- Hospitality Exchange 2026 took place from 13 to 14 October at Crowne Plaza Belfast
- Around 700 industry leaders attended
- NI’s hotel sector surpassed 10,100 active hotel bedrooms
- Occupancy rates flattened from 71.9pc to around 70pc
- Friendliness remains the sector’s most defensible competitive advantage
The Hospitality Exchange conference organised by the NI Hotels Federation took place from 13 to 14 October 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Belfast. The event brought together around 700 industry leaders hoteliers and policymakers focusing on leadership innovation and the future of hospitality.
NI’s hotel sector has surpassed 10,100 active hotel bedrooms with roughly 600 more bedrooms under construction to open by the end of 2027. Occupancy rates flattened from 71.9pc in 2025 to around 70pc in 2026 while the industry sells 1,000 additional bedrooms every week.
Technology and automation took centre stage with guidance on how operators must adapt to data-driven discovery. AI visibility expert Adam Hamadache explored how artificial intelligence shapes online search recommendations. Travel journalist Pól Ó Conghaile emphasised that friendliness and human hospitality remain the sector’s most defensible competitive advantages.
