The hospitality industry’s favourite restaurant, pub and bar event, Casual Dining 2020 has added some of the best known ‘names’ in hospitality to its biggest ever Keynote line-up. A record 65 speakers, with even more to be announced soon, will appear in 35 sessions at Casual Dining 2020.
For this year’s visitors, who’ll be heading to ExCeL London over 25-26 March in their thousands, it’s a rare opportunity to hear from some of the UK’s most inspirational and influential business leaders from across the casual dining restaurant, pub and bar sector, talking about the big opportunities, innovations, and trends for the year ahead.
Richard Hodgson, CEO of YO! is among the names looking forward to sharing exclusive insights at the show. He’ll be joining Peter Martin, founder of the Atlantic Club, Jessica Parrish, former commercial director at Time Out Market, and Jonathan Downey, founder of Milk & Honey and London Union, to talk about the opportunities, as well as the pitfalls to be avoided, when taking restaurant and bar brands ‘global’.
Loungers’ Nick Collins, who has been instrumental in growing the brand from 56 to 166 sites since he became CEO in 2015, is now confirmed for an exclusive opening day interview. He’ll be talking with Mark Stretton, MD of Fleet Street Communications, about everything from multi-site roll out to going public on the stock exchange.
The Restaurant Leaders panel is sure to be a big draw, featuring Mark Jones, CEO of Carluccio’s, Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Byron, and Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron, who calls Casual Dining Show “a great opportunity to meet, share and celebrate the sector”. While the latest additions to The Casual Dining / Supersonic Inc Marketing Podcast panel, hosted by Mark McCulloch, are Oli Ingham from Wahaca, Libby Andrews from Pho, Anna-Marie Mason from Mitchells & Butlers, and Sara Stark from Dishoom.
“Casual Dining is the only UK event that annually attracts so many leading innovators, influencers, trailblazers and decision makers from across the casual dining sector together in one place at one time. It always attracts the best, most exciting and inspiring brands and industry experts, which is a testament to just how invaluable it is to the industry it serves,” says event manager Eva Ellis.
For timings and seminar details, please visit: www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/keynote-programme.
“Casual Dining Show really hits the mark for our sector and offers anyone involved a time to stop, refresh, learn and be inspired,” says Busaba’s Steve Phillips.
“It’s brilliant to see some of the UK’s top leaders in the industry gathered together in one place [at Casual Dining], all passing on their knowledge and insight on the sector,” says Baton Berisha, MD of The Ivy Collection, “I’m honoured to be taking part.”
“Casual Dining at ExCeL is the premium sector show, bringing together fantastic debate, content and innovation,” agrees Chris Hill, CEO of NWTC.
To find out more about this year’s speakers, catch up with Casual Dining’s new Q&A series here.
Free trade registration – register for your free trade ticket here