Shaping Excellence Through Connection was the powerful theme behind conneX 2026 — the Venues of Excellence (VOE) Annual Conference — hosted at the stunning Horwood House Hotel & Spa. The two-day flagship event brought together more than 150 senior hospitality leaders, venue professionals and trusted industry partners for an inspiring programme of insight, innovation and meaningful connection.
Sponsored by MEWS, conneX 2026 reaffirmed Venues of Excellence’s position as the hospitality industry’s leading consortium for independent, high-performing venues. Delegates experienced a future-focused conference designed to spark ideas, challenge thinking and strengthen the relationships that drive excellence across the sector.
Across two immersive days, the conference created a truly collaborative environment, encouraging members to connect, share knowledge and grow together. From thought-provoking keynote sessions and emerging industry trends to world-class speakers and practical, take-home insights, the programme struck the perfect balance between inspiration and action. True to its theme, connection sat at the very heart of the event — fostering open conversation, peer learning and powerful networking opportunities that will continue long after the conference concluded.
From the outset, detailed conference planning took place in close collaboration with host venue Horwood House Hotel & Spa, focusing on how the venue could showcase its unique offering while demonstrating excellence across every aspect of its operation.
Caroline Morrone, General Manager, Horwood House Hotel & Spa, commented: “Horwood House was delighted to host the 2026 Venues of Excellence Annual Conference and to showcase our venue’s unique offering. Set within 38 acres of Buckinghamshire countryside, our versatile indoor and outdoor spaces provide the perfect setting for events throughout the year.
We were especially proud to showcase our ‘Package with Purpose,’ which allows guests to support local charities while enjoying a distinctive and characterful event experience. This reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and giving back to the community and offered a wonderful introduction to the values we live by at Horwood House.
It was a real honour not only to be part of Venues of Excellence, but to be chosen as host of their Annual Conference. We truly value the partnerships we build here and are grateful for the connections formed over such a busy and inspiring two days.”
Horwood House owner Karim Kassam also took to the stage, sharing thoughtful reflections on the venue’s ‘Journey So Far,’ alongside a line-up of industry leaders who delivered insight and inspiration throughout the programme. “It is a real honour not only to be part of Venue of Excellence but also to be chosen as the host of their Annual Conference. We truly value the partnerships we build here at Horwood House and are grateful for the connections formed over such a busy and inspiring two days.”
Opening the conference, Stewart Elsmore, Chairman of Venues of Excellence, welcomed delegates and reflected on VOE’s transformational year in 2025. He highlighted how members, partners and the VOE team embraced evolution with passion and purpose — proving that when collaboration thrives, extraordinary outcomes follow.
“VOE is not just growing — we are shaping the future of independent venues together. Venues of Excellence is more than a consortium; it is a community built on quality, innovation and shared ambition.”
Mandy Jennings, Owner and CEO, Venues of Excellence
Mandy announced 4 new members who are joining the Venues of Excellence membership in 2026 – The Milner Hotel in York, The Eastside Rooms in central Birmingham and the prestigious Eton College and Dorney Lake, all adding to the diverse and high-quality collection of venues.
Sharing membership updates, Stewart Elsmore, Chair of the Advisory Board, commented: “The number of member venues represented at the conference was incredible, including new members Drayton Manor Resort, Prestwold Hall, Wotton House, Doncaster Racecourse, Uttoxeter Racecourse and The Royal Armouries who joined in 2025.”
A strong keynote line-up ensured delegates were energised and empowered throughout the conference.
Taz Thornton delivered “Unleash Your Awesome” as the first speaker of the day giving everyone a huge positive spirit for the day, and Adie Saunders captivated the audience with “The Imposter in the Room” giving amazing tips for the leaders to use in their business and life. Bonita Norris closed the keynote programme with an incredibly motivating keynote “Climbing the Mountains of Your Mind” and left the audience with a great piece of advice which really resonated in the room! “Be great. Make others great.”
Complementing these sessions was a diverse programme of expert-led workshops covering topics including AI and Cyber Security, Data-Driven Decision Making, Culture in the Kitchen, The Meeting Room of the Future, and Revealing Customer Insights— all providing practical insights delegates could take back to their venues.
A standout VIP Panel Discussion, featuring senior leaders from MIA, IACC, BEAM and VOE, generated significant discussion around the challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry. Stuart Websdale, Domestic Bursar, Jesus College Cambridge, commented: “Having IACC, MIA, VOE and BEAM all on stage together highlighted that this is THE industry conference to attend.”
Peer-to-peer networking remained a cornerstone of the event. Between sessions, delegates connected with colleagues and engaged with 17 exhibitors, showcasing a wide range of products and services supporting the hospitality sector. These included conference key sponsor MEWS and VOE Premium Partners View It 360 / Proposal 360 owner Noel Sexton, a long-standing VOE partner, commented: “Another amazing conference by the VOE team. A fantastic number of stunning venues from across the UK and a brilliant opportunity for us as a premium partner to network and showcase our services. Having already received three new enquiries, it really couldn’t have gone any better.”
The conference concluded with a gala dinner and the Venues of Excellence Annual Awards, celebrating outstanding achievement across the network. The 2026 award winners were:
- Referral Team of the Year – NTU Events & Conferencing
- Rising Star: Emerging Talent – Tori Hodges, Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
- Business Development Lead Referral 2025 – Fran Minali, Venue Cranfield
- BVA- BDRC /IPSOS Mystery Shopper – Venues of Excellence – Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre
- VOE Sales Ambassador of the Year – Karen Johnson, Alton Towers Resort
- VX Find Customer Service Excellence – Wotton House Hotel Team
- Outstanding Contribution to Venues of Excellence – Stewart Elsmore, Venue Cranfield
As part of our commitment to community engagement, Venues of Excellence is proud to make a donation to CRISIS UK, the chosen charity partner of Horwood House Hotel in recognition of this annual event.
Reflecting on the event, Mandy Jennings, Owner and CEO of Venues of Excellence, said: “conneX 2026 was not just a conference — it was a statement of intent for the future of independent venues: stronger together, driven by collaboration, and united by excellence.”
Delegates left informed, energised and motivated, equipped with fresh perspectives and renewed confidence to lead their venues forward in an ever-evolving hospitality landscape. There was overwhelmingly positive feedback — praising the quality of content, organisation and opportunity to strengthen relationships — confirmed conneX 2026 as yet another outstanding success for Venues of Excellence. In the words of one of our guest delegates, Richard Bantock, Groups Sales Account Director, Dalata Hotels: “Thank you so much for delivering what I can certainly say was the best business conference of my career!
