Milan, May 5, 2026 – Hospitality Design Conference returns to the Lombardy capital, reaffirming itself as the leading international event for architecture and contract design in the hospitality sector. Organized by Teamwork Hospitality, a consulting and training company based in Rimini, the event reaches its third edition at Hotel Melià.
With an expected attendance of around 700 professionals, Hospitality Design Conference represents a valuable opportunity for networking and professional development, entirely dedicated to exploring cutting-edge solutions for hotel design and redevelopment, offering an overview of the aesthetic and functional trends set to transform global hospitality.
Investors, hoteliers, hotel managers, entrepreneurs, builders, Italian and international designers will have the opportunity to engage and exchange insights, gaining a deeper understanding of the success factors and market dynamics that will shape the hotel industry in the upcoming years.
The 2026 edition will focus on the future of hospitality, which “is no longer defined by a physical place, but by a fluid situation.” In this era of cross-contamination, the boundaries between domestic, work, and hospitality spaces dissolve, giving rise to a liquid form of hospitality in which lived experience takes precedence over simple overnight stays. Hospitality Design Conference will explore this metamorphosis by examining the impact of new hybrid living models, artificial intelligence, and experiential design on the hospitality environments of tomorrow: an ecosystem in which living and hosting merge into a single, dynamic reality.
The goal is to provide vision and analytical tools to shape spaces, services, and business models capable of meeting the expectations of a new generation of travelers and urban nomads, offering guidance to design solutions that precisely respond to the dynamics of an increasingly fluid demand.
The topics that will be addressed will include:
-Liquid hospitality: living, staying, belonging. An exploration of liquid hospitality, where hotels, flats, co-living and short-stay concepts merge into new hybrid models.
-AI + HI: Hybrid intelligence at the service of the experience. How artificial intelligence can improve pricing, design, operations and customisation without losing the warmth of human hospitality.
-Community and belonging: guests or residents? How to create a sense of belonging and shared spaces that attract both travelers and local residents.
-Sustainability and circular design: the new rule of the game. Using design and hospitaliy management as tools to regenerate places, people and consumption patterns.
-The power of details: styling, finishes, and intelligent redesign in hospitality. How decorations, materials and micro-interventions shape perception and elevate the guest experience. In today's fluid hospitality, design is no longer just about layout or concept, but about how spaces are perceived. The theme focuses on how style choices, decorative elements, colours and finishes contribute to emotional impact, perceived value and guest satisfaction. From intelligent reworking to curated atmospheres, we will discover how small design decisions can lead to big strategic results, especially when complete renovations are not an option.
-Inclusiveness as a foundation: design and services for all. Accessible, inclusive and culturally sensitive experiences that open up new markets and create universal hospitality.
-Luxury reinvented: artificial intelligence meets high-end hospitality. AI makes a new kind of luxury possible: invisible, fluid, intelligent anticipating desires and making every gesture simple.
-Designing for blurred boundaries: multifunctional spaces. Design as a lever to create flexible and versatile environments, adaptable to every guest and any time of day.
-New business models: beyond the “sold night”. New monetization formats such as subscriptions, memberships, short and long stays.
Neurodesign and emotional hospitality. Designing environments that inspire, relax and engage through multi-sensory experiences.
-Liquid hospitality: living, staying, belonging. An exploration of liquid hospitality, where hotels, flats, co-living and short-stay concepts merge into new hybrid models.
-AI + HI: Hybrid intelligence at the service of the experience. How artificial intelligence can improve pricing, design, operations and customisation without losing the warmth of human hospitality.
-Community and belonging: guests or residents? How to create a sense of belonging and shared spaces that attract both travelers and local residents.
-Sustainability and circular design: the new rule of the game. Using design and hospitaliy management as tools to regenerate places, people and consumption patterns.
-The power of details: styling, finishes, and intelligent redesign in hospitality. How decorations, materials and micro-interventions shape perception and elevate the guest experience. In today's fluid hospitality, design is no longer just about layout or concept, but about how spaces are perceived. The theme focuses on how style choices, decorative elements, colours and finishes contribute to emotional impact, perceived value and guest satisfaction. From intelligent reworking to curated atmospheres, we will discover how small design decisions can lead to big strategic results, especially when complete renovations are not an option.
-Inclusiveness as a foundation: design and services for all. Accessible, inclusive and culturally sensitive experiences that open up new markets and create universal hospitality.
-Luxury reinvented: artificial intelligence meets high-end hospitality. AI makes a new kind of luxury possible: invisible, fluid, intelligent anticipating desires and making every gesture simple.
-Designing for blurred boundaries: multifunctional spaces. Design as a lever to create flexible and versatile environments, adaptable to every guest and any time of day.
-New business models: beyond the “sold night”. New monetization formats such as subscriptions, memberships, short and long stays.
Neurodesign and emotional hospitality. Designing environments that inspire, relax and engage through multi-sensory experiences.
An intensive seminar program featuring over 60 Italian and international speakers, who will provide highly valuable insights covering the entire hospitality chain, from design and implementation to the management of hotel and non-hotel accommodations.
A large dedicated exhibition area will host over 40 leading partners in the furniture and contract sectors. For all attendees, it will be an opportunity to discover the most innovative solutions firsthand and build business relationships.
A new feature for 2026 is Platform B2B, a networking platform that all registrants will have access to before the event, allowing them to start building connections, schedule meetings and make the most of their time at the hotel.
SPEAKERS who have already confirmed their participation in the event:
Charlie North, Global VP of Design – Ennismore;
Kayla Pongrác, Founder B.Arch – KPS;
Piotr Kalinowski, CEO / Design Director – MIXD;
Giulio Rigoni, Associate / Senior Architect - BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group;
Paola Mantello, Former Director of Design, Central and Eastern Europe - Architecture, Design + Construction | EMEA – Hilton;
Roberto Mancinelli, Senior Associate - Rockwell Group;
Jette Cathrin Hopp, Director of Acquisition and Business Development – Snøhetta; Katrine Goldstein, Managing Director (CEO) & Partner - Norm Architects; Patricia Holler, Founder & Creative Director - Checa Woid Interiors; Antony Cestra, Partner | Chief Development Officer – stroop;
Piero Castiglioni, Lighting Designer and Founder - Studio Piero Castiglioni;
Marco Petrucci, Lighting Designer - Studio Piero Castiglioni;
Matteo Mocchi, Business Development Director - Design Bridge and Partners; Francesco Gori, CEO - ESA engineering;
Tarek Hegazy, Principle & CEO - Living Design;
Anissa Bedoui, Creative Director - Living Design;
Filippo Pagliani, Partner e Co-fondatore - Park Associati;
Ambra Piccin, Architect, Interior & Light Designer - Studio arch. Ambra Piccin;
Pier Giorgio Lomascolo Maura, Founder and Creative Strategist - Holden Creative; Eszter Radnóczy, Founder - Este'r Partners
Marco Alfaro, Lead AI Researcher & Designer - Studio Tim Fu
Gabriele Gascon, Chief Executive Officer - Gascón Group SA
Federico Spagnulo, Founding Partner – Spagnulo & Partners Chiara Boni, Fashion Designer
Alessia Galimberti, Architect & Founder – Galimberti Studio
Fabio Coppola, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer – YELLOWSQUARE Alessandro Capellaro, Co-Founder Studio b-arch
Sabrina Bignami, Co-Founder Studio b-arch
Niccolò Franceschini, Director GIO’ FORMA Florian Boje, CEO GIO’ FORMA
Charlie North, Global VP of Design – Ennismore;
Kayla Pongrác, Founder B.Arch – KPS;
Piotr Kalinowski, CEO / Design Director – MIXD;
Giulio Rigoni, Associate / Senior Architect - BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group;
Paola Mantello, Former Director of Design, Central and Eastern Europe - Architecture, Design + Construction | EMEA – Hilton;
Roberto Mancinelli, Senior Associate - Rockwell Group;
Jette Cathrin Hopp, Director of Acquisition and Business Development – Snøhetta; Katrine Goldstein, Managing Director (CEO) & Partner - Norm Architects; Patricia Holler, Founder & Creative Director - Checa Woid Interiors; Antony Cestra, Partner | Chief Development Officer – stroop;
Piero Castiglioni, Lighting Designer and Founder - Studio Piero Castiglioni;
Marco Petrucci, Lighting Designer - Studio Piero Castiglioni;
Matteo Mocchi, Business Development Director - Design Bridge and Partners; Francesco Gori, CEO - ESA engineering;
Tarek Hegazy, Principle & CEO - Living Design;
Anissa Bedoui, Creative Director - Living Design;
Filippo Pagliani, Partner e Co-fondatore - Park Associati;
Ambra Piccin, Architect, Interior & Light Designer - Studio arch. Ambra Piccin;
Pier Giorgio Lomascolo Maura, Founder and Creative Strategist - Holden Creative; Eszter Radnóczy, Founder - Este'r Partners
Marco Alfaro, Lead AI Researcher & Designer - Studio Tim Fu
Gabriele Gascon, Chief Executive Officer - Gascón Group SA
Federico Spagnulo, Founding Partner – Spagnulo & Partners Chiara Boni, Fashion Designer
Alessia Galimberti, Architect & Founder – Galimberti Studio
Fabio Coppola, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer – YELLOWSQUARE Alessandro Capellaro, Co-Founder Studio b-arch
Sabrina Bignami, Co-Founder Studio b-arch
Niccolò Franceschini, Director GIO’ FORMA Florian Boje, CEO GIO’ FORMA
MODERATORS:
Eugenia Pronzati, Managing Director and Host - The Blue Corner Hospitality Media Giulia Guerra, Journalist, Editorial Director - Matrix4Design
Guy Dittrich, Consultant, Connector and Content Creator
Eugenia Pronzati, Managing Director and Host - The Blue Corner Hospitality Media Giulia Guerra, Journalist, Editorial Director - Matrix4Design
Guy Dittrich, Consultant, Connector and Content Creator
SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORSHIP:
Davide Mantesso, Project and Construction Management - Michaeler & Partner Mauro Santinato, President - Teamwork
Nicola Delvecchio, Strategic Hospitality Advisor - Teamwork
Laura F. Verdi, Architect and director - we:ll magazine
Davide Mantesso, Project and Construction Management - Michaeler & Partner Mauro Santinato, President - Teamwork
Nicola Delvecchio, Strategic Hospitality Advisor - Teamwork
Laura F. Verdi, Architect and director - we:ll magazine
Speaker complete list:
https://www.hospitalitydesignconference.com/it/speaker-2026/
Partner complete list:
https://www.hospitalitydesignconference.com/it/partner/
https://www.hospitalitydesignconference.com/it/speaker-2026/
Partner complete list:
https://www.hospitalitydesignconference.com/it/partner/
