Sleep, which is recognisable around the world as Europe’s leading and uniquely curated hotel design and development event, has announced the next stage in its evolution. This year, it becomes Sleep + Eat, reflecting the growing interdependence of restaurants, bars and hotels in creating the full hospitality experience.
The event will also be relocating to the National Hall in Olympia, enhancing the visitor experience thanks to the hall’s accessible, open-plan environment.
Reflecting this year’s theme of “Recognisable and New”, the event will, as in previous shows, comprise an international exhibition, the Sleep conference, the round table opportunity to meet industry leaders, and Sleep Set – the avantgarde concept room installations. The ‘New’ comes in the exciting form of an Eat conference and three Eat Sets, anticipated to bring an additional level of drama and visitor engagement. The theme is also reflected by this year’s exhibitor mix with 70 per cent of returning exhibitors and 30 per cent of new suppliers coming from across Europe as well as further afield.
Gemma Allman, MD of Decca London explains the enduring appeal of being an exhibitor: “Decca has participated in Sleep regularly in the past and enjoyed catching up with new and old customers. This year, we are looking forward to creating a vignette of our previous luxury hotel work, plus introducing a new collection of cool and hip furniture.”
Other names returning this year include Grohe, THG Paris, Chelsom, Hansgrohe, Ligne Roset, Style Library Contract, Camira Fabrics and Contardi Lighting. Amongst the new exhibitors preparing to participate are Ceramiche Atlas Concorde, Poggenpohl UK, Corian Design, Jacaranda Curtains and Rugs, Salto Systems and TUUCI.
Acclaimed for delivering challenging, original and layered installations, the Sleep Sets this November will explore the outer reaches of brand defining hotel design, created by architects and designers who have partnered with a diverse collection of non-hotel brands: Yasmine Mahmoudieh with Penguin Modern Classics, Denton Corker Marshall with West Ham Football Club, HBA London with The Natural History Museum and AB Concepts with Pierre Hermé Paris.
The Eat Set installations will include ECHO Architecture’s take on multisensory dining, 3Stories’ disruptive version of the traditional British caff, and Shalini Misra’s night club which will explore what happens when interior design, technology and club culture converge.
The Sleeper Bar promises to be another highlight since it is the turn of CRÈME/Jun Aizaki Architecture to explore iconoclastic design. Jun Aizaki says: “At a time that we see boutique brands building up a presence on both sides of the pond, our design for the Sleeper Bar emphasises the growing trend for connecting the recognisable and the new; the traditional and the progressive, the native and the international.”
The inaugural Eat Conference, will be debating the latest trends and predicting what is to come in the design and experience-led bar and restaurant sector, while the Sleep Conference will bring its powerful mix of hotel industry influencers, thought-provoking content and topical issues which have made it the only conference of its kind in Europe.
Sleep + Eat
20 – 21 November
Olympia, London
