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People Summit 2026: How to lead HR through uncertainty
The Caterer’s People Summit on 14 May offers insights and practical strategies from HR leaders for stronger teams in today’s tough climate
In today’s climate, hospitality HR feels like a constant fire fight. How do you navigate the Employment Rights Act while maintaining costs? How do you manage job cuts in an increasingly difficult economy? How do you integrate AI into the workplace?
Find out the answers to these pressing issues and more at The Caterer’s People Summit 2026 on Thursday 14 May and confront these challenges head-on. Join your peers from across hospitality as we share practical strategies, real-world solutions and actionable takeaways.
Who will be speaking at the People Summit 2026?
Speakers include Sue Walter, chief executive at members’ club the Roof Gardens in Kensington, London, who will share her journey from HR leader to the boardroom and the lessons she learned along the way, including how integral HR is to drive a business’s commercial vision.
Speaking to The Caterer, she said: “The question shouldn’t be whether HR belongs at the top table, but how we show our impact when we’re there. HR directors can be deeply commercial and strategic in driving business strategy forward, but it needs to be articulated and demonstrated by how we treat and position our HR function within the business and how HR directors show up at the top table.”
Meanwhile, Gina Knight, head of people at steak restaurant group Flat Iron, will share how people leaders have the power to shape roles that are not only valued but clearly connected to business needs.
Knight said: “In uncertain times, the strongest businesses double down on people. Culture, capability and performance aren’t separate conversations, they’re the same conversation. People teams enable that connection.”
Other speakers include Nicola Boston, culture and experience lead at Holiday Extras, and Liz McGivern, vice-president of people and culture at Red Carnation Hotels, who will join a panel discussing how to become a Best Place to Work in Hospitality, following the luxury hotel group’s Best Employer Award wins at the 2023 and 2025 Cateys.
Where will the People Summit 2026 take place?
Taking place at 58VE, London, The Caterer’s People Summit will bring together HR hospitality leaders with inspirational speakers to share actionable insights on how to protect your people, strengthen your teams and prove why HR is central to business success, even in tough times.
At this summit, you will:
- Gain actionable insights from top-performing employers and HR innovators.
- Learn from some of the past winners of the Best Places to Work in Hospitality competition.
- Explore practical ways to integrate AI without losing the human touch.
- Discover strategies to retain talent and maintain engagement amid job cuts.
- Connect with peers to share experiences, ideas and solutions for today’s toughest challenges.
Book your tickets for the People Summit 2026.
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