The sixth edition of the Luxury Hospitality Conference has come to a close in Milan. Organised by Teamwork Hospitality, the event brings together leading figures and explores the latest developments in the luxury hospitality sector. Held on October 23 at Meliá Milano, the conference recorded 1,163 registered attendees and 900 participants throughout the day, with 90 international speakers, 60 partner companies and 15 media partners, confirming the event’s ability to bring together managers, entrepreneurs, investors and industry professionals in one setting.
The day featured some of the most authoritative figures in international hospitality, including Horst Schulze, Founding Member of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Founder of Capella Hotel Group, Shannon Knapp, President & CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World, and Laurent Gardinier, President of Relais & Châteaux. The discussions explored the evolving concept of luxury and the sector’s new priorities, increasingly focused on the ability to create authentic, personalised experiences that are consistent with the identity of each destination.
“We are proud of the extraordinary success of this sixth edition of the Luxury Hospitality Conference in Milan. It was a privilege to welcome internationally renowned figures such as Horst Schulze, Shannon Knapp, Laurent Gardinier and the many other leading voices shaping the evolution of our industry. With more than 1,100 registered attendees, our goal remains to provide a concrete platform for the many voices of luxury hospitality, anticipating trends and market data while, above all, creating space for discussion, high-level training and networking.” Mauro Santinato, President of Teamwork Hospitality
The culture of excellence according to Horst Schulze
Among the highlights of the day, Horst Schulze’s 60-minute keynote offered a powerful reflection on the operational and cultural pillars that define excellence in hospitality worldwide. Inspired by his acclaimed book Excellence Wins, the session outlined a management vision based on the full alignment of corporate vision, flawless processes and a focus on people. Schulze’s approach emphasised that excellence is never a matter of chance or an abstract promise, but a daily choice: it is achieved through employee training, team empowerment and a service culture capable of transforming every guest interaction into a relationship of genuine value.
The new luxury between growth, value and credibility
One of the conference’s central themes was the changing luxury market, increasingly called upon to balance growth, value creation and the ability to maintain a strong identity. The discussion opened with the panel “The new luxury mandate: growth, value and credibility in a changing market”, bringing together representatives from Altagamma, Bulgari | LVMH, Ginori 1735 and Il Borro.
The theme of growth was further explored through a discussion focused on investment strategies and the development prospects of the luxury hospitality sector in Italy. The panel “Building the future with key insights from leading investors in Italian luxury hospitality” analysed the dynamics shaping the sector’s evolution, with particular attention to investment opportunities, new development models and the strategies needed to build the future of high-end hospitality in Italy.
The conference also featured THRENDS’ perspective on market developments, with an analysis of the outlook for 2027, continuing its work on the trends and indicators shaping the sector. The contribution placed the future of luxury hospitality within a broader market perspective, complementing the insights of industry leaders with an analysis of the dynamics that may influence the sector in the coming months.
From guest experience to artificial intelligence
The transformation of the guest experience was another key theme throughout the 2026 edition. From discussions on how luxury is redefining its standards of service and relationships to the new expectations of emerging generations, the conference highlighted the need for hospitality operators to understand an increasingly sophisticated guest.
Significant attention was also devoted to the impact of artificial intelligence on the customer journey. Among the sessions on the agenda, “The Future Guest Journey in the Age of AI” explored the relationship between technology, communication and experience design, while other contributions examined the role of AI in marketing and in shaping brand identity.
At the same time, the human relationship remained central: from the need to “humanise” luxury brand marketing once again to the growing importance of listening, attention and presence within the customer experience. The agenda also addressed the role of personal interaction as a distinctive element of luxury hospitality.
Leadership, education and new skills
The transformation of the sector also depends on people. The Luxury Hospitality Conference dedicated a significant part of its programme to education and the new generation of managers, involving international institutions such as EHL Group, Glion Hospitality & Luxury Business Education, Istituto Marangoni and ALMA.
The discussion focused on the skills required to lead hospitality companies in an ever-changing market, addressing the relationship between education, leadership and management capabilities.
Design, sustainability and authenticity
The conference also explored the increasingly close relationship between hospitality, architecture and design, with sessions dedicated to the design of luxury spaces and the ability of projects to contribute to the identity of the guest experience.
Sustainability was addressed from several perspectives, going beyond communication to examine the concrete ways in which the sector can integrate environmental principles and responsibility into its development. The presence of architects and design professionals also helped connect sustainability, design and new visions for hospitality.
The sixth edition of the Luxury Hospitality Conference therefore concluded under the banner of discussion and knowledge sharing, confirming Milan as a meeting point for an international community of professionals committed to interpreting and driving the evolution of luxury hospitality.
