Agenda

The UK's leading conference for the pioneers of hospitality's AI, tech and digital revolution is back! Book your places for the full day's conference, taking place from 10am to 4.30pm

Hostech 2025

The 2025 Agenda

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Registration
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Welcome address
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Tech vision: the route map to 2030

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.

Speaker
Former Chief Digital & Tech Officer
Hospitality Sector
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Driving Growth by uncorking data

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.

Speaker
Executive Chairman & CEO
Majestic Wine
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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?

Speakers
Contributing Editor
MCA
CIO/IT Director
Big Table Group
Digital & Technology Director
Azzurri Group
Chief Product & Technology Officer
Dojo
IT Director
Heartwood Collection
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Morning Break
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Tortilla and KAIKAKU: forging the future with robotics

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.

Speakers
CEO
Tortilla
Co-founder
KAIKAKU
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Creams: building human focused technology in a franchised operation

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.

Speaker
Chief Operations Officer
Creams
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Panel: AI: exploring the art of the possible

le 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.

Speakers
Senior Data Science Manager
Costa Coffee
CTO
Sona
Group CMO
Individual Restaurants
Co-founder
Pizza Pilgrims
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Lunch
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The Future of Hospitality is Personal (and Profitable)
Speakers
Founder
YOLK
Chief Revenue Officer
Vita Mojo
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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.

Speakers
Senior Digital Marketing Manager
Turtle Bay
Head of Marketing
Kricket
Marketing Director
Pho
Founder & CEO
Slerp
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Stonegate: Maximising venues, engaging audiences

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.

Speakers
Digital Director
Stonegate
Head of Insight
MiXR
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Afternoon Break
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Bill’s: the five year plan to evolve tech competencies

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

Speaker
Managing Director
Bill's
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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.

Speakers
Head of Digital Marketing
Heartwood
Marketing director
Comptoir Group
Head of Marketing
200 Degrees Coffee Roasters
Director Enterprise
Uber Eats UK&I
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Burger King & Frog 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.

Speakers
Director of Experience Innovation
frog
Director of Digital
Burger King
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Drinks Reception