SPEAKERS
We have only the finest speakers at HOSPACE and this year is no exception. See our full list of speakers here - remember to check back regularly for updates
CHRIS UPTON
Chairman, HOSPA
Chris Upton is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in senior financial positions in the hospitality sector for over 20 years. He has been finance director of many hotels, pubs and restaurant groups. Before that, he held senior positions in finance and IT at several commodity trading companies.
He was Finance Director of Arcadian International plc – during which time the company developed a group of four-star country house hotels, started the Malmaison group and renovated the Great Eastern Hotel in the City of London. He was a founder and nonexecutive director of Pod Food; and cofounded Snoozebox Plc, an innovative portable hotel concept. In addition, he is currently non-executive director of a London hotel company and runs a consultancy practice, C U Associates Ltd, specialising in hospitality. He was appointed to the then BAHA Council in 2007 and served as Deputy Chairman until his appointment as HOSPA Chairman September 2014.
HARRY MURRAY
President - HOSPA/Chairman, Lucknam Park
Distinguished hotelier and Master Innholder, Harry Murray MBE, President of HOSPA, as it enters a key period for attracting British talent into the hospitality industry.
Harry, who is the chairman of Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa, has worked in the hospitality industry for over 60 years and has been recognised with numerous awards for his tireless efforts to raise standards of excellence. His awards include Hotelier of the Year, Catey Lifetime Achievement Award and an MBE for services to the hospitality industry. In July this year he was the recipient of an Honorary Degree of Doctor to the University of Essex following his valued contribution to The Edge Hotel School, the UK’s first hotel school.
JANE PENDLEBURY
CEO - HOSPA
Jane Pendlebury is CEO of HOSPA, the Hospitality Professionals Association. Kickstarting her career with a degree in hotel management, Jane worked with De Vere Hotels, the independently owned Castle Hotel in Taunton and then as an agency conference planner.
Following a move to London, Jane spent many years assisting hotels with their technology decisions on Property Management, Point of Sale and Revenue Management ending up as VP and General Manager of Agilysys in Europe. Her relationship with HOSPA was first as a sponsor and member, then after volunteering her time assisting with the annual conference HOSPACE, she was taken on to run the membership and events office, finally being promoted to CEO in early 2016.