New regional events bring independent hoteliers together with industry experts, leading suppliers and practical insight
Buell Hospitality is taking its Business Exchange programme on the road this autumn, bringing together independent hotel owners, operators and senior leaders for four regional events focused on the issues shaping the sector.
The Business Exchanges will take place in Dunblane , London , Bath and Manchester throughout October and November, providing independent hoteliers with the opportunity to step away from the day-to-day running of their businesses and spend time sharing ideas, hearing from industry experts and connecting with specialist suppliers and fellow operators.
Designed specifically for the independent hospitality sector, the Business Exchange is deliberately different from a traditional conference or trade show. Rather than a packed programme of presentations or a large-scale exhibition, each event combines a focused selection of expert speakers with informal networking, practical business insight and opportunities to have meaningful conversations with relevant suppliers and other hospitality professionals.
The programme will explore some of the key opportunities and challenges facing independent hotels, including hotel performance, the market outlook, artificial intelligence, leadership, decision-making and business resilience.
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
Hotel Performance & Outlook
Michal Rao & Aoife Roche, STR
An insight into current hotel performance, market trends and the outlook for the sector, providing independent operators with a broader view of the market in which they are operating.
AI in Hospitality
Matt Willacy, For-Sight
A practical look at how artificial intelligence is already changing hospitality businesses and where independent operators can make meaningful use of the technology.
Managing Businesses in Adversity
Brigadier David Allfrey MBE
Drawing on extensive senior military command experience, Brigadier David Allfrey will explore leadership, decision-making and resilience when operating in challenging and uncertain circumstances.
Roddy Watt, CEO of Buell Hospitality, said:
“Independent hoteliers are under enormous pressure from rising costs, changing guest expectations, recruitment challenges and an increasingly complex operating environment.
“We wanted to create events which are genuinely worthwhile taking a day out of the business to attend. The Business Exchanges are not intended to be another large conference or conventional trade show. They are deliberately focused, practical and informal, giving owners and operators access to first-class speakers, useful industry contacts and other hoteliers facing many of the same challenges.
“Our aim is that everyone attending goes away with new ideas, new contacts and at least one or two things that can make a tangible difference to their business.”
Alongside the speaker programme, a carefully selected group of Buell Hospitality Business Partners will be on hand to showcase products and services relevant to independent hotels. The format is designed to encourage informal conversations and useful connections rather than traditional sales presentations.
Each Business Exchange will finish with networking drinks, giving delegates, speakers and Business Partners the opportunity to continue conversations in a more relaxed setting.
BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2026 DATES
SCOTLAND – Tuesday 27 October
Apex Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane Register for Dunblane
LONDON – Tuesday 3 November
The Cumberland Hotel, London Register for London
SOUTH WEST – Wednesday 18 November
Apex Hotel, Bath Register for Bath
NORTH OF ENGLAND – Tuesday 24 November
Hotel Football, Manchester Register for Manchester
Attendance is aimed principally at hotel investors, owners, operators, general managers and senior decision-makers within the independent hospitality sector.
All four events are free to attend, although places are limited and advance registration is recommended.
ABOUT BUELL HOSPITALITY
Buell Hospitality provides advisory, management and development support to independent hotel and hospitality businesses across the UK. Through its network of specialist Business Partners, Buell Advisory and the Buell Connect community, it brings together operational expertise, commercial support and industry knowledge specifically focused on the independent sector.