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2026 Programme

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Tech or touch? Finding the right balance between digital efficiency and human service

01 Apr 2026
Hospitality Leaders Forum
Panel session , Leadership , CIO/COO/CTO , CEO/ CFO

Technology promises speed, data and control, but in hospitality, experience still lives and dies by human interaction. As some operators strip back screens and automation in favour of simpler, more personal service, tough questions are emerging.

This panel brings together operators who’ve invested heavily in tech, alongside those who’ve consciously stepped back. They’ll explore the real benefits and drawbacks of guest-facing technology, from order accuracy and labour efficiency to staff engagement and customer satisfaction. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for deciding where tech adds value, where it doesn’t, and how to avoid tech becoming a barrier rather than an enabler.

Moderator
Mitz Patel, Global Head of Information Technology Delivery - Soho House
Speakers
Leon Smallbone, Assistant IT Director - Firmdale Hotels

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