2025 Agenda

Tech vision: the route map to 2030

Arslan Sharif Former Chief Digital & Tech Officer, Hospitality Sector

Where is AI leading us, and how is hospitality positioned to benefit? These are some of the big questions hospitality tech leader Arslan Sharif will look to answer in a special landscape and futurist session. Having directed digital strategy for a host of iconic brands including PizzaExpress, Costa and Whitbread, he’ll explore global trends inside and outside the sector, what can be learned from these developments, and the pros and cons of being a first mover on tech adoption.

Driving Growth by uncorking data

John Colley Executive Chairman and CEO, Majestic Wine

With the acquisition of wine bar chain Vagabond from administration last year, specialist wine retailer Majestic has become an omnichannel business, unlocking the power of a combined customer data pool stretching back decades. John will discuss how Majestic is leveraging Vagabond’s proprietary wine vending tech, tapping into wine bar’s younger consumer base for cross-selling opportunities, and how he is bringing learnings from his former employer Screwfix into play at the wine business.

AI: exploring the art of the possible

AI is hotly tipped to transform UK hospitality business. But what are the applications which offer most potential? Our panellists share proven and planned AI driven projects, from customer and team focused solutions to data informed revenue growth management.

• Thom Elliot co-founder, Pizza Pilgrims
• Neve Rabbou group CMO, Individual Restaurants
• Aaron Jones senior data science manager, Costa
• Ben Dixon CTO, Sona

Tortilla and KAIKAKU: forging the future with robotics

Andy Naylor CEO, Tortilla and Josef Chen co-founder, KAIKAKU

It’s all change at Tortilla, the burrito specialist with 122 stores in total across the UK, France and the UAE. It has a new senior team, new investors and recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with KAIKAKU, a business specialising in robotics and food. In this session, Andy and Josef describe how the collaboration came about, where they see the opportunity both for hardware and AI driven software automation, and how such partnerships may shape the future for restaurants.

Bill’s: the five year plan to evolve tech competencies

Tom James, Managing Director, Bill's

When Tom was appointed MD in 2022 he identified that Bill’s was well behind the tech curve. Since then, his team has implemented major changes and driven significant growth. Tom will reflect on progress so far and share the plan to 2027, designed to enable the Bill’s estate of 47 restaurants to capitalise on the many advantages technology offers our sector.

Panel: digital experiences in an analogue world

The customer experience now begins well before guests physically set foot into a venue, but when they first explore a brand’s online presence or reservation platform. This panel will explore the digital tools and platforms they use to enhance brand visibility, engage with guests, and drive bookings, including social media engagement and the role of data analytics in shaping successful marketing campaigns.

• Libby Andrews marketing director, Pho
• Amelia Eckersley senior digital marketing manager, Turtle Bay
• Amelia Soro, head of marketing, Kricket
• JP Then, founder & CEO, Slerp

Burger King's blueprint for meaningful innovation: a tech exploration partnership

Discover how Burger King UK is approaching tech innovation through a strategic tech exploration partnership with frog, a Capgemini company. Timothy and Joe will share the strategy behind Burger King approach to innovation, insights on what makes a successful tech partnership, look at a groundbreaking AI-driven project promising long-term benefits, and offer a sneak peek into Burger King's tech innovation plans for 2025 and beyond.

• Timothy Love, Director of Digital, Burger King UK
• Joe Batista, Director of Experience Innovation, frog

Panel: getting 'tech ready' for growth

Hospitality operators are facing a tension as costs rise and profits are challenged – while the need for investment is greater than ever. This panel will explore how smart digital investment in everything from labour management, operations modelling, procurement, loyalty and marketing, remains essential. When investing, what are the key future-proof foundations to support growth?

• Sarah Pope CIO/IT Director, Big Table Group
• Rob Trippett IT Director, Heartwood Collection
• Jim Hingston Digital & Technology Director, Azzurri Group
• Christian Berthelsen, CTO, Fourth

Stonegate: Maximising venues, engaging audiences

Joe Comiskey digital director, Stonegate, and Laurence Brown, head of insight, MiXR

With more than 1 million downloads, live in 700+ managed venues, and winner of MCA’s Best use of Tech award, Stonegate’s MiXR platform is described as a game changer by Britain’s biggest pub group. In this presentation, Joe and Laurence will discuss the rise of the platform and role in the digital ecosystem, alongside insights and learnings. Combining a consumer app and a retail media network, they will share engaging users leads to a guest first approach; harnessing first party data to deliver a personalised experience; and how MiXR is driving the hospitality flywheel.

Panel: customer relationship, loyalty and the future of delivery

Our panel unpicks the issues and opportunity around customer data, how to drive relationship and loyalty in a highly competitive marketplace, and the role and future of delivery.

• Nicole Goodwin marketing director, Comptoir
• Siobhan Lloyd head of marketing, 200 Degrees
• Caz Taylor, head of digital marketing, Heartwood

Creams: building human focused technology in a franchised operation

Oliver Rodbard, Chief Operations Officer, Creams

A major technology transformation is underway at Creams, spanning ePOS, inventory management, customer ordering, and delivery integration across 100 UK restaurants. Drawing on experience from Pizza Hut Canada and Freshii Inc., Oliver will focus on the human side of technology rollouts—how to align franchisees and key stakeholders for successful adoption. As COO, he understands the balance between technical execution and change management, ensuring technology delivers value by securing buy-in from those who use it every day.