Workshop Talks

How to build a brand and identity that unites your team and wins guest loyalty

Identity and brand are more than logos; they are the foundation that aligns your internal
team and tells guests who you are. This practical session explores how to establish a clear
brand identity and communicate it consistently across every channel to drive bookings, build guest loyalty, and create a cohesive organisation.

Discover how leading property managers and hosts have developed distinctive brand positioning, visual identity, and messaging that resonates with their target market, and learn how they've adapted that brand across OTAs, direct booking channels, and partnerships with local DMOs. Our panellists will consider establishing your brand identity, communicating consistently across channels,choosing your channel strategy and converting brand recognition into revenue.

Whether you're a solo host building from scratch, a growing property manager scaling up, or an established operator refining your position, you'll leave with actionable strategies to stand out in a crowded market and build a brand that works as hard as you do.

Host: Steve Taggert, Founder and Managing Director, My Getaways

Speakers: Nick Taylor - Managing Director, Nox Cape Town, Amber Erickson-Hurdle - Brand Strategist & Professional Keynote Speaker, Amber Hurdle Consulting, Anna Calder Urquhart Morris - Co-Founder and MD, Adore Scotland

How to survive the realities of hosting

Property management uncensored: Join seasoned short-stay business-owners as they share their uncensored view on the state of hosting in 2026

The session will explore some of the tough questions owners have to ask - and how they have arrived at a solution. The panel will look at everything from balancing channel strategies and discovering practical strategies for offsetting rising operating costs to building reliable, long-term cleaning and maintenance teams in today's competitive labour market. This is your reality check: unfiltered challenges, proven solutions, and the actionable strategies you need to stop playing host and start running a scalable and profitable business. If you want to survive and scale in 2026, you need to hear this.

Host: James Varley, Founder and CEO, Host Planet

Speakers: Jamie Miles - Founder and Director, Anglesey Holiday Lettings, Margaret Murphy - Director, Boss Places and Airbnb community ambassador, Germaine Mason - Franchisee and Host Success Lead, Pass the Keys

How to supercharge your productivity and elevate your customer service using AI - without losing the personal touch

Most of us only really know about ChatGPT, but there are numerous applications available that can be easily implemented into your daily workflow to maximise efficiency. The panel will look at their pick of AI- tools - ones that are straightforward to bring into your business yet have a big impact. They’ll also consider how to implement AI-powered customer service systems that respond instantly to common queries, escalate complex issues appropriately, and free up ‘human teams’ to focus on creating memorable guest experiences.

Host: Jannik Abraham, MD, Smoobu

Speakers: Shahar Goldboim - Founder and CTO, Boom, Simon Seroussi - Co-Founder and COO, SuiteOp, Bart-Jan Leyts - Founder & CEO, AutoRank by Otamiser

How to sleep better at night by optimising property operations and management

What are the fundamentals of operations that mean you’ll have happy customers - and smooth sailing? What is a customers’ definition of good service, and how do you deliver on it? The panel will examine how to use customer insights to drive planning for your operations and management systems, ensuring you can protect - and grow- your reputation and bookings with systematic approaches to quality control and problem resolution.

Host: Matthew Durrant, Managing Director, i4me

Speakers: Agnieszka Sudek - Sales Manager International, Breezeway, Chris Rule - VP Customer Experience, Turno, Stephanie Flint - Founder, Rural stays and Rural cleans yorkshire

How to elevate guest experiences while building secondary revenue streams

This panel looks at how property managers and owners can transform their properties from accommodation providers into memorable experience destinations that command premium rates and generate additional income. Delegates will learn how to design value-added services, implement technology that enhances satisfaction, and create touchpoints that turn satisfied customers into enthusiastic advocates.

Host: Laura Muse, The Upsell Queen and Director, Muse Escapes

Speakers: Johanne Hedges - Managing Director, LiBi, Charlotte Maxwell - Director and Co-Founder, Glo Pamper Ltd, Nicholas Bozorg - Co-Founder Replenico (formerly Airlinen)

Tax to the max !

Proven strategies for maximising tax efficiency and retaining more of your profits during a period of significant regulatory change.
The panel will share essential insights into the full implementation of Budget 2025's property income tax increases, which will see rental income taxed at separate, higher rates from April 2027, a fundamental shift affecting how short-term let owners calculate and manage their tax obligations. Attendees will also learn about the critical window remaining to claim Capital Allowances and benefit from any unclaimed historical allowances on property purchases, refurbishments, and embedded fixtures. Whether you're looking to optimise your current tax position or recover missed allowances before time runs out, this session will equip you with practical, actionable knowledge to mitigate tax impacts and strengthen your business's financial resilience.

Convened by Zeal Tax

How to navigate the UK regulatory landscape in 2026...

Panel session followed by Ask the Expert open questions
The regulatory environment for short-stay accommodation in the UK has undergone significant transformation, and property managers and owners must now navigate a complex web of requirements to remain compliant and competitive. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the critical regulatory frameworks affecting your business in 2026, including:
- the proposed and existing registration and licensing schemes across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland;
- the evolving tourism tax landscape;
- how to comply with new consumer protection regulations around fake and misleading reviews
- the emerging sustainability standards that will reshape guest expectations and legal requirements.

Whether you're managing a single property or a portfolio, this session will equip you with the practical knowledge to stay ahead of regulations and properly comply to emerging standards.

Host: Mitch Price, Executive Director, Short Term Rentals Asia

Speakers: Carl Thomson - Public Policy Manager, UK, Airbnb, Charlie Reith - Government Affairs at Expedia Group, UK, Ireland and the Nordics, Rick Wild - Consultant, Travel Chapter;, Fiona MacConnacher - Head of Public Affairs, UK and Ireland, Booking.com

How to protect your revenue from fraud and financial loss Identity verification, guest screening, and chargeback defence strategies

This session will help delegates learn to implement robust identity verification and guest screening systems that catch fraudulent bookings before they cost them money. The session will cover recognising suspicious booking patterns, selecting the right screening technology, managing chargeback disputes effectively, and ensuring businesses have proper insurance coverage. The aim of the session is for you as delegates to learn practical protocols that protect your revenue while maintaining a smooth booking experience for legitimate guests.

Host: Priya Khaira, Editor, Short Term Rentalz

Speakers: Humphrey Bowles - CEO and Founder, Truvi, Derek Jones - VP Sales and Partnerships, Hospitable, Thomas Tewolde - CEO / Founder, Charge Automation

How to thrive in suppressed market conditions and extend your booking window - Smart strategies for pricing, growth, and sustainable success

When occupancy alone no longer tells the full story of your property's success, it's time to look deeper. This panel brings together industry experts to explore the sophisticated revenue management approaches that separate thriving properties from those merely surviving. Whether you're managing a single property or a growing portfolio, this session will equip you with practical frameworks for making smarter pricing decisions, understanding your true profitability, and strategically expanding your business.

Our expert panellists will explore:
Dynamic pricing implementation – Moving beyond guesswork to data-driven rate optimisation that responds automatically to demand, competition, seasonality, and local events

True profitability metrics – Calculating real net contribution by accounting for all costs and channel fees to focus on genuinely profitable bookings

Thriving in soft markets – Practical tactics for protecting revenue and margins during downturns through strategic positioning, differentiation, and targeted marketing

Strategic booking window management – Encouraging advance reservations or capturing last-minute travellers profitably without devaluing your property

Growth beyond occupancy – Evaluating expansion options from new acquisitions to premium repositioning that balance ambition with manageable risk

Flexible policies that convert – Meeting evolving guest expectations while implementing protective measures that keep your business model sustainable

Host: Oliver Stern, Head of EMEA, Wheelhouse

Speakers: Scott Sage - SVP of Marketing and Customer Experience, AirDNA, James Fothergill - Director of Revenue Management, Forge Holiday Group

How to build a connected property management tech stack

Eliminate data silos and manual work by integrating the right systems for your operation- a session examining the essential technology decisions that create operational efficiency such as evaluating and selecting a PMS that matches property count and growth trajectory, understanding feature trade-offs and pricing structures, and configuring channel managers to distribute inventory across OTAs without overselling. The panel will also advise on how to audit current technology investments to identify redundant functionality, find critical gaps, and rationalize your tech stack for maximum efficiency at minimum cost.

Host: Margot Schmorak, CEO and Co-Founder, Hostfully

Speakers: Adam Buckmaster - Director of Product Marketing, eviivo, Oreste Fischetti - Area Sales Director, South Mediterranean Countries, Avantio, Maria Lopez - Vice President of Product, Hostaway