SAMANTHA VAN EXTER ON HER NEW VENTURE
After 11 years in London, Samantha Van Exter has embarked on a new chapter as General Manager of Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea. In this exclusive interview with Hotel Magazineama, she discusses the appeal of Saudi Arabia’s emerging tourism landscape, the importance of wellness and sustainability, and her ambitions to develop local talent while delivering meaningful guest experiences rooted in the destination’s culture and natural surroundings.
What attracted you to Six Senses Southern Dunes, and why was it the right next step in your career?
After 11 years in London, I was ready for a new chapter. Six Senses appealed to me because its philosophy reflects my own values: meaningful connections, wellness, living in harmony with nature, and genuine care for people and the planet. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambition to develop world-class tourism while celebrating its heritage and empowering its people strongly resonates with me. On a personal level, I love both the desert and the sea. Driving through the dunes to work, stopping to let camels cross the road, and sleeping just minutes from the Red Sea make this experience truly special. It reminds me, every day of the extraordinary destination we have the privilege of sharing with the world.
What excites you about the Red Sea, and how does it differ from an established city hotel?
Saudi Arabia is writing an exciting chapter in global tourism, and The Red Sea is at the heart of that story. We have an opportunity to introduce the world to the Kingdom's extraordinary landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality. At Six Senses Southern Dunes, the desert is central to the experience, offering tranquility, connection with nature and opportunities to discover local traditions and stories. By working with local communities and developing Saudi talent, we can create authentic experiences that celebrate the destination and contribute to Vision 2030.
How are you approaching wellness, sustainability and personalised guest experiences?
At Six Senses, these pillars are interconnected. Wellness extends beyond the spa to sleep, nutrition, movement, and reconnecting with nature. Our desert setting offers guests an opportunity to slow down, find balance, and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. Living in harmony with nature means caring for this remarkable environment, making thoughtful choices and supporting the communities around us. Our hosts bring the Six Senses philosophy to life through genuine care and intuitive service. Saudi culture is equally central, from the warmth of Saudi coffee and the generosity of a shared table to local flavours, traditions and desert experiences. We want every guest to leave feeling restored, inspired and genuinely connected to the people and place they have discovered.
What leadership principles have you brought to this role?
I believe hospitality starts with people. My leadership style is grounded in leading by example, being visible and approachable, and empowering our hosts to deliver exceptional experiences. Developing Saudi talent is particularly important to me. Our colleagues are not only the heart of the resort; they are ambassadors for their culture and the destination. I want to create opportunities for them to grow, build rewarding careers and become future leaders in hospitality. Strong relationships with local communities are equally important. By listening, collaborating and celebrating local knowledge and traditions, we can create experiences that are authentic, meaningful and beneficial to the wider destination.
What are your priorities over the next 12–18 months, and what would success look like?
I feel very fortunate to have joined such a talented and dedicated team at Six Senses Southern Dunes and across the wider Six Senses portfolio. We already have a strong foundation, and my focus is on building on that success and elevating the experience to the next level. Having achieved Two Michelin Keys for the second consecutive year, we are proud of the recognition the resort has received. Our ambition is to continue raising the bar while staying true to the Six Senses philosophy through personalised hospitality, wellness, care for nature and a genuine connection to Saudi culture and the desert landscape. I also want to deepen our relationships with local communities, support Saudi talent and create even more meaningful experiences that celebrate the destination. Success means empowering our exceptional team to reach new heights, inspiring guests to return, strengthening commercial performance and making a positive contribution to the destination. Ultimately, it is about continually elevating Six Senses Southern Dunes while preserving what makes it so special.
PAULIG PRO HELPS OPERATORS TAP INTO BOOMING EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN TREND WITH THREE NEW PRODUCTS
With 86% of UK consumers wanting to eat more Eastern Mediterranean food when dining out(1), the appetite for the cuisine continues to grow.
Responding to this demand, Paulig PRO is extending its Eastern Mediterranean range with three new Santa Maria products, giving operators an easy way to bring vibrant, trend-led flavours to menus.
The launch of Santa Maria Amba Mango Sauce, Aleppo Pepper Paste and Baba Ganoush enables operators across QSR, casual dining, food-to-go, pubs & bars and contract catering to refresh menus with exciting Eastern Mediterranean flavours, without increasing labour costs, specialist skills or ingredient complexity.
With 74% of diners looking for new flavours when dining out(2) and 89% finding Eastern Mediterranean flavours appealing(3), the opportunity for operators is clear. The three ready-to-use products allow chefs to introduce flavour discovery while keeping dishes accessible and operationally simple.
The products are designed to help operators drive trial, repeat visits and incremental sales, while delivering the quality and flavour profile of chef-led dishes without the additional preparation. From adding a new sauce to a familiar dish to creating an entirely new menu item, the range offers flexibility across dayparts and menu formats.
The three new, easy-to-use and versatile Santa Maria products are:
- Amba Mango Sauce – made with 4-5 mangos per bottle, this vibrant Eastern Mediterranean sauce combines fruity sweetness with fresh acidity. Ideal with fried chicken, falafel and wraps, it can also be used as a dressing, glaze or mixed into mayonnaise.
- Aleppo Pepper Paste – inspired by Syria and southeastern Turkey, this rich tomato and chilli paste delivers fruity depth with soft, controlled heat. A versatile alternative to harissa or gochujang, it is ideal for bowls, grilled meats, seafood and vegetables.
- Baba Ganoush – a smooth, earthy aubergine dip with sun-dried tomato, basil and a subtle chilli kick. Perfect for falafel pitas, shawarma wraps or as a versatile mezze dip alongside hummus and guacamole.
Premium quality, zero prep burden
For operators, the appeal goes beyond flavour. Each product is ready to use, providing kitchens with a premium, chef-crafted result without increased labour, specialist skills or preparation time. This means menu development at speed and consistent quality across every site, from a QSR counter to a multi-site contract catering operation.
Plant-based by design
Many traditional Eastern Mediterranean dishes are plant-based by nature, making this launch a natural fit for operators responding to demand for vegan options. As all three products are ready to use, kitchens can build vegan-friendly dishes into everyday service without special orders or extra preparation.
Barnaby MacAdam, Development Chef at Paulig PRO, said:
We’re really proud of our latest innovations, which bring accessible, exciting flavours to the kitchen to empower chefs and operators to unlock a world of flavour and create exceptional dining experiences. The high mango content, at 54%, brings vibrancy to our ready-to-serve Amba Mango Sauce, working particularly well as a topping for shawarmas and open flatbreads. The ruby-red Aleppo Pepper Paste can be spread directly onto pita for an easy snack or used to add a punchy flavour to any dish, from marinades to dressings. Baba Ganoush, our hero dip of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, works beautifully alongside a sandwich or burger as it does on a mezze platter, where it’s the star of the show.
To explore the full range and discover how the products can enhance your menu offerings, please download Paulig PRO’s Eastern Mediterranean Playbook.
CLEARCOURSE STRENGTHENS HOSPITALITY TECHNOLOGY OFFERING WITH ACQUISITIONS OF SK CHASE AND ELINA PMS
Two more acquisitions in 2026 bring ClearCourse's hospitality and payments capability to new customers across the UK and beyond
ClearCourse, the provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs, today announces the acquisitions of two hospitality brands: SK Chase, a leading digital voucher platform, and Elina PMS, a cloud-based reservation management software platform.
The deals take ClearCourse’s total acquisitions in 2026 to four, and reflect the group's continued strategy of backing specialist software businesses with the resources and expertise to help them grow.
Founded in Edinburgh in 2003, SK Chase built one of the first platforms to enable luxury hotels to package and sell gift experiences. Today, the business serves hundreds of the world’s most prestigious hotels, restaurants, and resorts with an all-in-one e-commerce platform that makes it simple to sell gift vouchers, event tickets, retail items and guest add-ons.
Elina PMS was established in London in 2007 to help hospitality businesses boost direct bookings. Today, its cloud-based platform serves hotels, serviced apartments and rentals globally, unifying reservation management, invoicing, guest experience, data storage, and payments in one system.
ClearCourse already has an established reputation in the hospitality space through brands including Giftpro, which is trusted by hundreds of restaurants across the UK, and its hotel management software Rezcontrol. SK Chase and Elina PMS expand the choice available to ClearCourse hospitality customers.
Both businesses will benefit from ClearCourse's embedded payment platform, ClearAccept. At a challenging time for hospitality businesses across the UK, software that offers connected technology, spanning guest data, bookings and payments, is increasingly what operators need to protect margins and build lasting relationships with their guests. These acquisitions significantly strengthen ClearCourse’s offering to the hospitality sector by bringing together the expertise of some of the most established brands in the market to give customers more choice and a stronger platform to build on.
Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “We are delighted to welcome both SK Chase and Elina PMS into the ClearCourse Group. By combining SK Chase’s luxury gifting expertise and Elina PMS’s deep sector understanding with our existing sector expertise and embedded payments, we are building an unmatched capability for the hospitality sector. Above all, this is about helping our customers build deeper relationships with their guests through faster innovation and a genuinely connected technology experience.”
Steph Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO of SK Chase, commented: “I believe this is the right time for SK Chase to enter its next phase of growth, and I’m incredibly excited for that journey to be within ClearCourse. Joining ClearCourse will provide the scale, resources, and expertise to help us build on the strong foundations we’ve established over the past 23 years. From new payment technology that can help our clients generate additional revenue to enhanced specialist support for our team and customers, the group will afford us opportunities to innovate more quickly and create even greater value for our clients.”
Christopher Lovold, Founder and CEO of Elina PMS, commented: “This is an exciting new chapter for our customers and for us. Delivering solutions is something we are passionate about, and the opportunity to be a part of a larger ecosystem and team in ClearCourse enables us to take this to the next level. Our customers will now benefit ClearCourse’s wider ecosystem of hospitality tools, deeper technical expertise as we grow the product, and embedded payments built directly into the platform.”
About ClearCourse
Established in London in 2018 and backed by Aquiline (www.aquiline.com), ClearCourse is a software and embedded payment specialist headquartered in London, UK. The group’s vertical software solutions provide essential, industry-specific technology to help their 20,000+ customers manage and scale their businesses. Since inception, the company has undergone rapid growth through the acquisition of more than 40 leading software and payments solutions in its core verticals, all of which are well served by ClearCourse’s embedded card and direct debit payment solutions. ClearCourse’s ambition is to be a leading engine powering small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland by 2030.
About SK Chase
Founded in Edinburgh in 2003, SK Chase makes it easy for hospitality providers to sell gift vouchers, event tickets, retail items and guest add-ons through its all-in-one e-commerce platform, backed by a dedicated service that helps clients drive growth. As pioneers in the industry, SK Chase was, for many years, the only solution available to hospitality businesses looking to package and sell gift experiences. Today, it serves over 550 of the world's most luxurious hotels, restaurants and resorts, and is known for its passionate, client-focused service.
About Elina PMS
Elina PMS is a cloud-based, API-driven reservations and property management system for serviced apartments, hotels, aparthotels and short lets. Established in 2008, Elina combines channel management, a booking engine, guest experience tools, invoicing and payments handling in one platform. With 2,000+ distribution channels, 50+ reports and 70+ integrations, Elina helps operators manage multi-location portfolios, reduce manual work and make faster, data-driven decisions. Full support and structured onboarding are included for all customers.
ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL MODERNISES REVENUE STRATEGY TO NAVIGATE SHIFTING INTERNATIONAL DEMAND
Royal Garden Hotel, one of London’s leading independently owned five-star hotels, has selected IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) as part of a wider effort to modernise its revenue strategy, respond more quickly to changing international demand and support long-term growth.
Located beside Kensington Gardens and overlooking Kensington Palace, the 396-room hotel welcomes international leisure travellers, corporate guests, entertainment clients, sporting teams and group business. This diverse business mix creates a complex commercial environment where success requires the team to balance different booking behaviours, room-type requirements and revenue opportunities in one of Europe’s most competitive hospitality markets.
In a year marked by changes in international travel patterns, Royal Garden Hotel recognised the need for more responsive forecasting and a clearer view of how demand develops across key source markets. Royal Garden Hotel traditionally attracts strong summer business from the Middle East, alongside guests from the United States and other international markets.
As booking behaviour becomes less predictable, the hotel is seeking greater confidence around when demand is building, how far in advance it is booking and where other segments can support a more balanced strategy.
Following an upgrade to its cloud-based property management system, the hotel reviewed its revenue management capabilities and selected IDeaS to improve forecasting, reduce the manual effort involved in routine pricing activity and support more consistent evaluation of group business.
Gareth Quin, commercial director at Royal Garden Hotel, said: “Royal Garden Hotel has a varied business mix, from international leisure and corporate guests to groups, entertainment clients and sporting teams, and each behaves differently. Recent shifts in international demand have reinforced how important it is for us to understand when demand is building, how far in advance guests are booking and where the strongest opportunities lie.”
“With better visibility into those patterns, alongside more detailed insight into segment and room-type performance and pricing recommendations, our team can spend less time making day-to-day adjustments and reacting to changes, and more time focusing on the wider commercial decisions that support long-term growth.”
The new approach will help the hotel manage pricing and availability more dynamically across its room categories and the booking horizon. G3 RMS will analyse evolving demand and booking patterns to provide forecasting and pricing optimisation recommendations, combining advanced analytics and intelligent automation with the team’s knowledge of the hotel, upcoming events and changing market conditions.
Group business is another important priority. Royal Garden Hotel regularly welcomes sporting teams, corporate events and entertainment-related business, where the total value of an opportunity can extend beyond bedrooms to include food, beverage and event spend. IDeaS’ group evaluation capabilities will help the team assess these opportunities against potential transient demand and make more consistent decisions.
Warren Mandelbaum, Principal Sales Director EMEA, at IDeaS, said: “Royal Garden Hotel is one of London’s most distinctive independent luxury properties, with a business mix that demands both agility and precision. The team has a clear vision for how it wants to evolve its commercial strategy and we’re proud to support that journey. By giving the team greater confidence in how demand is developing and where the strongest opportunities exist, IDeaS will help play a key role in helping the team make informed decisions that support long-term, sustainable growth.”
The collaboration forms part of Royal Garden Hotel’s broader commitment to modernising its commercial operations and supporting sustainable, long-term revenue growth.
APEX HOTELS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH NEW BRAND IDENTITY AND MONTH-LONG ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMME
Thirty years ago, Norman Springford opened the first Apex Hotel in Edinburgh's Grassmarket with a vision to create hotels where genuine hospitality, warm welcomes and memorable experiences came first.
What began as a single hotel has grown into one of the UK's leading independent hotel groups.
This year Apex Hotels is celebrating three decades of hospitality while embracing an exciting new chapter following its brand refresh in summer 2026.
The rebrand, unveiled earlier this year, introduced a refreshed visual identity designed to better reflect Apex Hotels as it is today: a collection of distinctive hotels where meaningful connections, memorable stays and heartfelt hospitality come together. While the look and feel of the brand have evolved, the values that have guided the business since 1996 remain unchanged.
As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, Apex Hotels is launching a series of activities throughout October that recognise the people, stories and experiences that have shaped the business over the past three decades.
At the heart of the celebrations is a special £19.96 anniversary menu at Apex Grassmarket Hotel. Inspired by the year the company was founded, the limited-time menu invites guests to enjoy selected dishes with a pint of Stewart's Session IPA at a nostalgic price point throughout October, celebrating the origin of the Apex story in the very place it began.
Apex Hotels has also partnered with Edinburgh Gin to create The Thirty Club, an exclusive anniversary cocktail available throughout October at the Apex Grassmarket and Apex Waterloo Place hotels. In keeping with the spirit of giving back, a donation from every Thirty Club cocktail sold will support Hospitality Action, the charity that helps hospitality workers across the UK through financial assistance, wellbeing services, mental health support and crisis care. The partnership reflects Apex Hotels' commitment to supporting the people who make the hospitality industry such a special place to work and visit.
The anniversary programme also shines a spotlight on the people behind the business. Team members across all locations are taking part in a Pearls of Wisdom initiative, sharing personal advice, career learnings and words of encouragement that have shaped their journeys. The campaign celebrates the experience and individuality of colleagues across the organisation while creating a lasting collection of insights from the people who bring the Apex Hotels experience to life every day.
Guests will also have the opportunity to participate. Throughout October, visitors to Apex Grassmarket Hotel will be invited to share their own Pearl of Wisdom when it comes to travel. Whether it's a favourite travel tip, a lesson learned on an unforgettable journey or advice for fellow explorers, guests' contributions will help create a shared collection of travel wisdom as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.
Commenting on the anniversary programme, Averil Wilson, Managing Director at Apex Hotels said:
Thirty years is a significant milestone and one that belongs to everyone who has been part of our journey. These celebrations are about more than looking back at our history. They're about recognising our people, our guests and our communities, while sharing the experiences and wisdom that connect us all. We're proud of what we've achieved over the last three decades and excited about what comes next.
Chairman Ian Springford added:
The business established by my family 30 years ago in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh has been hugely successful thanks to my father's vision, and the ongoing support from all the Springford family, our team members and our business partners. In an industry dominated by global chains, we are proud to have remained independent and family-owned, which we believe allows us to put genuine hospitality first.
From a single hotel in Edinburgh's Grassmarket to a collection of hotels across the UK, Apex Hotels remains proudly family-owned and committed to the principles on which it was founded: putting people first, creating meaningful connections and delivering hospitality with heart.
NEW OPENING: HIDDENWELL TO OPEN ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST SPA RETREATS AT ARDENCOTE MANOR, WARWICKSHIRE, IN EARLY 2027 FOLLOWING £25 MILLION INVESTMENT
Following Hiddenwell's largest investment to date, the 83-acre Warwickshire resort will become the brand's third UK destination, featuring 68 bedrooms, three restaurants, three bars, 34 treatment rooms and an extensive state-of-the-art spa. Guests will be able to visit Ardencote Manor for the day, or for an evening experience, as well as staying overnight.
Hiddenwell, the collection of award-winning destination spa hotels behind Hoar Cross Hall and Eden Hall, has announced the upcoming opening of Ardencote Manor, near Stratford-upon-Avon, in early 2027 following a £25 million transformation.
Set across 83 acres of Warwickshire countryside, and overlooking a 3-acre lake, the destination spa hotel will be one of the largest spa resorts in Europe, featuring an extensive, state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor spa, along with 68 bedrooms, three restaurants, three bars, 31 treatment rooms, and three additional touchless wellness rooms.
The opening represents the latest stage in Hiddenwell’s UK growth strategy, with Ardencote Manor becoming the collection’s third UK destination, joining Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire and Eden Hall in Nottinghamshire. The group is set to expand further with the opening of Orsett Hall, in Essex, opening in late 2027.
Innovative Spa Experiences
At the essence of the development will be an extensive, state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor spa, along with thermal and hydrotherapy experiences, touchless wellness technology and immersive experiences designed for both day and residential guests.
A key feature will be the expansive Spa Garden, incorporating four vitality pools, cold therapy experiences, saunas and dedicated relaxation areas. The wider hydrotherapy offering will include a magnesium-enriched pool, alongside a bespoke Rainpool, designed exclusively for Ardencote Manor. Accommodating up to 20 guests, the enclosed warm-water experience will combine rainfall with LED projections inspired by tropical storms and changing weather conditions.
The spa will also introduce a real-snow Snow Experience, using snow cannons to produce genuine snow as part of the resort’s hot-and-cold thermal journey.
An extensive thermal suite will feature juniper and Himalayan salt saunas, aromatic steam rooms and will host expert-led rituals. Together, the experiences will form part of a broader spa proposition combining established thermal practices with immersive technology and contemporary approaches to wellness.
Technology-first Wellness
The development also introduces three additional touchless wellness rooms. The touchless offering will include sound therapy centred on meditation, sleep and relaxation, salt flotation designed to create a zero-gravity sense of weightlessness, and capsule-style chronotherapy using targeted light.
These experiences will amplify the spa’s offering beyond traditional hands-on treatments and provide guests with a range of ways to unwind.
Beyond the Spa
The spa-hotel’s three restaurants and bars will make dining and drinks an integral part of the experience, whilst the 68 bedrooms, including Hiddenwell’s renowned hot tub suites, will support overnight and longer countryside stays.
The property extends Hiddenwell's approach to experience-led wellness, bringing together world-class spa experiences, fine dining and luxury accommodation under one roof. Each property in the collection boasts its own identity whilst sharing the group's ethos of creating immersive hospitality experiences that encourage guests to relax, reset & reconnect.
Ed Law, CEO at Hiddenwell said, "The £25 million investment in Ardencote Manor, creating a state-of-the-art spa resort, represents a significant milestone in our ambition to redefine spa in the UK.”
"Ardencote Manor gives us an opportunity to take everything we have learnt from Hoar Cross Hall and Eden Hall and evolve it for a new destination. We are investing not only in the scale and quality of the spa, but in the complete resort experience, bringing together accommodation, dining, innovative wellness, the beautiful Warwickshire countryside and an exceptional team to deliver outstanding guest experiences.”
"Each Hiddenwell property will retain its own identity, while sharing our focus on exceptional hospitality and creating places where guests genuinely want to spend time. With Ardencote Manor opening in early 2027 and Orsett Hall to follow, this will be an important year in the continued development of the collection."
ACTIVITY IS NOT ASSURANCE
Hospitality portfolios generate thousands of compliance actions a year. Most get logged, actioned, and closed. But the data reveals a harder truth: closing an action is not the same as controlling a risk.
An action can be marked complete without verification, without evidence, and without confirmation that the fix has held. That gap, between activity and proof, is where exposure hides.
Vantify’s Annual Compliance Report 2026 analysed a full year of structured data across 1000s of live assessments covering fire, water, asbestos and operational risk. The findings challenge how many organisations define compliance assurance. Below is an extract from the report.
What the data shows at a glance
Across UK portfolios, the data points to persistent everyday risk alongside growing workflow inefficiency.
- Everyday hazards such as slips and trips remain frequent and preventable, often driving the long tail of claims and reputational impact.
- Fire safety continues to generate high volumes of remedial actions, particularly around fire doors and compartmentation integrity.
- Legionella compliance remains operationally demanding, with risk more often created by inconsistent implementation and incomplete evidence than by control gaps.
- Security and antisocial behaviour increasingly appear as safety risks, not ‘just security issues’, creating secondary risk exposures.
- Operationally, the pattern is intent vs delivery: assessments and actions are created, but closure, evidence and investment decisions can lag, leaving some hidden exposures.
The opportunity is to move from ‘compliance activity’ to ‘compliance assurance’.
The most mature organisations move from periodic, document-led compliance to continuous visibility and evidence-backed closure. A hazard is controlled only when actions are completed, verified and evidenced at scale.
Across all 12 trends, three actions consistently reduce risk and cost:
- Strengthen closure discipline (priority-based, escalation, evidence required to close).
- Target repeat recurring risks (a small subset of sites often generates disproportionate risk).
- Connecting compliance to operations and supplier assurance – when compliance, operations and supplier assurance are connected, risk stops ‘hiding’ between systems and control happens before work starts, not after something goes wrong.
The full report sets out all 12 trends in detail, with underlying data, regional patterns and the specific actions that move each risk from activity to assurance.
RETHINKING TECHNOLOGY FOR A MORE PROFITABLE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
After more than 40 years in hospitality, William Gorol has seen technology transform the industry, but he believes too many hospitality businesses are still being held back by unreliable systems, disconnected platforms and a lack of support. Here, the Founder & Managing Director of triSaaS explains why the industry needs a more connected, supported and future-focused approach.
Why does hospitality need a different approach to technology?
After more than 40 years in hospitality, I’ve seen a huge amount of change, but one thing has remained frustratingly consistent: technology hasn’t always kept pace with the needs of the industry.
Having worked extensively across hospitality and procurement technology, including founding Procure Wizard, which was sold in 2018, I’ve seen these challenges first-hand.
Hospitality was still dealing with unreliable systems, operational disruption, poor customer support and legacy platforms that simply weren’t designed with the future in mind.
That’s why I founded triSaaS. We knew hospitality and procurement technology could be better, so we reinvented it.
What should good technology actually do for a hotel?
Technology should reduce headaches, not create them.
Too often, businesses have multiple systems that don’t communicate properly, leaving teams to fill the gaps with spreadsheets, emails and manual processes. That creates administration, increases the risk of errors and, ultimately, takes people away from running the operation.
Good technology should do the opposite. It should remove complexity, connect the different parts of a business and give people clear visibility of what’s happening, so they can spend less time firefighting and more time running their operation.
Why is integration becoming so important?
Because the real value comes when technology works as an ecosystem rather than a collection of separate tools.
When compliance, people, scheduling and procurement are connected, operators can see the bigger picture. They can keep teams accountable, identify inefficiencies, make smarter purchasing decisions and understand where costs are going.
That’s the thinking behind Purchase Warrior, our procurement platform built specifically for hospitality. By connecting suppliers, purchasing, pricing and spend data, it gives operators greater visibility and control, helping them make better decisions, reduce administration and improve margins. Ultimately, technology should deliver a measurable return.
What happens when technology goes wrong?
This is something I feel very strongly about. You can have a great product, but without a great team behind it, you don’t have a great technology partner.
Our customer success and support team is one of the things I’m most proud of at triSaaS. In hospitality, when technology goes wrong, it can quickly become an operational problem. That’s why, when our customers call, we answer in under 60 seconds.
And our support doesn’t stop once the system goes live. We believe in training for life, giving customers and their teams ongoing access to the knowledge and support they need as their businesses evolve.
For me, it’s simple: a great team behind a great product makes all the difference.
So, what does the future of hospitality technology look like?
It should be simpler, more connected and much more focused on outcomes.
Ultimately, technology should reduce administration, remove operational chaos and help businesses improve their margins. It should work hard in the background, giving hospitality teams the control, visibility and support they need to perform better today, while being ready for whatever comes next.
IT'S BACK
NoVacancy London returns to ExCeL London on 24–25 February 2027, bringing together the people, ideas and solutions shaping the future of hotels and the wider accommodation sector.
Following its London launch in early this year, NoVacancy London is building towards a bigger second edition, creating a meeting place for hotel owners, operators, management companies, consultants, designers and suppliers.
What makes NoVacancy London different is its breadth. Running a successful accommodation business increasingly means bringing together decisions that once sat in separate departments. Technology affects the guest experience. Design influences revenue. Sustainability impacts cost and reputation. People strategy affects service delivery. NoVacancy is designed around that reality, bringing these conversations together under one roof.
One of the few opportunities bringing an industry together through collective topics, discussion and showcases. It was managed really well, impressed.
VP Customer Engagement, ACCOR, EMEA
Across two days, visitors can discover new products and suppliers, hear from leading figures from across the sector and connect with peers facing many of the same opportunities and challenges.
The 2027 conference programme will feature more than 150 industry speakers across 5 conference theatres and 10 content tracks. Topics will span hotel technology and AI, revenue and distribution, marketing, leadership, people and culture, design and wellness, sustainability and the changing expectations of tomorrow’s guest.
Alongside the conference, the exhibition will showcase products and services from across the hospitality ecosystem, giving visitors the opportunity to compare solutions, discover new ideas and have meaningful conversations with suppliers.
NoVacancy London is one of those events that genuinely energises you, the conversations are real, the people are passionate, and the ideas keep coming long after you leave the show floor. We had a brilliant time at the first edition, and we've been looking forward to coming back ever since.
Director of Growth, UK, Alkimii
And 2027 marks another important step for NoVacancy in Europe. On 14-15 September 2027, NoVacancy Barcelona will make its debut, extending the community into continental Europe and creating a new meeting place for the Spanish and Southern European hotel and accommodation industry.
Together, London and Barcelona reflect NoVacancy’s ambition to build a European platform connecting accommodation leaders with the people, ideas and solutions shaping the future of the sector.
With six months still to go, there is plenty more to be announced, with new speakers, exhibitors, partners, features and networking opportunities joining the London edition.
NoVacancy London | 24–25 February 2027 | ExCeL London
WELLNESS, WOVEN INTO EVERY STAY
TEMPLESPA explores how hotels can extend wellbeing beyond the treatment room, creating thoughtful, sensory touchpoints that help guests relax, reconnect and feel cared for throughout their stay.
Wellness is no longer confined to the treatment room. Today’s guests are looking for experiences that make them feel cared for from the moment they arrive until long after they leave. At TEMPLESPA, every touchpoint is thoughtfully designed to transform an ordinary stay into a complete wellness journey.
It begins with an aromatic welcome. Our signature Mediterranean-inspired fragrances create an immediate sense of place and calm. Candles and diffusers are carefully selected to influence mood through scent, whether creating a feeling of peace and relaxation with our KEEP THE PEACE Relaxing Aromatic Diffuser and SIESTA FOREVER Relaxing Aromatic Candle or bringing energy and joy with LIVE WELL Invigorating Aromatic Diffuser and THE GOOD LIFE Invigorating Aromatic Candle. These considered sensory touches help set the tone for the experience ahead.
The journey continues into the spa with our award-winning treatments, combining science-led skincare with purposeful rituals to deliver visible results while restoring mind, body and soul. Every treatment has been thoughtfully developed so there is something for every guest, whether they are looking for a deeply relaxing massage, a results-driven facial or simply a quick but restorative leg and foot treatment.
Consistency is at the heart of the TEMPLESPA treatment experience. Our treatments open and close with signature rituals, creating a familiar sense of care wherever a guest experiences TEMPLESPA. Our dedicated spa trainers work closely with therapists, providing extensive training and sharing our treatment philosophy to help ensure every guest receives an exceptional experience.
There is a selection of treatments, meaning there is something for everyone. To name a few, ALL ABOUT THE GLOW, Glow & Radiance Facial is a skin-transforming facial that turns up the glow with instant and visible results, thanks to intelligent active ingredients boosted by vitamin C and a glycolic acid complex, combined with skin-lifting massage techniques.
Another treatment to mention is DRIFT AWAY Relaxing Aromatherapy Massage, a deeply relaxing top-to-toe massage with a dreamy blend of Mediterranean essential oils, guaranteed to have your guests drifting away.
And wellness doesn’t stop when the guest leaves the spa.
Throughout their stay, thoughtful moments of wellbeing can become part of the wider guest experience. Turndown treats create a small but meaningful invitation to pause and relax before sleep, an unexpected touch that makes guests feel cared for. SLEEP WELL is a carefully selected Turndown to promote a good night's sleep. It includes REPOSE Relaxing Night Cream, AAAHHH! Instant Cooling Balm, QUIETUDE Chill Out & Sleep Well Mist, ALL TALK Moisturising Lip Balm and DRIFT AWAY Relaxing Bathing & Massage Oil.
Spa at the Bar offers a completely different way to discover skincare, turning product exploration into an immersive and social experience. Guests can enjoy a delicious cocktail while discovering and sampling one of our bestselling products, creating a memorable moment that brings wellness into a more relaxed and unexpected setting.
In the guest room, beautifully curated amenities transform everyday routines into luxurious rituals, while in-room wellness gives guests the freedom to slow down, unwind and create their own “spa wherever you are” moment.
Together, these touchpoints create a seamless sensory journey that flows throughout the entire stay. Backed by over 25 years of skincare innovation, TEMPLESPA brings together cutting-edge science and Mediterranean botanicals to deliver exceptional products, memorable treatments and meaningful wellbeing experiences, TEMPLESPA is Science with Soul.
Because wellness isn’t a single treatment or product. It’s a feeling that flows through every stage of the guest journey.
At TEMPLESPA, we help our spa partners weave self-care into every stage of the guest experience turning every stay into an opportunity to relax, reconnect and live life beautifully.