The Caterer People Summit 2026
Facing the storm: practical solutions for hospitality people leaders
Hospitality HR is under pressure like never before. From navigating the Employment Rights Bill to adapting to AI in the workplace and managing job cuts in an increasingly difficult economy, people leaders are being asked to do more with less – all while making it look effortless.
The 2026 People Summit is the industry event to confront these challenges head-on. Join your peers from across hospitality as we share practical strategies, real-world solutions and actionable takeaways.
Sessions will tackle topics including artificial intelligence, burnout and how to effectively engage the board, giving you the chance to learn, debate and collaborate – and leave with tools 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 awards
- 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
This is not about theory – it’s about action, support and survival in the real world of hospitality HR.
All Speakers
Nicola Boston
Josh Bright
Vicky Freeman
Jo Harley
Michelle Moreno
Daryll Scott
Best Places to Work in Hospitality Sponsors & Partners
Agenda
12:00 - 12:45
Arrival, registration and lunch
12:45 - 12:50
Welcome
Speaker
Caroline Baldwin, deputy editor, The Caterer
12:50 - 13:30
Keynote: wild intelligence in a world of burnout and bots
HR leaders would love to spend their time designing and curating a high-performance culture, but there’s just too much firefighting to do right now.
In this interactive keynote, Daryll Scott will share new, fundamentally different ways of thinking about people-related challenges.
He will demonstrate that there are three types of intelligence: imaginative, rational and emotional. All three ways of thinking are equally vital, but when we are under pressure, we stop, concentrate and overthink.
Through an interactive experience, delegates will understand how co-workers misunderstand each other and clash. And he will also reveal the surprisingly simple truth of how cultures erode and teams implode using a systems-thinking concept called ‘schismogenesis’.
By the end of the session, you will have a new perspective and some practical takeaways to implement in your businesses right away.
Speaker
Daryll Scott, author, speaker, consultant, trainer & coach
13:30 - 14:00
How to become a Best Place to Work in Hospitality
Join our expert panel as we reveal the key findings from this year’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality survey. Using real employee feedback from across the industry, we’ll uncover what top-performing employers are doing differently, from building trust to boosting engagement and retention. Expect practical insights, proven strategies and actionable tips to help you strengthen your workplace culture and become an employer of choice.
Speakers
Sam Coulstock, executive director ‑ partnerships & growth, Umbrella Training
Vicky Freeman, chief people officer, Thomas Franks
Jo Harley, co-founder, Korero
Liz McGivern, vice president - people & culture, Red Carnation Hotels
14:00 - 14:30
Breakout discussion: turning insights into action
Delegates will break into small groups to discuss key findings from the Best Places to Work in Hospitality survey and prior panel discussion.
Meet new contacts, share experiences and ideas, and identify ways to build a stronger workplace culture with your fellow HR leaders.
Facilitator
Michelle Moreno, founder, QAB Leadership
14:30 - 15:00
Networking break
15:00 - 15:30
Keynote: building an AI-ready culture – empowering people, mindsets and learning
Nicola Boston will share how travel firm Holiday Extras has embraced AI as a catalyst for cultural and organisational transformation. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in employer brand, culture and learning, Nicola will offer a practical, real-world perspective on what it takes to become truly AI-ready.
From company-wide hackathons and personal AI assistants to mindset coaching and culture-shift sessions, Nicola will show how AI can become everyone’s business, driving curiosity, capability and confidence across an organisation.
This session will bring fresh insight from outside the hospitality sector, delivering actionable ideas for HR and culture leaders preparing their people for the future of work.
Speaker
Nicola Boston, culture and experience lead, Holiday Extras
15:30 - 15.45
Building invincible teams
In times of economic uncertainty, headcount is often one of the first lever organisations pull. At the same time, as businesses grow and evolve, people, HR and L&D teams are being asked to support more complexity, change and performance than ever before.
So how can people leaders shape roles that are not only valued, but clearly connected to business needs?
This session explores the mindset and practical approaches that help HR and people roles become trusted enablers of the organisation, rather than seen as “nice to have.” You’ll take away tips to review your outcomes such as performance, risk reduction and capability-building, while strengthening executive confidence and making impact easier to evidence over time.
Speaker
Gina Knight, head of people, Flat Iron
15:45 - 16:20
Networking break
16:20 - 17:20
Hackathon
Get ready for an interactive hackathon designed to spark creativity, teamwork and problem-solving. Participants will work together to transform ideas into tangible solutions within a limited time.
Facilitator
Josh Bright, managing director, Bright Ideas Consulting
17:20 - 17:50
Fireside chat: from HR to CEO – getting your board on board
A candid conversation following an HR leader’s journey to the boardroom. Hear real stories of challenges, breakthroughs and lessons learned along the way, while discovering how to position people strategy as a business priority and gain senior leadership support for cultural change.
This session blends career insight with practical advice, showing how HR leaders can bridge the gap between vision and boardroom action.
Speaker
Sue Walter, chief executive, the Roof Gardens, interviewed by Caroline Baldwin, deputy editor, The Caterer
18:00 - 20:00
Best Places to Work in Hospitality awards and drinks reception
Honour the achievements of the Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality with an evening of networking, drinks, canapés and celebration.
Venue
Venue
The Line
58 Victoria Embankment
London
EC4Y 0DS
The Line, formerly known as 58VE, is a contemporary event space designed to inspire connection, creativity, and meaningful conversations. Featuring sleek architecture, versatile staging areas, and state-of-the-art lighting and audio-visual capabilities, the venue provides an exceptional setting for forward-thinking gatherings. With spacious networking areas, riverside views, and a central, easily accessible location, The Line offers the perfect environment for an engaging and memorable summit experience.
The BPTW Party
Best Places to Work in Hospitality 2026
Thursday 14 May
6.00pm - 8.00pm
Once the People Summit sessions have drawn to a close and final conversations have been had, continue the energy into the evening by joining The Caterer for an evening reception of drinks and celebration as it unveils the top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality.
Set on the building’s sixth floor, the reception will take place on The Line’s terrace which provides a spectacular backdrop for the occasion, with stunning views across the Thames and some of London’s most iconic landmarks, from the Tate Modern and the London Eye to the OXO Tower, creating a fitting vista for a truly special night.
The awards, run in partnership with Korero and sponsored by Umbrella Training, celebrate the top 30 operators setting the benchmark for culture, engagement, and opportunity across the sector.
So, for an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection and recognition, join The Caterer and the 2026 cohort of the UK’s top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality by raising a glass of sparkling champagne, while enjoying a range of canapés, and toast the people and businesses shaping the future of hospitality.
