What I Took Away From The Independent Hotel Show

I've been to plenty of trade shows over the years.

Some are worth it. Some are a long day on your feet and a bag full of leaflets you'll never read.

This year, SAVVY Collective took a stand at The Independent Hotel Show in London. Stephen Miles and I headed down with the team to meet independent owners, have some proper conversations and see what the industry was really talking about.

I came away with more than I expected. Just not always from where I expected it.

First things first: the people.

It wasn't the busiest show I've ever been to. But it was quality over quantity, every time. The people who stopped to talk were owners and operators with real decisions to make about their businesses. Those are the conversations that matter.

As an owner and operator myself, I know those pressures. Rising costs. Staffing. Margins. Wondering whether the next investment will pay off.

You can't fake that understanding. You either live it or you don't.

Then there was AI.

It was everywhere. On the seminar stage, on the stands, in every other conversation.

Some of the discussions around AI and staffing were very thought-provoking. And there's no doubt some of the tech on show was very innovative. But as Stephen put it, you have to work through all the conversations to get to the appropriate ones.

That's the challenge for independents. Not every shiny new tool is right for your hotel. The right tech should give your team more time to do what they do best: looking after guests. It shouldn't replace the personality that makes an independent hotel worth staying in.

One session I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did was hearing from Simon Numphud of the AA.

I'll be honest. I came out with my faith in the AA almost restored. That's no small thing, and it was good to hear.

It was also good to see the Institute of Hospitality, UKHospitality and Hospitality Action all there, supporting the industry and talking the talk.

And a big shout out to the James Hallam team. Headline sponsor or not, they're always welcoming, accommodating and supportive. Great to catch up with them again.

We also had copies of our book, Bee Our Guest, on the stand.

If you've read my thoughts on getting young people into work, you'll know how strongly I feel about this. If we want the next generation in hospitality, we have to get in front of them early. Schools are where that starts. A few good conversations at the show might just help us get the book into more of them.

But here's the thing I didn't see coming.

Some of the best contacts we made weren't the visitors at all. They were the people on the stands around us.

Fellow stallholders. Businesses like ours, there for the same reasons, facing the same challenges. They turned out to be some of the most valuable connections of the whole event.

It's a reminder that hospitality is at its best when we work together.

So, will we be back next year?

Absolutely. In what capacity, I'm not 100% sure yet. Attending, exhibiting, sponsoring, we'll see. But we'll be there in some way, shape or form.