In pictures: MEET UP London 2026 – Forward Thinking for the Future

On Wednesday 29th April, Hotel Designs, SPACE and Event Partners: Fitzroy of London, Atkinson & Kirby, Ideal Work, CTS Salotti, and The Decorative Surface Co. headed to the capital for one of the most anticipated networking events in the calendar:  MEET UP London 2026, at BOXPARK Shoreditch.

The design community came out in full-force with the biggest MEET UP event yet, which saw almost 400 architects, designers, hoteliers, and suppliers come together to bask in the spring sunshine whilst sharing ideas and laughter over drinks and nibbles – cementing relationships, both new and old.

Once the crowd had gathered, Hotel Designs and SPACE Publisher, Katy Phillips addressed the room, welcoming attendees and thanking the event’s partners before handing over to Hotel Designs Editor, Sophie Harper to bring a highly regarded panel together for an Accessible Design Talk.

Industry titans, Jonny Sin, Founder of Sin&Co., Trevor To, Senior Associate and Design Manager at Gensler, and John Wix, Regional Director, EMEA at HKS discussed their insights of designing for a senior market in luxury hospitality from an architectural perspective in the panel titled ‘Designing for our Future Selves’ – a talk rooted in the exploration of what it takes to create a truly inclusive experience for guests as they age, by putting the emphasis on what the future might look like for us all – and thinking about our own future needs and concerns. It was a thought-provoking conversation in which the audience were tasked with the challenge of thinking about their own needs in 30 years’ time.

Following the panel, guests were still deep in discussion – fuelled by the kind of energy that only comes from having the right people in the room. By the time the evening drew to a close, MEET UP London 2026 had done what it always does – reminded the UK’s hospitality and design community why this is the one date in the calendar that’s simply not worth missing. Where big thinking meets good company, and where business has never felt quite so enjoyable.

Check out the image gallery below!

Next up: The Brit List Awards 2026

The opening of the submission forms for The Brit List Awards 2026 were announced at last night’s event, which will take place, once more, on Thursday 5th November at Ministry of Sound. This is your opportunity to put yourself or your colleagues forward to receive an award for all your hard work over the last year. The Hotel Designs and SPACE teams will host an elaborate Grand Masquerade Ball in honour of The Brit List Awards’ tenth year, where the design community will again come together to celebrate all that is wonderful about this great industry. You can complete your own submissions and nominations now at The Brit List Awards entry site and book your tickets to the grand ball here.

All image credits: Kevin Lines Photography