UK Hotel Real Estate Summit 2026

William Riordan is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Oberland, an investment platform focused on acquiring and repositioning underutilised heritage real estate into design-led, community-driven hotels and experiential destinations across Europe. Founded in 2022, Oberland combines real estate investment, development and operations to create modern hospitality assets, with a growing portfolio spanning the UK and Europe and an active pipeline of adaptive reuse projects in major gateway cities. Alongside his role at Oberland, he serves as Executive Director and Board Member at Swiss Finance & Property UK, an affiliate of one of Switzerland’s leading independent real estate managers, overseeing c. CHF 15 billion in assets. William also holds non-executive and advisory positions, including Chair of the St John’s Trading Company, supporting the commercial sustainability of St John’s Foundation, one of the world’s oldest continuously operating charities, and previously contributed to industry leadership through the Urban Land Institute, serving on the European Executive Committee and as Chair of its Young Leaders in Europe. Before founding Oberland, he spent over a decade at Value Retail’s The Bicester Collection, one of the world's leading asset backed retail developers and operators, and was a senior advisor to S.D. Malkin Properties, contributing to landmark developments such as UBS Arena in New York.

George Nicholas is the founder and CEO of Shibui Capital, an independent advisory and investment management firm specialising in capital formation and bespoke hospitality investment strategies, including secondaries, recaps and continuation vehicles. With more than 25 years in hospitality real estate, he has advised, transacted and overseen in excess of $20 billion of hotel and mixed-use assets for banking, sovereign and private clients globally, working across the full investment lifecycle from acquisitions and recapitalisations to portfolio strategy and operator selection. Before founding Shibui, he was Global Head of Hotels at Savills, having previously held senior roles at JLL, CBRE Asia Pacific and Colliers. Today he partners directly with investors across hospitality, lodging, gaming and capital markets, and holds a BSc from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and a Diploma from Les Roches in Switzerland.

Lily is the CEO of Aethos, one of Europe’s most exciting and fastest-growing lifestyle luxury brands, known for its experience-led resorts, private members’ clubs, and retreats that foster authentic connections and conscious exploration. Her experience includes strategy, private equity, and hotel development. She began her career at Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company, advising real estate and private equity clients. During Covid, Lily led the acquisition and asset management of 22 hotels worth over €250 million at Zetland Capital. Most recently, before joining Aethos, she was responsible for the growth of new hotels and branded residences across Europe and North America at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Lloyd Lee is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Yoo Capital. Mr. Lee is chiefly responsible for steering the firm’s investment strategy of blending fiscal responsibility with social responsibility and serves as Chair of the firm’s Investment Committee. Mr. Lee has over 25 years and $15 billion of real estate private equity experience in corporate opportunities as well as large-scale urban regeneration involving complex real estate operations in hospitality, entertainment, and urban living. Over the last several years, Mr. Lee has led the firm's expansion into live entertainment, theatres, film and television studios and separately life sciences and innovation hubs with a strategic focus on delivering accessible creative communities that uniquely blend major global brands with local businesses and start-ups, educational institutions and community groups and non-profit organizations. Mr. Lee is a graduate of Harvard University, where he studied and continues to support theatre and the arts, and serves to steer the Harvard Learn to Fish Christian Research Endowment Fund.

Lisa Clarke is the founder of Rowdy Studio, a strategic branding studio for businesses looking to shift gear. Lisa has over 15 years of hospitality branding experience across a variety of strategies and asset types, including having partnered with Bain Capital for the past 7 years to bring to market flagship projects including the boutique luxury hotel Shepherd Mayfair, set to open this summer. Over the last decade, Lisa has brought a strategic focus to the sector that combines insights from Rowdy’s work in the worlds of tech, sport, professional services and beyond to create spaces and communities that connect with the needs and desires of audiences.

Dimitris Manikis was appointed President and Managing Director for EMEA in April 2018. In his current role as President of EMEA, he is responsible for the development of all of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ brands in the EMEA region as well as maximising the performance of all new and existing franchise and managed hotels. He focuses on driving the strategic objectives of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts including quality and technology solutions as well as new business, loyalty, sales and marketing. Dimitris Manikis has a long-standing career and deep knowledge of the hospitality industry. Prior to joining Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, he spent over 27 years with RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, across a number of senior roles, and most recently served as Vice President of Business Development for EMEA. Earlier in his career, he also held a number key positions in the region as Managing Director of RCI Greece and RCI South Africa. Dimitris is an Industry Advisory Board member for Hotelschool the Hague, a Senior Advisory Board member for the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and a Board member for Christel House Europe. A Greek national, Dimitris was born in Athens and holds a Bachelor degree in Tourism and Administration from the Technical University of Patras in Greece, and an MSc Postgraduate degree in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey. His passion for people and work ethic comes from his father, who built up a grocery retail business in Athens where Dimitris learned the value of elevated customer service, having a positive outlook and hard work as being the foundations of success in both business and life. He is based in Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ London office.

With over 35 years in the hospitality industry Franck Arnold brings a wealth of experience from working for well- known luxury brands and independent hotels in North America and Europe. He joined The Savoy in September 2020 with a clear vision: to navigate the hotel through the global pandemic, remaining true to its heritage as the home of luxurious innovation in the UK. Born in France, Franck began his journey into hospitality attending the Hotel School of Strasbourg (France), earning a diploma in culinary arts followed by a Restaurant and Hotel Management degree. He later completed a Masters in Hotel Administration from IMHI Cornell-ESSEC (Paris) and his M.B.A from Henley Management College / Brunel University (UK). Franck’s entrance to the industry began with InterContinental Hotel’s Corporate Management Training Program, progressing through roles such as Assistant Restaurant Manager, Rooms Division Manager Trainee, Assistant Director and Director of Food and Beverage, Executive Assistant Manager, Hotel Manager, and General Manager. During his thirteen years with IHG, these leadership positions had Franck moving from Paris, to London, to Athens, to Brussels and on to Madrid, all prior to moving to North America where he served as Hotel Manager at the Barclay Intercontinental in New York. Franck then on went to join The Four Seasons Chicago as Hotel Manager before taking the role of Managing Director of the exquisite Jefferson hotel in Washington, DC. He then moved his family back across the Atlantic to Edinburgh, Scotland where he was General Manager of The Balmoral, a five-star iconic Rocco Forte Hotel, for five years. During this time he became a Master Innholder and was awarded the Freedom of The City of London. In 2016, Franck took on the role of General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, where he was awarded the Forbes Five-Star every year from 2016, and received the Humanitarian Award from the Hotel Association of Canada in 2018. Since 2020, the Savoy has retained its Forbes 5 stars, earning a place among the 50 Best Hotels in the World, receiving 3 Michelin Keys in 2025 and 2024 and being named one of the top 10 Hotels in the World by La Liste. Franck was instrumental in extending the restaurant partnership at The Savoy with Gordon Ramsay (Savoy Grill, River Restaurant) including 1890 (named after Auguste Escoffier’s starting year at The Savoy) which earned its first Michelin star in 2024. Franck was also instrumental in securing the lease of Simpson’s in the Strand with Jeremy King: reopening in March 2026. Franck was recently awarded The Caterer’s Hotelier of the Year 2025. He was also honoured with the Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotelier of the Year in 2024, as well as Hotelier of the Year by Hotelier Magazine and Industry Titan by Boutique Hotelier in 2025. When he is not working, Franck is an avid golf player, cyclist and runner. He still enjoys cooking for his family and friends. He lives in the UK with his wife Salima, daughter Céleste and son Cesar and mini Schnauzer Jules. His eldest son Arthur lives and works in Australia.

Tony joined travelodge in 1998 and has been UK Development Director since 2007. Since then, Travelodge has more than doubled in size opening over 350 hotels taking Travelodge past 600 locations in the UK, Northern Ireland and Spain.

Stay Generator is a design‑led hospitality brand redefining urban travel across Europe. We create and operate innovative hybrid hostel/hotel models. Our properties are located in major city centres and are highly distinctive, each reflecting its local context through architecture, interiors and art. Design is central to our brand identity, with a strong focus on flexible layouts, durable and sustainable materials, and spaces that encourage connection—from bedrooms and communal areas to bars, cafés and co‑working environments. Kathryn is responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery of new openings and refurbishments, working closely with designers, contractors and specialist suppliers to translate concept into reality.

Filipe D’Avillez is a hospitality leader with over 25 years of experience delivering high-performing lifestyle and mixed-use hospitality assets. As General Manager of TRIBE London Canary Wharf, he led the successful opening of Accor’s first TRIBE hotel in the UK, establishing it as a leading lifestyle destination while driving strong revenue growth, robust GOP margins and a highly efficient operating model. Prior to this, Filipe was General Manager of ARK Canary Wharf, where he oversaw the launch and stabilisation of the world’s largest co‑living development, comprising 705 units and extensive shared amenities. His earlier career includes senior roles with Edyn and PPHE, where he specialised in openings, portfolio management and operational transformation across hotels and serviced apartments. Recognised for his strong commercial focus, Filipe brings a practical perspective on aligning operations with asset performance, combining cost discipline, brand positioning and guest experience to deliver long-term value.

Mark specialises in delivering innovative engineering solutions in the hospitality sector, blending heritage preservation with modern functionality. Currently, he leads the prestigious refurbishment of a world-leading 5* hotel in London, balancing historic integrity with cutting-edge engineering on one of the city’s most complex sites. His expertise is in early-stage strategic guidance and complex sequencing on landmark developments.

I am a Chartered Structural Engineer and Company Director for Civil and Structural Engineering Consultancy, Will Rudd Davidson (Edinburgh) Ltd. I have more than 25 years of experience in the Property and Construction Industry, leading teams, and delivering projects across Scotland and the wider UK. I have delivered on a diverse range of large Projects across the property sectors, for both private and public sector Clients, including Universities, Schools, Hotels, Housing/ PBSA, Commercial and industrial Sectors. A substantial portion of my past projects have involved refurbishment of existing buildings, including many within a heritage and conservation context. Key Projects have included a new 9 storey extension to the Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel; University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art Campus; Market Street Hotel; Hub South East Partnership Centre Bundle; Edinburgh Castle Visitors Centre; Lothian Buses Longstone Depot; Spartans Community Football Facility. A career highlight has been co-publishing a research paper on the subject of ductility of concrete frames, a feature of earthquake resistant design, and presenting at an International Conference on Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics, in the City of Pusan, South Korea. I have also had a role in developing a framework for the Conservation of concrete framed structures, along with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and Historic Scotland, for the Grade B Listed Canongate Apartments, Edinburgh, by Sir Basil Spence Architect. I have a keen desire to deliver on the Architects vision, whilst bringing a practical focus on buildability and cost-effectiveness. With particular focus on the Hotel Sector, I thrive on the challenges of complex city centre gap sites, and in the conversion of listed buildings, and believe that smart engineering decisions, made at an early stage can be the key to unlocking the viability of a development, and getting the full potential out of a development site.