HIP – Horeca Professional Expo, the new trade event dedicated to the hospitality sector, which will debut at BolognaFiere from October 19 to 21, 2026, will bring together managers and leaders from the hotel industry to address the main challenges of a period of significant change. The event will bring together over 10,000 professionals and more than 220 exhibiting brands, while the Hospitality 4.0 Congress will feature over 400 international experts in a program that includes more than 20 summits, 4 auditoriums, and over 120 sessions dedicated to innovation and the transformation of the Horeca world.

Nowadays, the hospitality industry must contend with new traveler behaviors, a growing demand for personalized experiences, technological advancements, and the need to make every area of the facility more efficient and capable of generating value. Within this framework, the Hospitality 4.0 Congress will devote part of its discussions to the evolution of hospitality models, the increasingly strategic role of hotel food and beverage services, and the new challenges related to procurement and supply chain management.

As part of the congress, the Hotel Trends Summit will analyze the evolution of hotel models and the strategies operators can adopt to navigate market changes. The Italian hotel sector is undergoing a major transformation, characterized by pressure on profit margins, the emergence of new hospitality models, and changes in traveler behavior. Tito Livio Mongelli, president of Skal; Domenico De Vanna, founder and CEO of DDV Business Management; Barbara Pardini, Brand Ambassador for Northern and Central Italy at Small Luxury Hotels of the World; and Raffaello Panariello, General Manager of Minor Hotels Europe and Americas, will analyze how more flexible organizational models, experiential tourism, data analytics, and artificial intelligence can help improve profitability, efficiency, and the personalization of the guest experience.

Francesca Torricella, Managing Director of Hotel 21 House of Stories; Claudio Lavagna, CEO of LVG Group; Giovanni Trombetti, president of Federalberghi Bologna; and Stefano Regine, CEO of Hotel Business Magazine, will share experiences and perspectives on the decisions that are transforming the management and positioning of hotels: from guest relations to the ability to attract professionals and talent, to the relationship with cities and local communities.

Gastronomy is also playing an increasingly important role in the choice of a tourist destination or hotel. Federico Menetto, CEO of Carospite; Davide Oldani, chef and owner of Ristorante D’O; Alessandro Pipero, founder of Pipero Roma; and Manfredi Nicolò Maretti, founder of Manfredi Edizioni, will explore how dining and cuisine can provide added value for hotels.

Luca Guerrieri, A.D.A. member and management consultant for Antica Masseria La Corte del Sole in Noto; Carmelina Triunfo, owner of Bouganville Hill Resort & Wellness Space in Picerno; Alessandro Boggio Merlo, president of the Tourism and Culture Section of the Biella Industrial Union; Michele Barbieri, owner of the Hotel Barbieri in Altomonte; and Leandro Ventura, director of the Central Institute for Intangible Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, will highlight the value of heritage, culture, and local products as elements capable of strengthening the identity of establishments and destinations, thereby generating new opportunities for development.

Given the growing importance of gastronomy in the tourism and hospitality sector, the Food & Beverage sector is taking on an increasingly significant role. In this context, the F&B Summit, co-organized with Fabio De Vero, founder of De Vero Consulting, will analyze how this sector is moving beyond its traditional role as a complementary service to the guest experience.

The F&B department has become a strategic lever capable of influencing revenue, profitability, positioning, and the guest experience. Claudio Di Bernardo, F&B Manager and Chef at the Grand Hotel Rimini; Omar Elezab, Regional F&B Director at Ennismore Hotels; María Pia Pinelli, founder of Kalia Consulting; and Fabio De Vero will discuss the skills, processes, and strategies needed to transform F&B into a value-generating function.

Alex Obermair, General Manager of NN Group; Giovanni Avolio, founder of Hospitality qb; and Carlo De Paolis, CEO and founder of Soda, will focus instead on revenue, food costs, labor costs, profit margins, and efficiency.

Supply chain management is another evolving area for the hospitality industry. The ability to select partners, ensure continuity of supply, manage resources, and respond quickly to new market demands is increasingly an integral part of a property’s strategy. The Supply Chain Summit, co-organized with ADACI, will address these topics with Natalia Branda of Branda Vacanze Gruppo Horeca and Donato Gianantoni, president of ADACI’s Emilia-Romagna and Marche chapter.

Ruggero Auteri, commercial director of the Horeca channel at Italian Essse Caffè, and Uberto Marchesi, Co-General Manager of NKG Bero Italia, will also share their perspectives on the coffee industry, delving into how to build resilient supply chains and partnerships capable of safeguarding quality and ensuring continuity in an increasingly complex market.