Line-up announced for HOSPA 2014 conference panel
The line-up of leading hospitality names has been announced for this year's Leaders' Panel at the Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) conference and exhibition on 20 November.
The HOSPACE 2014 Annual Conference and Exhibition for Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management, IT and Commerce Professionals, is set to take place at the Sofitel London Heathrow, Terminal 5.
Its leaders panel will be chaired by Peter Hancock, chief executive of Pride of Britain Hotels (pictured below, left), and will be addressing issues around the topic "How is the hospitality industry investing in the future?"
Discussion is expected to centre on understanding new businesses and brands, the importance of installing new guest and back-of-house technology, and how to best recruit and train new staff.
The full line-up of panellists will be:
• Steve Cassidy, area vice president, UK & Ireland, Hilton Worldwide (pictured above, right)
• Simon Ewins, business development and corporate responsibility director, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants
• Heiko Figge, head of private equity company Moorfield Group's hospitality portfolio
• Phil Le-Brun, senior director of European Restaurant Solutions at McDonald's Europe
The panel will be the second of the conference's two introductory sessions, with the first session set to be a presentation of the annual HOSPACE Industry Overview, with STR Global and PwC, plus a presentation by Coffer Peach on sales trends for the UK eating- and drinking-out market.
Commenting on the panel, HOSPA chief executive Carl Weldon said: "We are delighted to welcome such an experienced and illustrious panel of multi-disciplined leaders to our traditionally popular Leaders Panel session. The panellists will be examining everything from the sustainability of supplies in light of increasing food and beverage sophistication, to presenting their views on the way ahead for UK hoteliers to take full advantage of the upturn in the economy."
The HOSPA event will also consider issues such as how to make the most of the improved economic climate, how to best gather data and use it more effectively, how to protect your business against fraud, and how to maximise technology use.
The event will finish with a Gala Dinner, pub quiz and entertainment.
HOSPA is a non-profit educational organisation, which evolved from the BAHA (British Association of Hospitality Accountants). It aims to bring together hospitality industry professionals involved in financial management, revenue management and IT.
Finance, revenue management and IT professionals honoured at HOSPA awards >>
