WHEN
September 25–27, 2019
WHERE
Tbilisi, Georgia
Purpose has become the catch-cry of future-faced travelers and hospitality brands alike as the travel sector increasingly takes on all things impactful and mission-driven. This means embracing new technologies, innovations, and modes of disruption at a time when “big issue” topics are being hotly debated: climate change, over-tourism, jet-flight restriction, racial diversity, gender equality, and how to engage with a new generation of travelers who demand that brands be purposeful, civic, and culturally fluent.
For this year’s Arena*, which took place in the ascendant Georgian capital of Tbilisi, Design Hotels looked towards New Horizons, asking ourselves as we approach the third decade of the 21st century how we can capture the imagination of the purpose-driven traveler of the future. We discussed the “New Promadic Traveler,” a pan-generational, conceptually driven consumer who is looking for purposeful and mission-driven travel. What will they expect from the brands of tomorrow—in hospitality and beyond? How can we provide “big issue” moments in ways that still keep fun at the core of the hospitality experience? With an eye to 2030, we examined the long-term prospects, challenges, and opportunities within the travel sector And the big-picture trends impacting our industry, guests, societies—our world.
Throughout the conference, presentations and talks looked at the innovators and market disruptions that are inspiring change, revolutionizing industry models, and delivering thought-provoking ideas in the worlds of service, food and drink, wellbeing, and technology. This year our second conference day, in collaboration with our friends at The Future Laboratory, engaged our audience to co-create ideas and opportunities for the future of hospitality through strategic workshops sessions that assessed more particular impacts and tactical applications, while immersive spaces helped us experience insights, and additional speakers, performers, and guests entertained, challenged, and informed.
Throughout the conference, presentations and talks looked at the innovators and market disruptions that are inspiring change, revolutionizing industry models, and delivering thought-provoking ideas in the worlds of service, food and drink, wellbeing, and technology. This year our second conference day, in collaboration with our friends at The Future Laboratory, engaged our audience to co-create ideas and opportunities for the future of hospitality through strategic workshops sessions that assessed more particular impacts and tactical applications, while immersive spaces helped us experience insights, and additional speakers, performers, and guests entertained, challenged, and informed.
