Hostys Connect goes beyond the project

It’s written “Hostys”, it’s pronounced “total contract”: this is the essence of the latest edition of Hostys Connect which took place from 25 to 27 November in Sintra, not far from Lisbon, at the breathtaking Penha Longa Resort owned by Ritz Carlton

Qualified suppliers from the hospitality industry and high-end residential, as well as select buyers animated an intense two days of meetings that focused on products, projects, and opportunities in the world of hotel contracting. The increasing quality of buyers (it isn’t merely the name of the studio that counts, but also the participant’s level of qualification, which here is always high) combined with a parterre of skilled suppliers made it possible to create an amalgam that – according to everyone – can be summed up with one word: satisfaction.

The community of companies that operate in the hotel industry (and in contracting in general) is increasingly made up of medium-small, small, and sometimes very small entities that can provide elegant specialisations, are (despite their size) equipped to handle large demands, are flexible, and respond in real time. The essence of all of this was present at Hostys.

Hostys Connect 2018
Hostys Connect 2018

The two organisers, Yumna Chabrol and Jenny Bachelot, must be commended for raising the bar of quality in the selection of suppliers each year. Merely paying a fee is not enough to be granted access to the B2B networking opportunities. Participants must show that they know how to provide concrete, clear, and rapid answers.
A year of hard work that boils down to 72 hours, where nothing can go wrong and where it is also necessary to be ready for any last-minute surprises. Knowledge, a sense of organisation, energy (a bit of resilience doesn’t hurt either), and clear ideas and intentions represent the teachings that Yumna and Jenny have transmitted, since the Rome 2017 edition, to those who pay to attend.

Hostys Connect 2018
Hostys Connect 2018

The same principle applies to the choice of buyers: the right balance between interior designers (who naturally were in the majority), procurement experts, hotel chains, and managers of private hotels made it possible to offer suppliers a wide selection of varied and balanced appointments. But that’s not enough: already last year, in the Berlin edition, the presence of financial experts from the sector made an interesting initial impression and left attendees with lots to think about.

Hostys Connect 2018
Hostys Connect 2018

This year there was a higher number of guests from this sector, with issues that varied among them, thus making it possible to “train”  participants in sometimes new, or frequently little known, topics. At the panel which took place on Tuesday morning, there was such an excellent assortment of guests that they represented the perfect supply chain: there was a family estate manager, a developer, and an expert in asset management.
To summarise, the developer sees an opportunity, he approaches those with the budget and together they meet with the assets expert who determines if the project is feasible or not, if it will be profitable, and in how long. It is easy to see how complex and interesting the journey from maybe to yes is.
This brought great added value to Hostys Connect: a pre-planning stage, which all individuals working in the sector must be aware of, was condensed into one hour.

Hostys Connect 2018
Hostys Connect 2018

Next year Hostys Connect will be held in Barcellona, from 24 to 26 November, and the bar will certainly be raised even higher in terms of challenges (which are transformed into opportunities).