F&B comes into sharp focus at IHIF 2023

The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) 2023 will elevate the topic of food and beverage (F&B) in hotels when it returns to Berlin on 15-17 May.

The F&B Optimisation Hub is an activation space within the main exhibition, designed to bring into sharper focus the role F&B plays in achieving asset and operational optimisation for investors and operators.

Featuring it’s own content stage with operational champions and concept pioneers, alongside live demos and samples, the F&B Hub promises to be a lively and dynamic part of the IHIF experience this year.

F&B focused highlights within the main conference programme include:

Thoughtful F&B Design: Breaking free of Uninspiring Spaces to Maximise Guest Experience and Drive Revenue – Tuesday 16 May 1:30pm

F&B design and the creative use of space are integral components for hotels looking to entice travellers and expand F&B clientele beyond staying guests. This session will identify the most critical design characteristics of a destination restaurant, explore the thoughtful use of ancillary space that contributes to the wider guest experience, and define vital components of F&B design to maximize returns.

Fireside Chat: Outsourcing Food & Beverage Partnerships: What Does Stakeholder Alignment Look Like – Tuesday 16 May 2:45pm

How do hotels and their strategic partners design relationships that harness the benefits of collaboration whilst remaining aligned within the partnership, its objectives and success? Gain dynamic insight into collaborative projects and discuss F&B concepts from design and development, to execution, in this candid discussion with Emma Banks, vice president of F&B Strategy and Development, Hilton.

Commenting on the role of F&B within the hospitality sector, Joe Stather, VP market lead, operational real estate at Questex, said: “With guests seeking experience and investors placing greater emphasis on asset and operational optimisation, the role of F&B has moved into even sharper focus. As such, we are elevating the topic and providing an activation space dedicated to the opportunity that exists within F&B.

“With its own content stage featuring knowledge leaders, operational champions, and concept pioneers, this space within the IHIF exhibition will be extremely popular with hospitality investors, asset managers and operators. Live demos and samples provided by leading beverage companies, plus an area to network and a series of lightning talks, will deliver on experience and give the Hub its own identity within the wider conference.”

Under the headline theme, fortune favours the bold, the popular industry-leading event returns following what was a terrific event in 2022, attended by 2,400 forward-thinking hospitality professionals, including investors, owners and developers. The forum moves from strength to strength with another inspirational billing of over 200 guest speakers, who will focus on bold movements within the market being the key to a successful trading year.

As well as offering a plethora of insightful talks and discussions, IHIF 2023 also provides multiple opportunities to network, including a welcome reception for delegates new to the forum.

Created for the market by the market, based on delegate feedback and Advisory Board recommendations, the IHIF programme promises challenging and thought-provoking sessions with specific areas of focus for each day.

The full programme can be viewed here

Commenting on the opportunities for the hotel industry this year, Joe Stather, VP market lead, operational real estate at Questex, said: “Certainly with the cost of living crisis being felt by all, the industry may have to be bold in order to take advantage of the opportunities presented. With a fantastic line up of amazing speakers and the chance to network with other key figures from across the industry, IHIF 2023 is shaping up to be a key event in the diary to help everyone’s fortunes over the next 12 months.”

For more information and to register for IHIF (15-17 May 2023) visit www.ihif.com.

Standard – available until 12 May 2023 £3,360
Late/Onsite – available until 17 May 2023 £3,750

Questex Hospitality Group, a division of Questex LLC, represents a senior audience of $650 billion in hotel assets, reaching one in two hotel owners and operators across the globe. With a portfolio of both media and live events, including Hospitality Investor, The Annual Hotel Conference (AHC), The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), and The Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum (R&R), Questex Hospitality Group brings together leaders in hospitality investment, development and operations to make the deals that shape recovery and growth in the sector.