HOTREC General Assembly Programme
We will offer a varied programme during the HOTREC General Assembly in Oslo, including hand-picked activities for delegates and non-delegates alike. Please see the full programme below.
Monday 28 April
18:45 | Assembly | Hotel Bristol Reception
Guests are kindly requested to assemble in the hotel reception by 18:45 for a short, communal walk to the restaurant, where the welcome dinner will take place.
19:00 - 22:00 | Welcome Dinner | Restaurant Høymagasinet
The welcome dinner will be held at the historic Restaurant Høymagasinet, which is situated within Akershus Fortress. Serving as the headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Akershus Fortress is not only a national monument but also a lively urban district.
Restaurant Høymagasinet was designed by architect Christian Herman Malling and completed in 1845. It represents a unique architectural design in Norway, featuring walled timber construction and an intricate geometric framework of beams arranged in a square pattern, with overlapping diagonal squares. The roof structure consists of lightweight wooden beams and steel tension rods, an innovative technique originally developed for the Paris–Versailles railway line
Tuesday 29 April | Morning Sessions | Hotel Bristol Hall
08:30 - 09:00 | Registration and badge collection
Collect your badge at the top of the stairs by the Maud meeting room on the second floor.
09:00 - 09:15 | Opening Words
- Mr. Alexandros Vassilikos, President, HOTREC
- Mr. Morten Thorvaldsen, Vice-President, NHO Reiseliv
09:15 - 09:30 | Keynote Speech
- Mr. Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo
9:30 - 11:00 | Statutory Session
Please see separate agenda
11:00 - 11:30 | Coffee Break
Coffee and refreshments
11:30 - 13:00 | EU Policy Updates: Implications for European Hospitality
- HOTREC Team
13:00 - 14:30 | Networking Lunch & Group Photo
Lunch is served at "Store Festsal" on the 2nd foor.
Group photo at 14:00. Location TBC
Accompanying persons | Social Programme
09:30 Guests are kindly requested to gather in the reception at no later than 09:30, where they will be met by Kristian, the guide. Our guide will accompany the group throughout the journey and the visit
10:00 Transportation to Vigelandsparken will be by tram, allowing participants to travel as local residents do and providing a distinctive local experience.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore the park, renowned for its extensive sculpture installations by Gustav Vigeland.
11:30 Departure from the Vigeland park by tram, to the Munch Museum, accompanied by the guide throughout the journey.
12:00 Lunch will be served at 12:00 at Tolvte, located on the 12th floor of the Munch Museum, with sweeping views over Oslo and the surrounding fjord.
13:00 Guided tour of the Munch Museum. Dedicated to the life and work of Edvard Munch, the museum houses the world’s largest collection of his creations, including the famous Scream.
15:00 Participants will return to the hotel by tram, accompanied by the guide throughout the journey
Tuesday 29 April | Afternoon Sessions | Hotel Bristol Hall
14:30 - 15:30 | Sustainable Hospitality
- Mr. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
15:30 - 16:00 | Coffee Break
Coffee and refreshments
16:00 - 17:00 | Members' Corner
- Tourism Tax & Recruitment Campaign (NHO Reiseliv, Norway)
- Classification System & Environmental Performance (HCH, Greece)
- ESG Tool & Sustainability Requirements (IHA, Germany)
17:00 - 19:00 | Rest and Relax
Unwind and recharge
19:00 - 22.00 | Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony | Hotel Bristol
Delegates and their accompanying persons are cordially invited to attend the HOTREC Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony in the ‘Store Festsal’ at Hotel Bristol.
Wednesday 30 April | Morning Sessions | Hotel Bristol Hall
09:30 - 10:00 | Consumer Trends & Hospitality Market Insights
- Mr. Karl Chessell, Director, CGA by Nielsen IQ
10:00 - 11:00 | Panel Discussion: Gastronomy, Tourism & Sustainability
This session will explore how food and beverage can be a catalyst for both tourism
growth and sustainability, focusing on how local cuisine can elevate destinations,
drive sustainable travel practices, and ultimately create a more responsible and
connected tourism industry.
- Prof. Alessandra Priante, President, Italian National Tourist Board ENIT
- Mr. Arne Sorvig, CEO, Foundation Norway Gastronomy
- Mr. Thor Moller, General Manager, Moët & Hennessy Nordics, LVMH
- Mr. Filip August Bendi, Award-Winning Chef, Bocuse d’Argent 2023
11:00 - 11:30 | Coffee Break
Coffee and refreshments
11:30 - 13:00 | Transforming Hospitality: The Future of AI
- Mr. Espen Rustad, Head of Customer Engineering, Google Cloud Norway
- Ms. Nanna Emilie Collett, Strategic Partnerships Manager, ChromeOS, Google Norway
- Mr. Theodore Moulos, CEO, GrowthRocks Group, AI Academy
13:00 - 14:30 | Closing Lunch and Farewell
Lunch is served at ‘Store Festsal’ on the 2nd floor
Wondering what to pack? See our recommendations for suitable clothing and footware - and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Please note that the programme may be subject to change ahead of the General Assembly.
Practical Information
Oslo is the capital of Norway, and is located in the innermost part of the Oslo Fjord. What to do? What to wear?