HEN2026: Hotel Expo Nigeria Sets Agenda for Future of Hospitality

Hotel Expo Nigeria (HEN) is returning to Lagos for its seventh edition with a renewed focus on business, collaboration and strategic partnership across Nigeria and Africa’s hospitality industry.
The premier hospitality event is set to hold at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos on September 28 -29, 2026.

With this year’s theme: “Unlock, Explore, Build,” the organizers are placing emphasis on the opportunities that exist within Nigeria’s hospitality ecosystem and the partnerships required to convert those opportunities into sustainable growth.

HEN has since its establishment in 2019, evolved into a meeting point for professionals and businesses across hospitality, tourism, technology, design, food and beverage, finance and related sectors.

For the organizers, the next stage of HEN’s development is not simply about bringing more people into the exhibition space. It is about creating more intentional opportunities for those people to do business.

This vision has led to the introduction of the HEN Networking Roundtable, a new feature of the 2026 edition designed to facilitate high-level networking, strategic conversations and business engagement among key decision-makers in the hospitality industry.

The convener, Joe Hanson 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, partnership and deals that can change the trajectory of their businesses. ‘Unlock, Explore, Build’ is not just a theme for us – it is a call to action for the industry.”

The HEN Networking Roundtable session – inside the HEN Exhibition – will provide an exclusive setting for hotel owners, hospitality consultants, investors, technology providers, brands and other industry stakeholders to engage in curated conversations.

Co-Founder, Michael Yanai also expressed confidence in the new initiative, noting that the curated nature of the Roundtable will enable stakeholders to engage more directly, identify areas of mutual interest and explore practical opportunities for collaboration.

The HEN 2026 programme will feature a diverse collection of voices from across the hospitality, tourism, business, food and beverage, communications, investment and technology landscape.

There is also an introduction of the “Talk Sessions” which has replaced the regular panel sessions! This new format is characterized by a short, highly engaging presentation centered on a single powerful idea as each speaker will have 10 minutes to proffer solutions on a topic!

Among the speakers are 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 Conceirge International and GoTravelCC; Dami Adepoju, Senior Director, Lodging Development – West Africa; Kofi Abunu, Managing Director and CEO, Food Concepts Plc.

Others expected to speak at this year’s edition are Jide Sipe, President, ACAMB; Dr. Titilayo Fowokan FCA, FCTO, Principal Consultant, FTE Consulting and Deputy Vice President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Trevor Ward, MD, W-Hospitality Group; Bruce Prins, Author, Strategist and Hospitality Expert; Utibe Bassey, GM, Business Development and Strategy, Cruxstone Group; and Onyinye Okonji, CEO, Bedrock Residences.

As the hospitality sector worth over $1.5 Billion continues to evolve in response to changing customer expectations and global trends, HEN 2026 is positioning itself as a platform for the industry to examine where it is today and where it needs to go next.