Celebrating independent hospitality across Dorset and the South West. Martin's Bar & Restaurant, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport. Free to attend.
XP Hospitality Dorset takes place at Martin’s Bar & Restaurant, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport, on Tuesday 13th October 2026, a day built around the people shaping independent hospitality across Dorset and the South West.
Five speakers from hospitality tech, guest experience, digital marketing, engineering culture and direct bookings share what’s actually working (and what isn’t) for independent operators right now, plus a few surprises on the day.
A collection for Shelter takes place on the day.
Kimberley is Global Sales Director at TigerTMS, leading global sales strategy, go-to-market and product development. A self-described “serial solution seller” and regular industry panellist, she’s sharing where tools like mobile check-in and guest messaging are actually earning their place for independent operators, and where the hype outpaces the benefit.
TigerTMS is AI-first hospitality technology running 10,000+ hotels and cruise ships worldwide for 40+ years, covering guest communications, guest management and BYOD solutions.
Trusted by: Marriott · IHG · Hilton · Hyatt · Four Seasons · Virgin Voyages · Princess Cruises
With over 20 years in marketing, Laurence has grown from New Business Director to Managing Director at Bright Blue Day across 16 years. A self-described “human-first thinker,” he’ll talk through the small, specific moments that shape how a guest feels about a stay, and how independent operators can start improving them from Monday morning, budget or no budget.
Bright Blue Day is a Bournemouth guest experience consultancy, working with independent hospitality businesses on the moments that shape how a guest feels about a stay.
Trusted by: Visa · HP · Zurich · RNLI · Silverstone · Waterside Holiday Group
Dr Elvira’s research looks at the human side of digital marketing, why people trust, follow and get pulled in by brands and influencers online, and what happens when that trust breaks down. With published work on trust repair after brand failures, shifting power between leaders and followers on social media, and problematic attachment to social platforms, work that feeds into media commentary and public policy as much as academic journals. She’s bringing that wider lens to the day, the psychology behind why some storytelling earns real trust and other content just adds to the noise, and what that means for independent operators trying to build genuine connection with guests.
Elvira is Associate Professor in Digital Marketing at Bournemouth University Business School, where she leads marketing programmes and accreditations and supervises doctoral research into digital behaviour and technology adoption.
Tom is an award-winning digital marketer with 15+ years leading activation teams, including as Global Programmatic Lead at WPP Media and Director of Programmatic & Paid Social at OMD EMEA. His session cuts straight to it, what’s actually working and what isn’t in independent hospitality’s digital marketing, and where the quick wins are hiding for operators without a marketing team behind them.
Upperdog is a Bournemouth agency working across web design, development, branding and paid media, with a particular focus on hospitality and leisure businesses across Dorset and the South West.
Trusted by: Google Premier Partner · Meta Business Partner · BMW Motorrad · Toolstation · Hallmark Care Homes · Unity Leisure
Jon spent over six years at Hoseasons sourcing and securing new parks for its portfolio, then moved into Property Director at myholidayparks, running its holiday home sales and rental portfolios, and Commercial Director at Liv Lodges. He’ll talk direct bookings versus OTA dependency, and what it takes to build a large-scale independent operation that owns its guest relationships instead of borrowing them from a booking platform.
Travel Chapter is one of the UK’s largest self-catering and holiday cottage booking agencies, working with independent owners across the South West to manage bookings, guest relationships and revenue.
Travel Chapter: 30+ years trading · Certified B Corp since 2024 · founded 1989
Arrive from 9:15 AM, day begins at 10:00 AM. We should wrap up the talks by 2:30 PM, with time to explore the park and stunning location throughout.
XP Hospitality Dorset is for independent hospitality operators across Dorset and the South West, holiday parks, hotels, pubs with rooms, glamping and short-stay accommodation, and the suppliers who work alongside them.
It happens on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at Martin’s Bar & Restaurant, Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport.
Arrive from 9:15am, doors open at 10:00am, and talks wrap by 2:30pm, with time afterwards to explore the park and the location.
Travelling any distance? A few options nearby:
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