ULF
The leading industry news resource; industry awards and international b2b conference and exhibitions for the sector 5 - 7 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9SN International Hospitality Media info@internationalhospitality.mediaThe region's only investment and leadership conference for urban innovators at the cutting edge of contemporary hospitality and real estate.
Exclusive Property Tours: Experience first hand some of the most exciting properties and developments in the King's Cross area of London. Immerse yourself in the city's dynamic real estate and hospitality landscape and witness innovation in action on our curated walking tour of some of the best hospitality and living sector properties
**Limited places available**
A sign-up form will be sent to all confirmed ticket holders approximately two weeks before the event.
Join us as lots of hospitality and real estate industry professionals across the urban living landscape converge.
There will be plenty of networking opportunities with lots of hospitality and real estate leaders, including IHM's Editor-in-Chief, George Sell, Editor, URBAN LIVING NEWS and Serviced Apartment News ; Eloise Hanson, Editor, Boutique Hotel News and Paul Stevens, Editor, ShortTermRentalz.com, over a drink or two - an evening not to be missed!
PLUS, we will announce the first EVER winners for 2024 of the Urban Living Impact Awards - a night not to be missed!
Confirmed attendees only will receive an online sign up form link, please fill in to secure your place. If you are registered and have not received the form, please email meg@internationalhospitality.media to resend the link.
A great opportunity to take coffee and a pastry and network whilst meeting our exhibitors to discover innovative ways to grow your business.
Location: Exhibition Room
George Sell, Editor-in-chief, IHM sets the scene for the day
Investors, developers and industry figures from across the living and hospitality sectors discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in funding and delivering new projetcs.
• Balraj Birdi, head of residential investment, Eversheds Sutherland
• Ami Kotecha, co-founder and group president, Amro Partners
• Alexander Jan, non-executive director, Central District Alliance
Presentation: The state of the nation, BTR inventory, pipeline and market outlook
A detailed look at the Greater London Authority's recent planning guidance note and its implications for coliving in the capital and beyond.
Moderator: Matt Lezniak, co-founder, Conscious Coliving
Jermaine Browne, co-founder, Re:Shape Living
Richard Ward, head of research at StuRents.com sets the scene for the PBSA stream with a comprehensive overview of the UK student accommodation sector, covering demand, demographics, rates, supply and more.
As planners increasingly opt for renovations rather than new-builds, what are the latest adaptive reuse trends among hospitality investors and developers, and what are the challenges and opportunities inherent in giving a building a new purpose?
- Moderator: Aubrey Calderwood, managing director, Gateley Capitus
- Eric Jafari, founder and managing director, AENDRE
- Tiago Venancio, managing director, TREASURESTS Hospitality
- Philippa Wagner, founder, PeoplePlacesSpaces
The impact of artificial intelligence is being felt in every aspect of our lives and across all industries, but what does its inexorable advance mean for the living and hospitality sectors, and how might it affect you in your role?
Futurologist Rohit Talwar will give a live demonstration of cutting edge AI applications, and will prepare the groundwork for the hackathon taking place at 5:00pm on the main stage.
Single family rentals accounted for 42 per cent of all UK BTR investment in 2023, and its investor appeal shows no signs of abating. How is the sector likely to evolve over the next few years?
Moderator: Richard Berridge, founder, Blackbird RE
- Lizzie Breckner, head of BTR research, Knight Frank
- Paul Borrmann, managing director, Ascend Properties
In a sector which is still in its infancy, how can new entrants to coliving build a scaleable platform. The discussion will cover strategies for growth, brand differentiation, and operational efficiency.
Moderator, Katherine Rose, managing director, VervLife
- Alex Gibbs, co-founder and director, Built Asset Management
- Bart Sasim, co-founder, Coliving Ventures
- Yianni Tsitouras, CEO, POHA House
- Yoni Karako, principal, Courtier Capital and co-founder, Vonder
A look at what makes a trio of exemplar PBSA assets the best in their class.
Business travel has fundamentally changed, and whilst volume is down there's opportunities to capture new demand. Forward-thinking operators will adapt to the shifting business travel landscape by offering flexible stays, rolling out sustainability initiatives, deploying technology and more.
- Moderator: Clive Wratten, Chief Executive of The BTA
Coffee break
Panel: The new government and the real estate industry’s wish list
What do the real estate and hospitality indutries want from Starmer's government and what are they likely to get? The session will cover planning, regeneration, tax, finance and more.
Moderator: James Pargeter, senior advisor, GAA
Design and operations - adapting to the evolving needs of renters
As the BTR market matures and looks to new audiences who are seeking alternatives to home ownership, how can developers, operators and architects ensure that the projects they deliver offer the optimum resident experience?
- Sam Smith, director of operations and leasing, Dandara Living
- Dheraen Quick, general manager, Coppermaker Square
- Russell Markou, head of living strategy and operations, Ringley Group
- Damon Gacicia, director, Airbnb for real estate (tbc)
An in-depth look at the progress made so far - and the steps still to be taken - for coliving to be widely accepted as a mainstream asset class. What will this mean for operators, developers and end users, and what effect will it have on diversity of product offering?
Moderator: Barry McKeown, real estate partner and BTR lead, Shoosmiths
Panellists:
- Zafar Bhunoo, CEO, Limitless
- Jenna Harris, head of coliving, Harris Associates
- Edward Boughton, director, real estate lending department, Invesco
- Stephanie Barbabosa, head of BTR, Lendlease
Catering to the specific needs of international students
This session will present the latest market data and insights from STR, a leading provider of hotel industry data and analytics. Expect an overview of trending KPIs and forward-looking data.
Fragmentation is natural in a vertical that is as disruptive and transformative as the short-term rental sector is, but further consolidation is inevitable as large, well-backed companies aim to enhance their tech stack or increase their footprint. This session will explore what the future holds for investment prospects and consolidation, and what is capturing investor attention.
- Philip Grace, chief development officer, Bob W
- Begum Agca Oktugen, head of partner network, Blueground
A dynamic panel discussion exploring the path towards net zero in our built environment.
Moderator: Chris Wilson, business development manager, Iterum
The Ant and the Elephant: How proptech and BTR must cooperate to progress
A presentation and panel discussion looking at the challenges and opportunities faced by the BTR sector when it comes to selecting, implementing and generating value from proptech.
- Moderator: Jess Glover, Markets and propositions director, ASK4
Panellists:
- Katherine Rose, managing director, VervLife
A look at the adaptive reuse opportunities on offer in the coliving space - which types of buildings work best, and what are the dos and don'ts?
- Dr Sabine Schaffer, co-founder and CEO Europe, Pro-Invest Group
- Robin Callister, creative director, Urbanist Architecture
Gen Z and Gen Alpha - are you ready?
Presentation by Sarah Canning and Deenie Lee, co-founders of The Property Marketing Strategists
Owners and investors are diversifying beyond hotel rooms to cater to changing guest preferences and fierce competition. This session will explore the coworking, BTR and student housing sectors, providing an insight into the challenges and opportunities of broadening investment portfolios.
- Moderator: Robert Richardson, CEO, Institute of Hospitality
- Jarkko Härmälä, franchise and international development, VALO Hotel&Work
This session will give a digestible overview of all the key booking trends and behaviours thanks to a data provider, a property manager and a booking platform, enabling attendees to take actionable insights back to their day-to-day businesses.
- Sally Henry, VP of business development, EMEA, Key Data Dashboard
Lunch
Presentation: Building climate resilient cities
Simon Chinn, VP research & advisory services, Urban Land Institute
As the BTR sector in top tier markets becomes increasingly competitive, lease up rates are slowing. How can operators streamline the process using proptech as well as looking to new market verticals to fill inventory during a building's early stages?
Moderator: Lesley Roberts, managing director, Monogram Living
Freya Richard, director of operations & Leasing, Vertus
Traditional and innovative funding solutions for delivering later living schemes
How is the PBSA sector affected by planning issues, development finance costs and investor sentiment? Do supply and demand fundamentals override these obstacles and what does the future hold?
Moderator: Jamie Harris, head of student accommodation, Harris Associates
- Joe Flaherty, director, Beaufort Capital Management
The cost of financing is one of the biggest challenges for hoteliers, with the IMF forecasting global inflation to steadily decline to 4.5 per cent in 2025. Maturing loans are prompting sales activity, where this session will feature a short presentation on finance and investment trends with a follow up discussion amongst active investors and lenders.
- Moderator: Tom Oakden, senior development advisor UK, Meliá Hotels International
- Dave North, Head of hotels, real estate and housing, Lloyds Banking Group
- Andrew Harrington, co-founder & managing partner, AHV Associates
- Keith Evans, founder and CEO, Lifestyle Hospitality Capital
Investment and finance for the workspace sector
Workspace content host - Zoe Ellis-Moore, CEO & founder, Spaces to Places
Refining the housebuilder/investor/operator relationship
Moderator - Rupert Bates, editorial director, Show House
What do later living buyers and renters really want?
As the UK later living sector matures and operators and developers refine their offer, what does the end user want from their accommodation? The session will touch on demographics, affordability, design, amenities, programming, sustainability and technology.
Moderator: Rebecca Shafran, director, alternative markets - research, BNP Paribas Real Estate
Panellists:
• Ali Powell, Founder and CEO, Commercial Acceleration
Going green: eco-friendly practices, energy efficiency, and responsible resource management in student housing
As local governments and banks increasingly prioritise ESG goals, the hospitality industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Expect strategic insights on setting realistic and measurable targets, managing supply chains, navigating financing options and incentives, and more.
- Moderator: Benedetta Cassinelli, co-founder and CEO, Considerate Group
- Rebecca Hollants Van Loocke, chief operating officer, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Frasers Hospitality UK
- Sem Schuurkes, co-founder, CityHub
- Kelli Turner, General counsel and director of ESG, Village Hotels
As office clients demand more flexibility, how is the relationship and deal strucrture between landlords and operators evolving in response?
- Moderator: Aceil Haddad, founder, Matt PR
- Will Kinnear, director, Hewn
- Alan Pepper, CEO, Orega
Tech focus - how technology is revolutionising building design, construction processes and property management
- Moderator: Dominic Grace, principal, Dominic Grace Limited
Panellists:
- Oliver Mold, head of BIM, Assael Architecture
- Michael Hughes, director, Cast Consultancy
Coffee break
A deep dive with hospitality and real estate innovators shaking up the industry with new approaches and attitudes in products, services and experiences.
Does the government get BTR?
- Moderator: Brendan Geraghty, CEO, ARL
The future of intergenerational living
- Hannah Chappatte, founder and CEO, Hybr
- Marcus Hodges, COO, Birchgrove
Building strong university partnerships: Strategies for collaboration between developers, operators, and universities.
Moderator: Sam Bailey-Watts, programme director, The Class Foundation
Panellists:
- Paddy Jackman, CEO, Unipol Student Homes
- Scott Lewis, COO, Homes For Students
- Chris Owens, legal director, Pinsent Masons
Three innovative tech companies will take the stage, each presenting a solution to a challenge faced within hospitality. Following each five-minute pitch, two seasoned technology experts will lead a short Q&A with the presenters. The session will end with an audience vote.
- David Molofsky, product manager, IRIS Software Systems Ltd
- Christophe Gater, co-founder, Quendoo
The rise of the industry-specific workspace
- Moderator: Zoe Ellis-Moore, CEO & founder, Spaces to Places
- Jane Sartin, executive director, Flexible Space Association
Gen Z - the digital natives born between the mid-1990s and 2010s - are a bigger generational cohort than Millennials with a spending power of $44 billion (credit: PION). Following a short presentation on key stats and behavioural insights, a follow up discussion amongst operators will place Gen Z within hospitality and explore how the industry can adapt to their unique needs and preferences.
Wrap up
““It’s always a pleasure to be here. It’s not my first time. It’s always a great forum to discuss with all the other industry professionals and to meet the investors and the technology providers, as well as see familiar faces. Overall, it is a great event that we attend every year. We are also the app sponsor and we are very happy about that. For sure, we will be back.”
Pawel Gawor, CEO, City Pop
The only leadership and investment event for urban innovators and investors at the cutting edge of contemporary hospitality, real estate and living.
