The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) has added a new slate of sessions to its INSPIRE 2026 conference, scheduled for December 15–17 at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Orlando. The expanded agenda reflects where luxury hospitality operators are focusing strategic attention heading into 2027: artificial intelligence adoption at scale, wellness as a clinical discipline, and human connection as a measurable competitive differentiator.
AI's Real ROI
One of the most operator-relevant additions is "AI at Scale: Building the Business Case for Hospitality," a session designed to cut through hype and assess where AI is actually delivering returns. Rodney Linville, Global Head of Information Technology at Nobu Hospitality, and Shane O'Flaherty, Global Director of Travel, Transportation and Hospitality at Microsoft, will join Neha Jaitpal, Global General Manager of Honeywell's Hospitality Vertical, for a candid discussion on moving AI deployments from pilot programs to full operational scale. ILHA President Barak Hirschowitz will moderate. A separate session led by Encore's Vice President of Internet Services, Alex Wedesky, will address what smarter connectivity demands mean specifically for high-stakes luxury events — a practical concern for properties investing in premium meeting and event infrastructure.
Connection and Wellness Take Center Stage
Beyond technology, INSPIRE 2026 is dedicating significant programming to the softer — but increasingly revenue-linked — dimensions of the luxury guest experience. Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality, will join Phil Keb, Senior Advisor of Global Capital Investments and Transactions at IHG Hotels & Resorts, to examine how rising social disconnection could represent a structural opportunity for hospitality brands. "The greatest luxury may simply be time together," Mullins said. "In a world that has never been more connected, people are craving real connection. Our opportunity in hospitality is to create the places, experiences and culture that make that connection possible." Keb framed the business imperative plainly: "Guests today aren't just booking a room, they're searching for a sense of belonging. The brands that understand this — that build genuine human connection into every touchpoint — are the ones that will define luxury hospitality's next chapter."
A dedicated wellness session, "The Science of Prevention, Performance and Longevity in Luxury Wellness," will feature Patrick Huey of Hyatt, Alena Stavnjak of Starwood Hotels, and Karlie Intlekofer, Global Research Scientist at Matrix. The panel reflects the broader industry shift toward evidence-based wellness programming — a trend with direct implications for food and beverage menus, spa concepts, and resort amenity design. For operators tracking how luxury wellness programming intersects with hospitality F&B strategy, this session offers rare cross-functional visibility.
The conference will also include a session on centering guest experience within hotel strategy, with executives from Marriott International, Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, and The Boca Raton, as well as a fireside chat featuring Tina Edmundson, President of Luxury at Marriott International, and Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and Caribbean — two voices with direct influence over how luxury food, beverage, and hospitality experiences are conceived and packaged at scale. Operators and developers tracking premium hospitality investment and brand strategy will find the multi-day agenda unusually dense with decision-makers.
Registration for INSPIRE 2026 is open at ilha.org/inspire.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
