A new kind of festival for the meetings and events industry is coming to Leeds this spring as Hospitality Live prepares to launch at the Royal Armouries on Monday 20th April 2026. Moving away from the rigid structure of traditional trade shows, the one-day event is designed to feel “refreshingly human,” replacing standard exhibition stands with relaxed meeting spaces and curated networking.
The event is being organised by a team of local industry experts, including Wayne Topley, Managing Director of Cedar Court Hotels and Chairman of the Leeds Hotels & Venues Association, alongside Paula Kelsey of Cloud9 Events Agency and the team at the Royal Armouries. Key sponsors include Punch Hospitality, Famtastic, and the Leeds Hotels and Venues Association, which represents 25 hotel partners and 35 meeting industry suppliers.
Wayne Topley, Chairman of the LHVA, said: “I am thrilled to be collaborating with passionate industry experts to organise the inaugural Hospitality Live event. With this new approach, we have taken away the formalities and rigid structure of a traditional trade show with the aim of providing opportunities for delegates to create genuine new connections. Hospitality Live is proof that with collaboration and teamwork, we can make a meaningful impact on the industry.”
The festival will feature keynote speakers and practical, bite-sized live sessions starting from 12pm. At 6pm, the atmosphere will shift into an evening celebration with drinks, music, and informal networking designed to keep the energy high.
Beyond business connections, the event is also committed to a social legacy through a partnership with Zarach, a charity dedicated to ending child bed poverty. In an innovative donation programme, exhibitors can choose to include a brand-new bed as part of their showcase, which will then be donated to a family in need.
A spokesperson for Zarach said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Hospitality Live for their partnership and desire to create change for the children and families we support. Their donation of 25 beds and mattresses will have an immediate impact on the children receiving them, both in the practical and short term, while also supporting better sleep, improved wellbeing, and the foundations for long-term educational engagement and opportunity.”
Free delegate tickets are currently available online for event bookers, agencies, and hospitality professionals looking for a more engaging way to connect with the industry.
