whole design of a property – regardless of the overall brief.

Editor of Hotel Designs, Hamish Kilburn, will host a live interview with Sheppard and Ed Warner, founder of accessible design firm Motionspot which collaborated with Brooklyn interior designers, Squid Inc. This exclusive panel discussion will give delegates unprecedented insight to the design decisions involved in the creation of this 189-key hotel. “I have watched this hotel develop from concept stages right through to completion,” said Kilburn. “Our delegates will learn a lot from what Robin and Ed, and I am hoping that this session marks the start of more hotels considering accessibility throughout the entire design stages of any renovations.”

For two decades, Hotel Summit has been bridging the gap between leading hospitality professionals and key-industry suppliers with pre-arranged, face-face meetings, seminar topics that become conversation starters and a popular gala dinner.

How to register 

If you are a supplier to the hospitality industry looking to meet top hotel professionals, contact Jennie Lane at j.lane@forumevents.co.uk– or click here to book your place.

If you are a hotelier and would like to attend the Summit for free, please contact Kerry Naumburger at k.naumburger@forumevents.co.uk – or click here to book your place.

*Please contact Kerry Naumburger for complete delegates list.

Hamish Kilburn / 10.02.2020

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.