Hospitality Live, taking place on Monday 20th April 2026 at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, is shaking up the traditional exhibition format, placing greater emphasis on curated networking that sparks conversations and an experience-led environment.
Event organisers comprise of key partners from the hospitality and events sector, including Wayne Topley, Managing Director of Cedar Court Hotels and Chairman of the Leeds Hotels & Venues Association, Paula Kelsey, Cloud9 Events Agency, and the team at the Royal Armouries, one of Leeds’ largest purpose-built venues.
Key industry sponsors include Punch Hospitality, Famtastic, Royal Armouries, and the Leeds Hotels and Venues Association, comprising 25 hotel partners and 35 meeting industry suppliers.
Hospitality Live is a one-day Meetings & Events festival, bringing together venue representatives, suppliers and event bookers for a casual and highly engaging event.
Traditional exhibition stands are replaced with relaxed meeting spaces to create a setting that feels refreshingly human, encouraging real conversation and relationship-building.
The programme will feature keynote speakers and practical, bite-sized live sessions throughout the day, before transforming into an evening celebration with drinks, music and relaxed networking that keeps the energy high and the conversation flowing.
Wayne Topley, Chairman of the LHVA shared his thoughts on the launch:
“I am thrilled to be collaborating with passionate industry experts to organise the inaugural Hospitality Live event.
“With this new approach, we have taken away the formalities and rigid structure of a traditional trade show with the aim of providing opportunities for delegates to create genuine new connections. Hospitality Live is proof that with collaboration and teamwork, we can make a meaningful impact on the industry.”
Charity Commitment
The event has partnered with Zarach, the children’s bed charity, who are on a mission to end child bed poverty, giving children a good night’s sleep and the chance to thrive at school. Through an innovative bed donation programme, exhibitors may include a bed as part of their showcase, with the brand-new bed being donated to Zarach.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Hospitality Live for their partnership and desire to create change for the children and families we support. Their donation of 25 beds and mattresses will have an immediate impact on the children receiving them, both in the practical and short term, while also supporting better sleep, improved wellbeing, and the foundations for long-term educational engagement and opportunity.”
Programme of Events
Hospitality Live will begin at 12pm, featuring a vibrant line up of venues and suppliers, curated networking and engaging keynote speakers. Then from 6pm, the event will transform into a casual festival format, with drinks, music and informal networking.
Free delegate tickets are now available at www.hospitality-live.com, whilst venue partners can apply for a space at https://www.hospitality-live.com/suppliers-studio.
The event is aimed at event bookers, agencies, venues and hospitality professionals looking for a more engaging and effective way to connect with the Meetings & Events industry, whilst also supporting an event designed to leave a positive legacy.
Author: Sam Hyland
Sam is the assistant content manager for Event Industry News (EIN). Sam is involved in publishing news stories, videos and podcasts. Sam also collates the latest stories for the EIN e-newsletter. If you have a press release or story you think we might be interested to know about please email features@eventindustrynews.com
