UK: IHM’s Urban Living Festival [ULF] returns for its third edition on 5-6 July 2023 as CEOs, ‘best of breed’ speakers and attendees, sponsors and solution providers come together to collectively share best practice, network, map the industry’s future and do business from right across the travel, hospitality and real estate landscape.
Tickets for the event, which is being held at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, London, are selling fast but remain on sale at this link.
As the region’s only investment and leadership conference for urban innovators at the cutting edge of contemporary hospitality and real estate, Urban Living Festival could not be taking place at a more dynamic, unpredictable or transformative time for the urban living sector.
55 per cent of the world’s population currently resides in an urban area and this is expected to reach 68 per cent by 2050. In 1950, 79 per cent of the UK population lived in cities and by 2030, this is expected to have risen to 92.2 per cent.
Looking ahead, there is significant potential to develop and disrupt the space. 40 per cent of the urban areas required by 2030 are not yet built, and as a result, 85 per cent of investors are expecting to increase or maintain their portfolio allocation towards the ‘living’ sector’ over the next 10 years, according to Investec’s Future Living II report in July 2021.
For those already attending and for those still considering it, here are our six reasons why this year’s Urban Living Festival is not to be missed:
- Unparalleled networking opportunities
Urban Living Festival provides the platform and the opportunity for attendees to connect with like-minded professionals, investors and industry experts who are leading the way in urban innovation, development and investment. The time to build meaningful relationships has the potential to shape one’s career and personal business journey.
At ULF, we bring together professionals to create a vibrant community that spans the entire urban living sector, from short-term rentals to hotels, build-to-rent [BTR], coliving, coworking, student / senior living and much more.
The 2023 drinks reception, sponsored by Vertus and hosted at Feels Like June, TRIBE Hotel, is the perfect place to join us as we conclude Day One of ULF on Wednesday 5 July, enabling you to forge valuable connections that go beyond just networking. Likewise, the post-event drinks on Day Two will round off ULF in style.
Companies participating in / attending ULF include: Abode Worldwide; NewDog PR; Duve; Lowy Group; Candour Properties; Toni K Associates; Cedar Capital Partners; Katten; This Is Fresh; PriceLabs; Canary Wharf Group; Vertus; Huckletree; likeMagic; City of London; IMS; Opago; Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; Roger Lewis; UKAA; Birchgrove; Tristan Capital Partners; res:harmonics; Corporate Housing Factory; Studio Moren; Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Charles Hope Apartments; Montgomery Group; Assa Abloy Group; Your Apartment; Yays Group; Laundryheap; Wifirst; Neil Davies Architects; Real Estate BNP Paribas; Gravity Co-living; AXA Investment Managers; SDDE Smith Group; Antonyslumbers.com; Viridian Apartments; DP9; Mura Living; Vita Group; Integrity International Group; Well Studio Architecture; Lamington Group; Node Living; Fidelity International; Conscious Coliving; Reshape Living; KSL Capital; Legal & General Investment Management; Resicentral; Stay Leva; Yotel, ASK4 LTD, and more.
- Exclusive property tours
One of the unique highlights of Urban Living Festival is always the exclusive property tours on Day One as attendees step into the future of London real estate and get ‘a peek behind the curtain’ into the hottest properties and developments in the heart of the capital.
This year, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the city’s dynamic real estate and hospitality landscape and witness innovation in action on our curated walking tour, taking in some of the best BTR, coliving and hotel properties, including Sailmakers, Canary Wharf, The Collective, Canary Wharf and Tribe Hotel, Canary Wharf.
With limited places on the tours still available, the tours are one of the staples of IHM events and in particular, Urban Living Festival. To ensure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to uncover the future of urban living and delve into the visionary concepts shaping and redefining the urban living segment, contact eme@internationalhospitality.media to request a sign-up form and book your last-minute place.
- Engaging session formats and workshops
Whatever your sector or job title, there is something for everyone seeking out knowledge and inspiration at Urban Living Festival.
The ULF Day Two agenda has been specifically crafted to generate invaluable insights and transform the perspective of everyone present at the event, framed around thought-provoking presentations, enlightening panel discussions and interactive discussions that can shape your wider understanding of the urban living sector.
Leaders from across the travel, hospitality and real estate spectrum will impart their knowledge of the major emerging trends, identify investment opportunities, and highlight strategies for success in an ever-evolving, far-reaching segment. It’s not just about theoretical concepts; it’s about practical advice and real-world experiences that can make a tangible impact on your journey.
ULF is spread across two stages – the main stage downstairs [for panels and workshops] and the mezzanine stage upstairs [for breakout presentations] – meaning that there is always something to tune into and collect precious insights. Some Day Two highlights include:
- 09:45 – 10:30: Revitalising cities – how can cities adapt to societal changes and create more resilient multi-tenure environments? [main stage]
- 11:00 – 11:45: The hospitality/living crossover [main stage]
- 11:45 – 12:30: Investor and developer sentiment and strategy across the living sector [main stage]
- 11:50 – 12:15: Breakout presentation: Future Living Report with Vita Group [mezzanine stage]
- 13:30 and 14:30: Afternoon workshops featuring What does Gen Z want from its accommodation?, Meanwhile space as a neighbourhood regenerator, How data will drive real estate innovation, Pricing strategies for mid-term and flex rentals, and more [main stage]
- Inspiring keynote speakers
ULF brings together industry pioneers and thought leaders who have made their mark in the sector and gives them a platform to deliver captivating keynote speeches, as well as share their personal stories, successes and lessons they have learned along the way.
Curated with an intense focus on collaboration and debate, the festival unites CEOs, ‘best of breed’ speakers and attendees, sponsors and solution providers to collectively share best practice, network, map the industry’s future and do business.
Among the visionaries speaking at ULF this year are: Tony Allen, Nido; Yolande Barnes, Bartlett Real Estate Institute; Honor Barratt, Birchgrove; Markus Feller, likeMagic; Carol Fergus, Fidelity International; Andrew King, Canary Wharf Group; Tony Matharu, Integrity International Group; Dimitris Manikis, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Dominic Sherry, Viridian Apartments & Mura Living; and Dale Smith, SDDE Smith Group.
- Unlock the power of urban living investments
From groundbreaking projects to transformative partnerships, ULF holds the key to elevating your business by presenting an array of investment opportunities in the booming urban living sector.
With entrepreneurs launching pioneering new solutions across the market, many are actively seeking funding and collaborations. Investors will be present at ULF to share their insights and connect with founders, CEOs and other individuals contributing to the growth and development of the burgeoning segment.
The most exciting ventures and urban development prospects will also be on show across the two days so attendees can learn more about new verticals and network with the crème de la crème of the industry.
- Witness the ‘age of convergence’
Changing demographics, as well as social and economic drivers, are fuelling investor decisions across broader Urban Living asset classes. The ‘age of convergence’ blended across hospitality and real estate is happening at pace as we emerge, re-set and focus on the future different.
ULF places the spotlight directly on investment, development, supply, operations, brands, distribution, technology and demand generators, and addresses the wealth of travel, hospitality and real estate asset classes across three distinct strands [STAY, LIVE and WORK] to discover how this convergence is accelerating between each of them:
STAY
- Hotels and serviced apartments
- Aparthotels / extended stay hotels
- Hostels
- Short-term rentals
LIVE
- Coliving
- Build-to-rent [BTR] and student accommodation
- Senior living
WORK
- The future of the office
- Coworking
- Sustainable buildings
- Proptech
Book your tickets now for the 2023 Urban Living Festival on 5-6 July here to ensure you don’t miss out on these exclusive insights. Stay tuned for plenty of post-festival content across our websites [ShortTermRentalz.com, Boutique Hotel News, Serviced Apartment News and Urban Living News] over the coming weeks.
Check out our interviews from ULF 2022 here.
