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The Hospitality and Tourism Summit 2016 Speaker Line-up Announced

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale and former Conservative party leader Lord Hague will be the keynote speakers at the hospitality industry’s most important gathering of the year. Speakers from across the hospitality world will join them and include Accor, Bidvest, Butlins, Gatwick Airport, Google, Grange Hotels, Jumeirah Hotels, Merlin Entertainments,  One Fine Stay, Starwood Capital Group, TripAdvisor and many more.

Known as the ‘Davos’ of hospitality and tourism, The Hospitality & Tourism Summit attracts leaders, CEOs, politicians, investors, and suppliers to discuss the issues that matter most within the industry.

With the Summit happening just four days after the EU referendum, it will be the government’s first platform after the referendum and an exciting early opportunity to discuss the impact of the vote on the country and on our industry.

The event, organised by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and Bench Events and hosted at The Grange St Pauls Hotel, London is widely recognised as a must for anyone who wants to be part of the conversation about the latest developments in the restaurants, serviced apartments, attractions, clubs, pubs, caterers and hotel sector and how they will shape the future.

Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive of the BHA said: “If you attend one event this year, it should be the BHA Summit 2016. The timing couldn’t be more critical – 27th June, just four days after the EU referendum. As the fourth largest industry in the UK, our voice matters, and this will be the moment when the industry comes together to help plan for our future, either in or out of the EU.”

This year’s Summit, on June 27, 2016 will have ‘being connected’ as its theme, with workshops and discussions on key topics relating to the industry’s need to work together in an ever-changing environment.

Europe is also a big challenge for the industry, with the implications of the EU vote and its impact on hospitality and tourism likely to be a hot topic.

Diversity, the challenges of the digital economy, investment, employment law and the challenges of connecting to the wider world will also be on the agenda.

Some of the biggest names in travel, tourism, technology, leisure and hospitality sectors will be at the Grange St. Paul’s Hotel in the City of London for the 2016 Summit.

David Norgrove, Chair of the Low Pay Commission will  discuss the National Living Wage, Apprenticeship Levy, employment policy and how it affects the hospitality and tourism industry.

And the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein, will talk about how putting the city before politics – and building connections with businesses – enabled Manchester to become a thriving and influential city, and a champion of hospitality and tourism.

Ms Ibrahim added: “The Hospitality and Tourism Summit on 27th is the most influential event of its kind and this year we have the best ever speaker-line up.

“It gives people working in and with the industry the chance to connect with industry leaders, agenda-setters and members of the government and the media for discussions that will shape our future path towards growth.

“Being connected is about forging partnerships within the industry and recognising that working together is better for success than going it alone.

“It is also about meaningful conversations with government and our observers – about engaging with them, being authentic and being accountable.”

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Amy