London, UK – October 2026: HIX Europe, the dedicated hotel design event bringing together Europe’s hospitality interiors community, has unveiled the HIX Talks Programme for 2026, bringing the people behind some of the world’s most significant hotel projects to the stage for two days of presentations, panel discussions and industry debate.
Taking place on 25-26 November at Excel London, HIX Talks will explore how changing guest expectations, evolving destinations and new approaches to architecture and interiors are reshaping the hotel experience. From the reinvention of legendary properties to the transformation of historic buildings and the creation of ambitious new hospitality destinations, the programme will examine the ideas, challenges and creative decisions defining the next chapter of hotel design.
Hosted by hospitality strategists Philippa Wagner of PeoplePlacesSpaces and Heleri Rande of THINK Hospitality, the programme brings together internationally recognised design studios, hotel brands, developers and independent operators for a series of quick-fire presentations and on-stage discussions.
Reflecting HIX Europe’s 2026 theme, ‘Changes’, the talks will consider how the hospitality industry responds to shifting expectations while balancing heritage with innovation, identity with reinvention, and commercial realities with creative ambition.
Opening the programme on 25 November, Icons Reinvented will examine the challenge of transforming established hotel landmarks without losing the qualities that made them iconic in the first place.
Drawing on recent relaunches including Park Hyatt Tokyo, Conrad Athens and Delano Miami, the session will explore how design teams and operators can attract new audiences while retaining loyal guests, alongside the practical complexities and costs of renovating heritage buildings.
Presentations will come from Sanjit Manku, Co-Founder of JouinManku; Alex Reed, Design Director EMEA at Hilton; and Ria Vogiatzi, Founder and CEO of Elastic Architects. A panel featuring Mark Eacott, Global EVP of Design & Branded Residences at Ennismore; Alex Reed Design Director at Hilton; and Aurelie Schwend, Director of Interior Design, Luxury Global Design EMEA at Marriott International, will be moderated by Catherine Martin of Sleeper Magazine.
As hospitality moves beyond the traditional hotel building, Distributed & Deconstructed will explore a growing range of properties composed of separate cabins, lodges and pavilions, where the surrounding landscape becomes an integral part of the architecture.
The session will consider how designers and operators balance privacy with community, nature with comfort, and architectural ambition with the operational demands of dispersed sites.
Projects under discussion will include One&Only Moonlight Basin, presented by Jamie Slagel, Principal & Owner at Olson Kundig; Here. Maldives, presented by Inge Moore, Co-Founder of Muza Lab; Envi Paje, presented by Noelle Homsy, Co-Founder of Envi Lodges; and Crafted at Powdermills, presented by Dre Christodoulou, Founder of House of Dre.
Hakan Ozkasikci, Founder and CEO of 3 Square Metres; Chris Nader, Co-Founder and CEO of Envi Lodges; and Chris King, Founder of Stay Crafted, will join the panel, moderated by Philippa Wagner.
What distinguishes a hotel that could be anywhere from one that feels inseparable from its location? A Sense of Place will explore how hospitality design can establish meaningful connections with local neighbourhoods and communities without falling into pastiche, tokenism or superficial partnerships.
Presentations will examine The Newman London, from founders Pernille Lind and Richy Almond of Lind Almond; The Companion Vienna, presented by Piotr Wisniewski, Co-Founder of Westudio; and The Dean Munich, presented by founder Tatjana von Stein.
The subsequent discussion will bring together Paul Brackley, Founder and CEO of Kinsfolk; Keith Evans, Founder and CEO of Lifestyle Hospitality Capital Group; and Florian Kollenz, Co-Founder of Companion Hospitality Group.
Day One will conclude with HIX Deconstructed: Changes, bringing together Rob Wood, Founder of Music Concierge; Ariel Harroush, CEO of Outform; artist Peter Judson; and Melita Stagnaki, Co-Founder of DoubleDecker, for a creative exploration of the people, ideas and influences behind change in hospitality.
Day Two, on 26 November, will open with The Red Sea, examining the ambition and complexity of large-scale destination development and the long-term thinking required to reshape coastlines through hospitality and tourism.
The programme will feature Daniele Sbaraglia, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, alongside Simon Thompson, Executive Director of Interior Architecture at Red Sea Global.
From celebrated mid-century landmarks to contemporary hotels drawing on the era’s architectural language, Mid-Century Modernised, Concrete Converted will explore how modernist and concrete-era buildings can be adapted for contemporary hospitality without losing their defining character.
Using The Chancery Rosewood London, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Sheraton Stockholm and The Standard Brussels as reference points, the session will compare faithful restoration with new projects inspired by the period, considering how to modernise these buildings for changing guest expectations.
Presenters will include Aaron Anders, Co-Founder of ADC & Tuneu; Seyhan Özdemir Sarpers, Co-Founder of Autoban; and Irek Pasek, Project Architect at Reardon Smith Architects.
A panel featuring Justin Meath Baker, Director of Interior Design EMEA at Hyatt; and Tom Hupe, Senior Director of Design & Architecture at Hilton, will be moderated by Eleanor Howard of Sleeper.
Closing the main programme, Grandes Dames & Grand Designs will explore two approaches to heritage hospitality: restoring Europe’s established grande dame hotels and transforming historic palaces and mansions into hotels for the first time.
The session will consider what should be preserved, what can be reimagined and how to balance architectural authenticity with contemporary guest expectations, while navigating heritage consents, specialist restoration costs and commercial viability.
Presentations will feature Corinthia Rome, presented by Simon Abela, Associate at GA Design; Mandarin Oriental Vienna, presented by Martin Goddard, Co-Founder of Goddard Littlefair; Hotel Daniele Venice, presented by Claire Mabon, Senior Design Director at Pierre-Yves Rochon; and Hotel Palais de la Mediterranee Nice, presented by Linda Boronkay, Founder of Studio Boronkay.
The closing panel will bring together representatives of three of Europe’s leading luxury hotel brands. Heleri Rande will moderate the discussion.
HIX Europe is designed to be experienced rather than visited. Alongside HIX Talks, the event will bring together an expanded exhibition of hotel interiors brands, immersive installations, activations, product discovery and opportunities to connect with the wider hospitality design community.
Moving to Excel London for 2026, HIX Europe will take shape as a connected, curated campus for hotel design, bringing together the brands, designers, operators and developers shaping the guest experience.
Through its programme of talks, HIX will offer a platform for the industry to share ideas, challenge established thinking and explore how design can respond to the changing demands of hospitality – from the details of a guestroom to the future of entire destinations.
HIX Europe 2026 takes place on 25-26 November at Excel London.
Visitor registration is free. To explore the event and register for a pass, visit www.hixevent.com.
