CHME 2026 Annual Conference
Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 June 2026
The 34th CHME conference aims to offer a distinctive forum where participants from academia, industry, sector bodies and government can actively exchange and challenge ideas through cutting-edge research, case studies and practical insights. The conference theme, ‘Advancing Excellence in Hospitality’, is of great relevance for everyone in hospitality, tourism and events education.
Contact conference administrator
Conference registration
The University of Surrey will be hosting the 2026 CHME Conference.
Online conference registration is now closed.
Keynote speakers and panellists
Keynote speakers
Sally Beck
General Manager, The Royal Lancaster London
Biography
Sally Beck is General Manager of The Royal Lancaster London, where she has led one of the capital's largest independent hotels since 2013. With responsibility for a 411-bedroom property and major banqueting operations, she is widely recognised for her people-first leadership approach. Under her leadership, the hotel has consistently featured in The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For. A past Hotelier of the Year and recipient of multiple industry awards, Sally is also the founder of the Hoteliers Charter, advocating hospitality as a long-term and meaningful career.
Professor Ioannis Pantelidis
Deputy Dean, London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, University of West London
Biography
Professor Ioannis S. Pantelidis is Deputy Dean at London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, University of West London and Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management. An internationally recognised scholar and academic leader, he has held senior roles across UK and European higher education, served on global advisory boards, and published extensively in hospitality leadership, management, and education.
Editors panel
Professor Cathy Hsu
Editor-in-Chief, Tourism Management
Professor Peter Lugosi
Co-founder & Co-Editor, Hospitality & Society. Associate Editor, ATR and JDMM
Panel Chair
Professor Xavier Font
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Sustainable Tourism
Biography
I research and consult on topics related to sustainable tourism production and consumption. In the past I published widely about sustainable tourism certification, and more recently I've broadened to research on sustainability marketing and communication, and the use of sustainability evidence to inform policy.
I am working on project seeking to transform tourism industry's emissions measurement and carbon trading with crypto-based systems. Partnering with Therme Group, a global organisation focused on urban wellbeing destinations, a team of researchers from Surrey's Institute for Sustainability, the Academy of Blockchain and Metaverse Applications, and the Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy are working to develop new digital platforms that significantly enhance the tourism industry's ability to measure and reduce its carbon footprint.
I serve as advisor in the Travalyst coalition of Amadeus, Booking, Google, Expedia, Skyscanner, Travelport, Trip, TripAdvisor and Visa, where I use my research experience to inform efforts to align sustainability frameworks for the supply chain of the tourism industry, that can be persuasively communicated to nudge consumers.
I have conducted over 200 courses for more than 5,000 businesses on how to market and communicate sustainability. Recently, I was the Principal Investigator for the University of Surrey for the €24.5 million Interreg project Experience to develop low season sustainable tourism visitor experiences.
A substantial part of my time is spent in PhD supervision: I currently supervise five students, I've already supervised 29 to completion, and examined over 30.
I am the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Sustainable Tourism.
Panel chairs
Professor Lisa Wyld
Associate Dean (education), College of Leadership and Innovation, Buckinghamshire New University
Professor Sally Everett
Professor of Business Education, King's College London
Dr Lorna Wang
Associate Professor in Marketing and Revenue Management/Co-Director, Centre for Research on Ageing and Generations
Biography
Lorna joined University of Surrey in September 2017. She holds a PhD from Oxford Brookes University. She serves on the editorial boards of a number of leading hospitality and tourism management, revenue management journals. She also holds Visiting Professorship at University of Angers (France) and regularly gives talks in various Universities in Europe and in China.
Prior to her academic career, Lorna held a number of managerial positions such as Marketing Director and Rooms Division Director in China and in the UK. She won the ‘Lord Forte Award’ from the Institute of Hospitality in London in the year 2000. In China, she worked with ‘Guo-An Hotel Corporation’ based in Beijing, where she led her team to win ‘the Best Service Award’ from Beijing Tourism Administration Bureau after hosting ‘the 11th Asian Games’ in 1990. It was one of the first mega-events hosted by China and she was awarded as ‘Service Pacesetter’ in recognition of her personal contribution.
Dr Gavin Urie
Lecturer in Hospitality Management, Edinburgh Napier University
For presenters
For stand-up presentation
Please prepare a 15-minute presentation using PowerPoint. The presentation will be followed by 2-3 minutes of discussions with the audience. We strongly encourage you to save a copy of your presentation on your email and a USB. We will have volunteers in the presentation rooms to support.
For poster presentation
Please bring a printed copy of your poster to the conference. On the day of your poster presentation, please hand it to the volunteers at the registration desk at the start of the day. Our volunteers will help put up your posters. The size of the poster should be A1 size, portrait orientation. A1 size measures 59.4 x 84.1 cm or 23.4 x 33.1 inches.
Our sponsors
About Guildford
Guildford town centre is a 10-minute walk from the University of Surrey and offers a wide range of things to do and see. The town caters for all ages with over 100 places to eat and drink, three shopping centres filled with a number of retailers, three theatres and a cinema.
Shopping
Guildford has three shopping centres: The Friary, White Lion Walk, and Tunsgate Quarter. The Friary Guildford is the most popular place for people to shop and has a reputation of being one of the best shopping centres in Surrey. White Lion walk joins North Street from The Friary to the cobbled High Street and offers a number of shops as you walk through. Finally, Tunsgate Quater is a modern shopping centre which offers a number of high-end retailers and restaurants.
Food and drink
Guildford offers a large number of pubs in the area which cater for everyone, whether you’re a fan of local ales, gin, whisky or live music.
Walks, parks and history
You can take a walk down the beautiful Chapel Street and take a look at the Castle which dates back to 1300 or explore a number of parks and walks which Guildford has to offer.
Guildford is home to some of Surrey’s best countryside and a number of parks have been awarded the Green Flag Award, which has been set up to recognise the best parks and green spaces in the country.
Accommodation
A full list of local Guildford hotels can be found on the Guildford hotels site. Of those listed, the following have offered us discounted rates for the CHME Conference:
- Holiday Inn – £139 B&B. You will need to mention that you are attending a conference at the University of Surrey and quote
- Block ID 6798312.
- Harbour Hotel – 10% off their best available rate. The client ID is 7510725 and the link is: Uni of Surrey Arts Bed & Breakfast Rate
- Mandolay Hotel – Can offer a 15% discount on our best available book-direct rates for stays between 9–12 June, including any shoulder nights. View document for full booking information (PDF).
Conference organising committee
Organising committee
Mark Ashton
Conference Chair
Dr Bora Kim
Vice Chair and Track Chair
Dr Lorna Wang
Track Chair
Dr Pablo Pereira Doel
Track Chair
Dr Tracy Xu
Track Chair
Conference administrator
Emma Clear
Conference Administrator