Meet Up North: Three days to go!

Terrace of King's Street Townhouse
1024 576 Hamish Kilburn
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On July 18, Hotel Designs will bring the successful networking concept of ‘Meet Up’ up North to Manchester…

There are just three days left in order to secure your place at Meet Up North, the UK’s leading networking event for hoteliers, architects, interior designers and key-industry suppliers.

In the heart of Manchester, King Street Townhouse, which The Telegraph concluded it was “like staying with a rich friend who has extremely good taste”, has been chosen to shelter the Northern soiree. “Manchester, for many reasons, is a hive for hotel design,” said Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs. “In particular, with its outstanding terrace on the sixth floor, King Street Townhouse aligns perfectly to our networking event Meet Up North.”

Located within the upper King Street Conservation Area of Manchester city centre, the hotel is an impressive 1870s Italian renaissance building, designed by local architect Edward Salomons for the Manchester Salford Trustees Bank. In 2016, AEW Architects, who will be at the networking event this week, converted the building from an office into the high-end 40-bedroom boutique hotel that stands proud over the city today.

Speaking at Meet Up North will be Fiona Thompson, Principal of Richmond International. Thompson will be sharing her thoughts on past projects, future predictions and the value of collaboration.

Completing the line-up of speakers will be the headline sponsors of the event, Marca Corona, which will provide the audience with an in-depth industry insight and will be available to answer questions after.

Agenda for the evening:

6.00 p.m. – Event starts on the 6th floor terrace and lounge  at the King Street Townhouse
6.30 p.m. – Welcome speech courtesy of Hotel Designs editor, Hamish Kilburn
6.45 p.m. – Headline speech courtesy of Fiona Thompson, Principal of Richmond International
7.00 p.m. – Insights from event Headline Partner, Marca Corona
7.15 p.m. – Canapés are served
9.30 p.m. – Event finishes

If you are a supplier to the hospitality industry looking to meet the top hoteliers and interior designers, contact Jennie Lane on 01992 374098 or on j.lane@forumevents.co.uk – or click here to book your place.

The Hotel Designs summer Meet Up is completely free for hoteliers, interior designers and architects; click here to confirm your attendance.

Hamish Kilburn / 16.07.2018

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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.