With just days to go until the first ever Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam, Hotel Designs, which will be moderating a panel discussion at the event, shares some of the main events that will be on stage in the city famed for its alternative creativity…
Designed to support hoteliers with an independent attitude, Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam is setting up to deliver aspirational content alongside practical solutions.
Inspired by the hospitality offered in hotels themselves, the show strives to deliver a guest experience above and beyond that of the typical trade fair. So whether you’re looking for inspiration from our sublime designers, innovation from leading technology suppliers, or simply to discover something new for your hotel, we’re confident you’ll discover the solutions you are searching for.
Here’s what Hotel Designs, an official media partner of the show, is looking forward to…
WEDNESDAY May 8
11.00am – 11.45am: The Year in Review
The big picture of the European Hotel Industry. Our expert panel reviews the last 12 months of the European hotel market, outlining opportunities, implications and possibilities for you and your hotel – (in partnership with STR Global)
Speakers: Samantha Mardkhah, STR; Sander Allegro, Allegro INNovations Hospitality Consultancy; Gabriella Esselbrugge, Hotel De Dames van Jonge; Rene van Schie, Met Region Amsterdam
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
12.30pm – 13.15pm: The Travel Future Forecast
This insight-packed presentation will navigate the major cultural shifts that are transforming the travel and hospitality landscape. Has the sharing economy gone luxe? How are Chinese tourists spending? Is room service having an existential crisis, and will robot concierges come to the rescue? The Travel Future Forecast is your ultimate guide to the trends defining travel and hospitality in 2019.
Speaker: Holly Friend, The Future Laboratory
13.30pm – 14.00pm: Trend Tour
Join trend forecaster Vincent van Dijk for a trend tour, featuring a number of hand-selected highlights at the show which tie in with the most important hotel trends of this moment. From technological innovations to special sustainable gadgets that should not be missing in today’s hotel room! Tours will leave promptly from the Hotel Vision Stage.
Speaker: Vincent van Dijk, HBMEO Concepts
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
14.30pm – 15.15pm: Why Sustainability is Good for Business
Discover the green business practices you need to know now. Join our panel of industry leaders as they outline the direct benefits of taking a transparent, sustainable approach to individual hotels and to the industry as a whole, from influencing customer trust to driving new business opportunities.
Speakers: Marie-Noelle Keijzer, WeForest; Inge van Weert, QO Amsterdam; Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key; Marco Lemmers, Conscieous Hotels
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
15.45pm – 16.30pm: Let’s Get Personal: Attracting, inspiring and retaining your staff
Examining why hospitality is a hot career, This session outlines the new initiatives, opportunities and incentives hotel owners and operators can offer to staff looking to pursue a career in hospitality and how to train and retrain high potential recruits.
Speakers: Joost van Beek, The Student Hotel; Charles van Goch, Mise en Place; Erik-Jan Ginjaar, Postillion Hotels Netherland; Jorn Heikens, Stenden Hotel Management School
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
16.15pm – 16.45pm Curating Design Through Art
Join Rebecca Wilson, VP of Art Advisory and former Director of the Saatchi Gallery in London, for guidance on selecting the best artworks to ensure you are at the forefront of art as well as design.
Speaker: Rebecca Wilson, Saatchi Art
Stage: Social Business Space
17.00pm – 17.45pm: Designing for ‘Bleisure’
Whether travelling for business or leisure, guests are seeking great experiences from their hotel stay. How is the hospitality and design community reacting to this need and designing spaces for ‘bleisure’?
Speakers: Rob Wagemans, Concrete; Hans Meyer, Zoku; Hamish Kilburn, Hotel Designs
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
Image credit: Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam
THURSDAY May 9
11.00am – 11.45am: How to use Technology and Personalisation to Maximise your Direct Bookings
Industry expert, Frank Reeves explores the journey that hotels should be using to shift booker intent from OTA’s to their own website through revolutionary technology, and move the focus on from ‘direct bookings’ to ‘direct relationships’. This session will explore the changes in buyer booking behaviors, and how a digital guest-centric approach along with the adoption of emerging technology can revolutionise your guest experience from the start.
Speaker: Frank Reeves, Avvio
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
12.00pm – 12.45pm: Placemaking: Hospitality at the heart of the community
A ‘how to’ for hoteliers wishing to capitalise on their local community’s assets, inspiration and potential.
Speakers: Veerle Donders, Zoku; Sander Allegro, Allegro INNovations Hospitality Consultancy; Gladys Camphuijsen; Annemoon Geurts, Kazerne
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
13.00pm – 13.30pm: The Smart Travel Challenge
The 5 biggest industry challenges of the next decade and how we could turn them into sustainable growth opportunities.
Speaker: Christiaan Uittenbosch, Smart Travel Lab
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
13.15pm – 13.45pm: Elevating Guest Experiences through Art
Rebecca Wilson, VP of Art Advisory at the international art gallery Saatchi Art, will discuss how art can transform the guest experience and lead to increased PR and greater social media exposure. Rebecca has curated art programmes for luxury brands such as Nobu, Hyatt, and Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Speaker: Rebecca Wilson, Saatchi Art
Stage: Social Business Space
14.00pm – 14.45pm: Scale Up But Retain Your Independent Spirit
A ‘how to’ for hoteliers looking to expand their portfolio, keeping the guest experience at the heart of the operation.
Speakers: Sander Allegro, Allegro INNovations Hospitality Consultancy; Bram Van Der Hoek, EU Hotels Private Collection; Jan Stuurman, V Hotel; Kevin Rockey, The Hoxton
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
15.00pm – 15.45pm: The Hotel Room of the Future
What can we expect from the hotel room of the future? Trend forecaster Vincent van Dijk gives us a glimpse into the future of hospitality. Based on both experiences from his living lab, a hotel room where innovations for the hotel industry are tested, and a trend analysis.
Speaker: Vincent van Dijk, HBMEO Concepts
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
15.45pm – 16.15pm: Trend Tour
Join trend forecaster Vincent van Dijk for a trend tour, featuring a number of hand-selected highlights at the show which tie in with the most important hotel trends of this moment. From technological innovations to special sustainable gadgets that should not be missing in today’s hotel room! Tours will leave promptly from the Hotel Vision Stage.
Speaker: Vincent van Dijk, HBMEO Concepts
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
16.00pm – 16.30pm: Making a Difference – A Leadership Opportunity
Taking responsibility for the two most precious resources: Your People – Our Planet.
Speaker: Wolfgang M. Neumann, Radisson Hospitality Group AB, Guestline
Stage: Hotel Vision Stage
The Hotel Designs team will be exhibiting at the show on stand number F62
