New speakers join Restaurant Marketer & Innovator 2026 line-up – open for bookings: New speakers have joined the line-up for Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, which is returning for its eighth edition, and tickets are now on sale. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 20 and 21 January at Hilton Bankside in London. A bigger venue allows for a dual-stage format, meaning more content than ever before. The conference will focus on technology, marcomms strategies, proposition, brand building, the latest market insights, digital developments and diversification of revenue streams. It is designed for customer focused chief executives, senior marketers, technology and innovation teams, as well as investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. A one-day ticket for operators is £320 plus VAT while a two-day ticket is £575 plus VAT. Supplier tickets are £950 plus VAT for the two days. Propel Premium Club subscribers receive a 20% discount. To book, email: rmi@propelinfo.com. The line-up includes: 

Day One: Romy Miller, chief marketing officer at Knoops, sharing how the brand carved out a new category in the crowded drinks space; Charlotte Mair, founder and managing director at The Fitting Room, talking to Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho, about guiding the brand from just three sites to 50; Fleet Street Communications chief executive Mark Stretton in conversation with Dishoom co-founder Kavi Thakrar about what drives the brand; Russell Danks, managing director at Laine Pub Co, exploring how the group built a brand strategy designed around Generation Z; David Tester, head of marketing at Franco Manca, being joined by George Lamb, co-founder of Wildfarmed, to share how simplicity guides their new product development strategy and partnership; James Mobbs sharing the findings of a survey of chief executives and managing directors about how boards view growth, what they expect from marketing and where confidence truly sits followed by a conversation with industry leaders on proving impact, earning influence and aligning with board priorities featuring Emma Dinnis, chief executive of Côte Brasserie, Éadaoin McDonagh, chief operating officer of White Rabbit Projects, Laura Irving, managing director at JKS Restaurants, and Lucy Worth, chief executive of Mowgli; Maria Vanifatova, chief executive and founder of Meaningful Vision, sharing what the latest data reveals about how hospitality brands are shaping perceptions of value, adjusting pricing strategies, and designing promotions; Sugar Snap’s Jordan Graham talking to Paul Catterson, director at Orto Pizza, Sam Shephard, founder at Juice Jar, and Peter Coleman, co-founder of Seed, about how they built distinctive concepts and scaled them into multi-site brands – all while cultivating organic community; Rory Graham, marketing and brand director at Incipio Group, sharing how the company is set to transform the £1.3bn Olympia London redevelopment with five bold new venues; Marie Guenot, marketing director at Aqua Restaurant Group, marking the brand’s 25th anniversary by sharing how its content has evolved; Jayson Perfect, chief operating officer at Butcombe, exploring how the business is redefining the traditional pub model; Michael Radley, chief executive of Joli, exploring how hospitality brands can use creators as extensions of lean marketing teams; Matt Jaggar, head of marketing, and Ken Umasanthiram, head of food at Brakspear, sharing how it has woven experience insight into its strategy; Evie Horsell, head of communication and marketing UK at Big Mamma Group, revealing how the team is rewriting the rulebook on restaurant launches; Katy Moses, managing director at KAM, unpacking new research showing how diet drugs will impact eating, drinking and socialising; Mark Bentley, business development director at HDI, breaking down who is outperforming in hospitality and who is under pressure, and what is driving those shifts; Heleri Rande, partner at Think Hospitality, talking to Chris Miller, founder at White Rabbit Projects, Loui Blake, co-founder at Long Lane, and Nicci Clarke, marketing director at Sodexo Live, about how well-being is influencing the future of hospitality; Anthony Knight speaking to Tom Kidd, founder of SetList, about creating a riverside bar that is more than a venue — it is a platform for collaboration; Laura Lewis, marketing director at Arc Inspirations, revealing how The Box has grown from student nights in Leeds to a nationwide sports bar powerhouse; and Michael Ingemann, partner at Think Hospitality, in conversation with Charlie Gilkes, chief executive and co-founder at Inception Group, and Adam Blackwood, founder and creative director at Private Drama Events, about thriving in a space where experience drives loyalty. 

Day Two: Michelle Farrell, chief growth officer at Boxpark, sharing how the brand is evolving beyond its food halls; Carey Benn, chief executive of Guestwise, talking to Naddy Onions, marketing director at Prezzo Italian, James Metcalfe, sales and marketing director at Urban Pubs & Bars, and Ewa Turney, senior product lead at Mitchells & Butlers, about how marketing technology can transform guest retention and drive growth. They will explore how omni-channel marketing, loyalty, real time personalisation, guest insights, advocacy and artificial intelligence are contributing to outstanding business performance year on year; Boxcar co-founder Ankur Wishart sharing how it is building a multi-faceted collection under one brand; The Alchemist head of marketing Aaron Morgan and head of IT, Paul Jones, sharing how the brand transformed its website from a simple booking tool into a seamless digital extension of the guest experience; Megan Trimble, marketing director at Bella Italia, sharing how the brand has pivoted from a discount-led operator to one driven by experience, exclusives and innovation; Laura Plum, marketing and communications director at St Austell Brewery, revealing the process behind reimagining a heritage brand; Deborah Jones, senior client success manager at Proinsight, speaking to Michael Farquhar, chief operating officer at ETM Group, about the career lessons that have shaped his leadership and the impact of ETM’s Hospitality Heroes programme; Richard Tallboy in conversation with Kat Schofield, sales and marketing director at Parogon Group, Holly Hilton, marketing director at Market Place UK, and Ria Pattni, director of marketing at JKS Restaurants, about how their businesses are using data to personalise experiences, drive repeat visits and create loyalty that lasts; Madeleine Smith, marketing director at Various Eateries, sharing her approach to defining a marketing ecosystem that drives alignment, maximises stakeholder buy-in and prepares for the future; Nick Goldstein, co-founder at SushiDog, Tasos Gaitanos, co-founder at Brother Marcus, Alex Large, co-founder at Brother Marcus, and Tommy Giraux, head of restaurant systems at Honest Burgers, lifting the lid on their evolving tech stacks – what’s worked, what’s broken under pressure, and what’s still on the wish list; Joe Comiskey, digital director at Stonegate Group, sharing how the business is uniting digital and technology functions to unlock the full value of guest, operational and commercial data; Markus Thesleff, founder of Thesleff Group, sharing the story behind building and scaling a portfolio of distinctive restaurants; Alexis Melikov, chief executive of Tigermilk, sharing the story of bringing the brand from Paris and Brussels to London; Tessa Graham, group marketing director at Tashas Group, revealing how the company has built a portfolio of global hospitality brands; Cow & Sow founder Mark Warburton and fractional marketing director Alan Armstrong revealing how the business is driving growth through commercial and marketing partnerships; Olivia Fitzgerald, managing director at 125 Data & Insights, speaking with Tom James, managing director at Bill’s, about how it became the first hospitality brand to invite its customers quite literally “into the boardroom”; and Heleri Rande, partner at Think Hospitality, talking to Afroditi Krassa, founding director of Aforditi, Bob Conwell, managing director at Mr Lyan Studio, and Martin Morales, chief executive of the Institute of Imagination, about bold strategies to spark true innovation, craft distinctive identities, outpace the copycats and create space where imagination thrives. 

Event co-founder James Hacon said: “This year we're shaking things up with a greater focus on concept development and technology. A new (and bigger) venue, plus a dual-stage format gives us space to explore a broader range of topics and formats: from in-depth interviews to roundtables.” Propel managing director Paul Charity added: “Technology and marketing are at the heart of this sector – this event will be bigger than ever before to focus on these subjects.”