From next-gen travel trends and insider secrets from some of the planet’s most memorable hotels to crafting above and beyond customer experiences, you can expect insights and advice from the world’s most influential and experienced hospitality figures at #50BestTalks: Unpacked
On Monday 16 September, The Dorchester in London will host a new edition of #50BestTalks that specifically focuses on trends, insights and secrets from some of the most revered hoteliers in the world. It will be the first time the global thought-leadership series is introduced as an official part of The World’s 50 Best Hotels event programme and will feature a roster of global hospitality pioneers.
The owner and CEO of The World’s Best Hotel 2023, Valentina De Santis of Passalaqua, The Carlyle’s first female GM, Marlene Poynder, and movie star turned hotel mogul Krissada Sukosol Clapp are part of a glittering line-up of international figures who will share the highs and lows of heading up successful hotels.
They will be joined by pioneering communications consultant Diana Banks and Knight Frank’s world wealth research expert Liam Bailey. In addition, Maybourne’s Rebecca Burdess will give a masterclass on the impact of hyper-personalised hospitality on guest experiences.
With further insights from Rosewood’s Radha Arora, the man tasked with overseeing all facets of the worldwide brand’s intricate hotel and resort operations, #50BestTalks: Unpacked is set to be an unmissable exploration of what’s now and next in luxury hospitality
Learn more about this year’s speakers:
How to go global (and stay special)
Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
If you often find yourself gravitating towards hotels in the same group regardless of their geographical location, Radha Arora might be able to explain why. The president of the revered Rosewood Hotels & Resorts group will take to the stage to talk about how hotels can maintain individualisation on a global scale and the brand’s unique approach to expansion through its four distinct brands.
A veteran of the hospitality industry, Radha Arora brings more than 30 years’ experience to his current role as Rosewood’s president. The son of a foreign service worker, New-Delhi-born Arora spent his formative years living in hotels in Moscow, Paris and London. In addition to the intricacies of balancing uniqueness with consistency in every property, he’ll offer insight into how the brand is preparing for the future with an incredible 32 properties in progress.
Life lessons from leading hoteliers
Valentina De Santis, CEO & owner of Passalacqua, Marlene Poynder, managing director of The Carlyle and Krissada Sukosol Clapp, creative director & founder of The Siam
Three pioneering hoteliers will come together for the first time to talk about the highs and lows of creating and running world-leading hotels and, in the process, will share their personal experiences of hospitality and individual career paths.
The three speakers will include Italian hotel icon Valentina De Santis, whose achingly beautiful Lake Como idyll, Passalacqua, took the No.1 spot in 2023’s inaugural list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels. She’ll be joined by former pop star and film actor Krissada Sukosol Clapp, who swapped the bright lights of Thailand’s Hollywood for the alternative glamour of hotels to found his own luxury establishment, The Siam in Bangkok (No.42 in the 2023 ranking). Rounding out the trio is Marlene Poynder, an Australian native and hospitality powerhouse who is currently the managing director of legendary Upper East Side hotel The Carlyle in New York.
New money: global hotspots for luxury spenders
Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank
As the editor of The Wealth Report - international real estate company Knight Frank’s annual guide to the world’s highest spenders - there isn’t much Liam Bailey doesn’t know about where people are spending their cash.
Bailey has spearheaded the development of Knight Frank’s wealth research stream, tracking private investment across the globe. Using the latest data and insights from The Wealth Report, Bailey will examine the implications of affluent consumers’ shifting attitudes and explain how wealth creation is changing globally with each new generation, while identifying new hotspots for growth and, ultimately, how these topics affect hoteliers and hotel guests.
The power of personalised hospitality
Rebecca Burdess, global head of guest experience & services at Maybourne 
If you’ve ever wondered how a hotel knows your favourite cocktail or how you like your pillows plumped, people like Rebecca Burdess are the answer. In her role at Maybourne – parent to brand including Claridge’s and The Connaught in London, as well as The Maybourne Riviera and The Maybourne Beverly Hills – Burdess oversees the design and delivery of all things exceptional when it comes to the customer experience.
Her recently created role spans a multitude of customer service-driven fields, including quality assurance and special guest programmes across the portfolio. In essence, Burdess is a world-leading figure in discovering what customers really want. As part of #50BestTalks: Unpacked, she will demonstrate how bespoke services and truly thoughtful, individualised touches can elevate the guest experience to new heights.
How to stand out when everyone is outstanding
Diana Banks, managing director of Maven Hospitality Consultants 
The notion of ‘emotional luxury’ is the key to why we are influenced by and identify with some brands more than others, according to Diana Banks. The founder of Maven Hospitality Consultants, who specialises in the luxury sector, will dive into the complicated area of communications and the impact that words, images and design can have on global brand recognition. As well as advising on the evolution of language, Banks will shine a light on the nuances of cultural markets and how hoteliers can represent their brands best to potential guests around the world.
No stranger to luxury hotels, Banks’ career started when she became the first female receptionist at the Hilton Park Lane in London. Over more than three decades since, she has held senior global sales and marketing positions around the world and overseen launches for iconic hotels and resorts including Raffles, Mandarin Oriental and Langham Hotels International.
#50BestTalks: Unpacked will be held at The Dorchester in London on Monday 16 September from 11:00-14.00. Follow 50 Best’s social channels for highlights from the event.
Miss last year's ceremony? Watch the highlights here:
The list of The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024, will be announced on Tuesday 17 September live from Guildhall London. To stay up to date with the latest news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube, and sign up to our newsletter.
