HIX LDN, Europe’s premier hotel design event, returns to London’s Business Design Center on 26–27 November 2025. The two-day gathering will bring together the hospitality interiors community to celebrate hotel design in all its forms. This year, organizers anticipate over 5,000 attendees, including designers and architects, as well as hotel operators and investors, who can expect a rich program of talks, installations, social events and a curated expo showcasing new product launches, all designed to inform and inspire the next generation of hotel interiors.
Theme: Culture Clash
Each year, HIX adopts a guiding theme, and for 2025, it’s “Culture Clash.” While hospitality is a global industry, from the Japanese concept of omotenashi that composes hospitality around care rather than expectation, to the Atithidevo Bhava principles of India that see guests considered as gods, each continent, country, society and tribe has its own take on what constitutes an exceptional stay. This year’s theme celebrates those diverse perspectives, traditions, and values that shape hotel experiences around the world. Travelers today seek authenticity and “Culture Clash” explores how design can honor local character even as hotels cater to international audiences. Expect this idea to thread through every element of HIX LDN 2025, from panel discussions to the immersive installations and even the music and food at networking events. The aim is to highlight the power of authentic hospitality narratives in a rapidly changing market, celebrating the diverse range of customs, values, traditions and aesthetics that underpin local and global hospitality cultures alike.
HIX LDN 2024
Expo: 160+ Brands Under One Roof
Featuring a curated selection of over 160 interior brands, HIX LDN is a one-stop showcase of interior products across bathrooms, surfaces, technology, furniture, lighting, fabrics, and more, covering the entire hotel supply chain. Industry-leading manufacturers will be present, including GROHE, Laufen, Roca, Hansgrohe, Chelsom, Duxiana, Hypnos, and Muuto, to name a few. Visitors can expect to discover the latest collections and innovations these brands have to offer, from high-end bathroom fixtures and bespoke furniture to smart lighting and textiles. Many exhibitors treat HIX as a launchpad for new products, so attendees will get an early look at fresh designs hitting the market. Returning for 2025 is also Collection, HIX’s “expo-within-an-expo” featuring a micro-edit of boutique European design studios showcasing exclusive products.
Talks: Insights from Industry Leaders
The 2025 HIX Talks program brings the big topics down to earth, with panels and interviews that pull back the curtain on how hotel brands and design studios are navigating a fast-changing world. The focus: cross-cultural translation, new definitions of luxury, tech’s growing grip on hospitality, and the future of wellness. Each session is shaped by this year’s theme and stacked with people who actually build and lead the brands shaping hotel experiences now.
26 November 2025
A Brand Apart: Crafting Cross-Cultural Hospitality Experiences
11:00 – 11:45 | HIX Talks stage
What happens when a hotel brand crosses borders? This session unpacks how to speak a new language without losing your identity. Moderated by Kaitlyn Skov of STUDIO SKOV, with panelists Arun Rana (Accor), Billy Skelli-Cohen (Beaumier), and Maria Vafiadis (MKV Design).
The Shape of Luxury to Come: Navigating the New Luxury Hotel Landscape
12:00 – 12:45 | HIX Talks stage
What does luxury even mean anymore? Is it local craft, low-carbon footprints, or just good wi-fi and space to breathe? Hamish Kilburn hosts a panel featuring Charlie North (Ennismore), Tina Norden (Conran and Partners), Neil Kazakos-Andrew (Starwood), and Shayne Brady (Studio Shayne Brady).
Studio Confidential: G.A Group (HIX x Always Thinking)
14:00 – 14:45 | HIX Talks stage
Forty years in luxury hotel design doesn’t come without a few pivots. G.A Group opens up about how the practice has changed, and what hasn’t. Hosted by Always Thinking’s Katie Tobin and Karen Willey, with Ben Kenyon and Katayon Ghassemi of G.A Group.
Keynote Interview: Christoph Hoffmann
15:00 – 15:45 | HIX Talks stage
The man behind 25hours Hotels and Bikini Island & Mountain Hotels joins Double Decker’s Melita Skamnaki to talk storytelling, rebellious leadership, and what it takes to build hospitality that doesn’t feel like hospitality at all.
27 November 2025
AHEAD of the Curve: Europe Shortlist Spotlight (HIX x AHEAD)
11:00 – 11:45 | HIX Talks stage
What did the most interesting hotels of 2025 get right? AHEAD Awards brings four judges to the stage for a closer look at standout projects and the ideas behind them, with Eleanor Howard (Sleeper), Ali Çalışkan (GEOMIM), Eva Longoria (Rockwell Group), Maria Garcia-Arribas (BAR Studio), and Peter Bundgaard Rützou (Space Copenhagen).
Expert Systems: How Technology is Transforming Hotel Design
12:00 – 12:45 | HIX Talks stage
Designers and operators are figuring out what to do with AI, LLMs, and all the automation creeping into guest experiences. This panel goes beyond hype to ask how tech is actually reshaping hospitality. Sophie Harper (Hotel Designs) moderates, joined by Mark Henderson (YOTEL), Nelli Denisova (OBMI), and Ruud Belmans (WeWantMore).
Live Forever: Longevity and the Future of Hotel Wellness
13:00 – 13:45 | HIX Talks stage
Hotel wellness is no longer just about spa robes and cucumber water. This panel examines how hotels are tapping into science, longevity, and even medical partnerships to expand the meaning of wellness. Alys Bryan (Design Insider) leads the conversation with Hattie David-Wilkinson (Maybourne), Ramy Elnagar (White Mirror), and Clint Nagata (BLINK Design Group).
Founders Forum: A Blueprint for Your Hotel Design Studio (HIX x Festival of Hospitality)
14:00 – 14:45 | HIX Talks stage
Thinking of starting your own studio? Hear the highs and lows from three designers who’ve done just that, hosted by Always Thinking, with Franky Rousell (Jolie), Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́ (Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co.), and Jonny Sin (Sin&Co.).
HIX LDN 2024
Join the Celebration
Whether you’re a hotel designer or simply curious about the latest interior trends, HIX LDN 2025 promises the ever-changing design experience that makes hotels incredible. The event runs 10:00–20:30 on Wednesday, 26 November and 10:00–16:00 on Thursday, 27 November 2025, at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Registration is free, you can sign up online to secure your pass. Once inside, prepare to mingle with a who’s who of the hotel design world, see the latest product launches, and gain insights from leaders in the field. By the time the show closes, you’ll have a notebook (and phone gallery) full of fresh ideas, new contacts, and inspiration to carry into your next project. See you in November at HIX LDN 2025!
Photos Courtesy of HIX LDN.
