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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
HT360 Hospitality Leaders Forum
Leadership , Panel session , CIO/COO/CTO , CEO/ CFO , Foodservice , Hotelier

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
Andrew Evers, Vice President of Technology - Rocco Forte Hotels
Debbie Thomas, Head of IT - Ottolenghi Group
Leon Smallbone, Assistant IT Director - Firmdale Hotels
Ross Beeton, Group Head of Information Technology - The Ned

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