Hotel Expo Nigeria (HEN) is introducing a Networking Roundtable and a new 10-minute Talk Sessions format as part of efforts to strengthen business partnerships and investment opportunities in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.
The initiatives will feature at the seventh edition of HEN, scheduled for September 28 and 29 at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.
According to the organisers, the Networking Roundtable will bring together hotel owners, investors, hospitality consultants, technology providers, brands and other industry stakeholders for curated business discussions and potential partnerships.
The new 10-minute Talk Sessions will provide industry professionals with a platform to share insights, innovations and practical ideas on developments shaping the hospitality sector.
The organisers said the initiatives were designed to create more opportunities for meaningful engagement among industry players while facilitating business connections and investment in Nigeria’s hospitality market.
The event, themed ‘Unlock, Explore, Build,’ is expected to focus on opportunities within Nigeria’s hospitality ecosystem and ways of converting them into sustainable business growth.
Convener of HEN, Joe Hanson, said the event was moving beyond exhibition and visibility to create opportunities for business transactions and strategic partnerships.
He said: ‘The next phase of HEN is about moving from visibility to value. We want people to leave HEN with more than contacts and conversations; we want them to leave with opportunities, collaborations, partnerships and deals that can change the trajectory of their businesses.’
According to him, the Networking Roundtable is intended to provide a platform where key players can identify areas of mutual interest and develop practical business relationships.
Co-Founder of HEN, Michael Yanai, said the curated format of the roundtable would enable stakeholders to engage more directly and explore areas for collaboration.
The 2026 edition will also replace the traditional panel sessions with ‘Talk Sessions’, under which speakers will have 10 minutes each to present solutions to specific issues affecting the hospitality industry.
The organisers said the format was designed to encourage concise and practical discussions around single ideas and industry challenges.
Speakers expected at the event include Millie Slade, Co-Founder, Jara Beach Resort and Lufasi Lodges; Salome Danjuma, Food, Beverage and Spa Manager, The Wheatbaker Hotel; Toni Ukachukwu, CEO, Aviators Magazine; Moyo Ogunsiende, Group CEO, Club Concierge International and GoTravelCC; Dami Adepoju, Senior Director, Lodging Development, West Africa; and Kofi Abunu, Managing Director and CEO, Food Concepts Plc.
Others are Jide Sipe, President, ACAMB; Dr. Titilayo Fowokan, Principal Consultant, FTE Consulting and Deputy Vice President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W-Hospitality Group; Bruce Prins, author, strategist and hospitality expert; Utibe Bassey, General Manager, Business Development and Strategy, Cruxstone Group; and Onyinye Okonji, CEO, Bedrock Residences.
Since its establishment in 2019, HEN has brought together stakeholders from hospitality, tourism, technology, design, food and beverage, finance and related sectors.
The organisers said the 2026 edition would seek to strengthen those connections by creating more opportunities for commercial engagement and collaboration.
The hospitality industry is undergoing changes driven by evolving consumer expectations, technology and global trends, with HEN 2026 expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss investment, business development and the future direction of the sector.