MEET UP NORTH: Headline Speaker announced

730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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MEET UP NORTH: Headline Speaker announced

Tom Lindblom, Principal and Hospitality Leader at Gensler (London), has been confirmed as the Headline Speaker for Meet Up North, which takes place at Hotel Gotham, on July 1, 2019…

Hotel Designs has confirmed that Tom Lindblom, The Brit List 2018 finalist from Gensler, will be the Headline Speaker at Meet Up North, which takes place this year at Hotel Gotham’s rooftop bar on July 1, 2019.

Carrying the light theme of ‘creativity outside the capital’, the event aims to bridge the gap in the north between designers, hoteliers, architects, developers and key-industry suppliers.

During his talk entitled ‘Hospitality Is Way More Than Hotels’, Lindblom will share selected projects and his understanding and appreciation for unique opportunities that the hotel sector is currently experiencing. “I am looking forward to a lively session to exchange ideas about the very dynamic hospitality market – all in the fantastic Hotel Gotham,” Lindblom told Hotel Designs. The architect’s presentation will explain how statement hotels can have the power to change the perspective of an entire destination. Closer to home, he will review hotspots in the UK that are seeing/or will see significant growth in hotel investment. Lindblom will also briefly summarise ideas and trends the Gensler Research Institute has uncovered with our Hospitality Experience Index – EXI.

As well as being Principal and Hospitality Leader at Gensler, Lindblom also teaches and lectures on architecture, lighting design and museum design. He recently sat down with Hotel Designs’ editor, Hamish Kilburn, where he granted the publication with an exclusive look inside the inner workings of the architecture firm. “We are really excited that Meet Up North is returning to Manchester for the second year running and I am delighted to welcome Tom as our headline speaker for this event,” explains Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs. “His unquestionable knowledge and his unteachable charm enables Tom to effortlessly cut through the noise in order to participate in conversations and debates that actually go on to make a difference on the international hotel design scene.”

Early bird tickets now available

Between now and April 30, 2019, early bird tickets for the event are available to purchase:

Suppliers: £99 + VAT (£150 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).
Designers, architects and hoteliers: £10 + VAT (£20 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).

If you are a supplier to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.
If you are a designer, architect or hoteliers to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.

There are various sponsorship opportunities and packages available for Meet Up North. If you would like to discuss these with our team then please contact Zoe Guerrier by either emailing z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk or calling 01992 374059.

The inaugural Meet Up North took place last year at King Street Townhouse and was attended by more than 200 designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers.

About Hotel Gotham

Hotel Gotham is sheltered in what is arguably the city’s grandest properties and is an exclusive city-centre sanctuary, previously a bank that was designed in 1935 by none other than architect Edwin Lutyens.

The hotel, which opened in 2015, prides itself on offering a modern and comfortable experience in a unique and luxurious environment, with exquisite service all within a bespoke private club in the heart of Manchester.

 

Main image credit: Hotel Gotham

Hamish Kilburn / 18.04.2019

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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.

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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.
 
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