The hour-long session will start with a presentation by The Future Laboratory, a London-based agency known for trends and incisive forecasting across a number of sectors including luxury and travel.

The trends and more will be assessed and debated by a four-strong panel at the event, moderated by April Hutchinson, editor of ttgluxury.

Leading hoteliers will be on the panel, including Michael Marshall, chief commercial officer of Minor Hotel Group, which is expanding rapidly and includes the luxury brands of Anantara, Per Aquum and Elewana.

He will be joined by Greg Ward, London-based regional vice president of sales for Shangri-La, whose most recent projects include Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa which opens in Mauritius this weekend. Shangri-La is also rolling out a new brand, Hotel Jen.

Another new brand on the panel will be The Small Maldives Island Co, headed up by new CEO & Curator Mark Hehir. The group opened Amilla Fushi this year while a sister property, Finolhu, will open next year. Hehir comes has 30 years’ experience in hospitality including as general manager at One & Only Reethi Rah, Maldives.

The panel also includes Piers Schmidt, founder of Luxury Banding. He founded his boutique luxury consulting firm in 2003 after many years in branding and PR; soon after, he worked with Kerzner International to mastermind the creation and $16 million roll-out of One&Only Resorts and also carried out the rebranding of Naiade Resorts as LUX* Resorts & Hotels.

The session takes place on November 4 (Wednesday) from 15.30–16.30 in South Gallery 19 & 20 (places at the session cannot be booked in advance).