Elevate your specifying skills at this pre-conference event. Featuring five expert-led modules on casegoods, flooring, lighting, surfaces, and seating, HDU offers hands-on training, five CEU credits (AIA and IDCEC HSW), a certificate of completion, and early product exploration. Open to Expo Only and Full Conference pass holders. Sponsorship required for exhibitors.

Celebrate industry innovation, leadership, and achievement at HD Expo + Conference’s Women in Design Awards Breakfast, presented by Hospitality Design magazine and NEWH. This inspiring networking event will honor a handful of creative leaders for their impact on the hospitality industry.

New to HD Expo—or flying solo this year? Start here.

This relaxed, small-group gathering is designed to help first-timers and solo attendees get comfortable, get connected, and get the most out of their time at HD Expo. Meet fellow newcomers, connect with members of the HD team, and pick up practical tips on how to plan your days, navigate the expo hall, and make meaningful connections along the way.

Think of it as your inside track to the show—so you can walk in with a plan and leave with new contacts.

Where is hotel development headed — and what does it mean for the design community? In this data-rich session, Bruce Ford, SVP and Director of Global Business Development at Lodging Econometrics, unpacks the latest North America hotel development pipeline across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, giving an on-the-ground view of where the real opportunity lies. From new construction to announced renovations, brand conversions, and sales transactions, Bruce drills into the numbers by market, province, city, franchise company, and brand — while also spotlighting the project types reshaping the industry. With North America's hotel landscape evolving, this session gives you the clearest picture of what's coming — and where to position yourself.

Connect with peers across the hospitality design ecosystem to discuss the procurement process from vision to installation in this small-group discussion. Led by Aine O'Connor of AOC Purchasing, share challenges, discover solutions, and build relationships that help projects run smoothly and efficiently.

Today's consumers don't just want wellness experiences – they expect a seamless, personalized journey that flows effortlessly between hospitality environments and their personal spaces. As technology blurs the lines between travel and home, our panel will explore how design and AI can create adaptive, intelligent environments that recognize and respond to individual health needs. We'll decode the emerging consumer expectation of a unified wellness ecosystem that travels with them, from a smart hotel room to their home sanctuary.

New restaurants and bars deliver more than hospitality. Today, patrons expect immersive environments that offer moments of surprise and emotional connection. Panelists will discuss how to balance spectacle with authenticity and how operational realities inform design choices. They will also touch on the need to incorporate off-premises and convenience-driven options.  The session will offer both big-picture thinking and practical insight into how experiential restaurant design drives brand engagement and creates a strong ROI.