Sleep & Eat, Europe’s design and innovation event for the hospitality sector, returns on 19th – 20th November. With the theme for 2019 of “Social FlexAbility”, the show will be exploring one of the most challenging issues of our technology-enabled age through Sleep & Eat Sets – concept guestrooms, restaurant and bar – and the Sleep & Eat Conference. As in previous years, the event will also feature an international exhibition, bringing back world-renowned manufacturers and introducing newcomers to launch their latest collections and showcase their most design-led products. Visitors can also expect a range of experiential spaces tapping into art, innovation and young design talent.

“With the rise of electronic and social media, people are starting to disconnect from each other both by accident and choice. In the future, designers will be in the vanguard of combatting this social interactional shift by providing hospitality guests the opportunity to reconnect with others in-person and, indeed, to re-connect with themselves. The challenge for hospitality designers will be to provide flexible spaces where users can activate the social experience of their choice. This year, we will be asking our design collaborators to share their vision on how this might become reality in a hospitality setting.”

Mark Gordon, Brand Director, Sleep & Eat

The Sleep & Eat Conference

This year, the event’s previously separate conference streams are being merged into one Sleep & Eat Conference, curated by Heleri Rande.

“Bringing the Sleep and Eat theatres together will capitalise on the synergies between them. They should be complementary and together assist in generating greater revenue. The entire hospitality scene is on the move and we have an exciting opportunity to bring this to life on stage through our keynotes and panel discussions.”

Heleri Rande, Conference Curator

The Sleeper Bar

The pop-up Sleeper Bar is to be created this year by Michaelis Boyd, the London and New York based architecture studio recognised for its sophisticated, design-led approach and emphasis on sustainable and environmentally conscious materials and building techniques.

“We are both really looking forward to designing the Sleeper Bar. On our previous visits to Sleep & Eat we have been very impressed by the strength of the designs and the themes and we are excited to be adding our own spin this year. The theme of FlexAbility means we will be designing a dynamic and social hub for all this year’s visitors.”

Alex Michaelis and Tim Boyd, founders of Michaelis Boyd

From left to right: Alex Michaelis & Tim Boyd, image by Ed Reeve

Last year saw the introduction of ‘Eat’ to the acclaimed Sleep event, adding a further raft of hospitality industry influencers, entrepreneurs and global brands. The show welcomed a record number of designers and buyers from across the hospitality sector, including an increase of 24% in international visitors. Sleep & Eat 2019 returns to the National Hall, Olympia London, on 19th-20th November. Register for a complimentary pass now athttps://www.sleepandeatevent.com/visit/register-your-interest.