Sessions #7 sees us set our controls for the heart of the sun, and our sights on the magical, mystical island of Ibiza.

Our programme explores a wide range of new frontiers in global hospitality design, peering through the lens of this endlessly evolving, exciting and engaging destination to see what the future holds in areas such as art and sculpture, agritourism and regenerative farming, wellness and mindfulness, hotel architecture and design, not forgetting the beach clubs and nightlife for which Ibiza is renowned.

The event will take place at Ibiza Congress Centre, while our host hotel Melia Ibiza is a newly refurbished property in Santa Eulalia, offering sublime views over Dalt Villa and the Mediterranean Sea from its pool deck.

As always, our SYNC meetings programme is at the heart of the event, with one-to-one scheduled appointments between specifiers and suppliers taking place in the light filled spaces of the congress centre’s upper level.

Our opening SYMPOSIA session is a keynote address from artist and designer Jaime Hayon. Internationally acclaimed for his distinct aesthetic universe and multifaceted, multimedia approach across products, interiors, sculpture, painting and installations, his talk, entitled ‘The Big Bang’ will explore this unique creative cosmos traversing art, design and hospitality.

Four entrepreneurs shaping the future of nightlife and entertainment will participate in a conversation on ‘Nightlife 3.0’ – Romain Pissanem, the creative force behind Ushuaïa and Ibiza’s biggest new club opening for years UNVRS; Josh Wyatt of AvantGardner, currently steering the highly anticipated relaunch of Mirage Brooklyn; Julia Birzele of Lio Group; and Jesse MacDougall, Design Director for Journey, responsible for the interiors of The Sphere Las Vegas.

A trio of rising stars in hospitality design will share their stories in steering their practices to stratospheric success: James Waterworth, former Design Director at Soho House now leading his own studio Thurstan; Rodrigo Izquierdo, previous creative lead at Studio Patricia Urquiola; and Enrico Fratesi, co-founder of Gam Fratesi who recently completed their debut hotel project, Puro Warsaw Old Town.

For our final SYMPOSIA session, representatives of major hotel groups leading the charge into the lifestyle space will discuss the opportunities and challenges involved in imbuing their properties with individuality and character. Speakers include Aysegul Ozar of Ennismore, owner of brands such as 25Hours, The Hoxton, Hyde and Mondrian; Verena Haller, Creative Director for Hyatt’s new dedicated Lifestyle Hotel Group following its acquisition of Standard International; and Sam Hall of IHG whose expanding offer in this sector encompasses the likes of Six Senses, Kimpton and Hotel Indigo.

SOCIAL sessions include an opening day optional excursion to Juntos Farm – a 20-hectare abandoned cattle ranch in the heart of the island, now reimagined as an agricultural community project to support a local regenerative food system.

Our unique SUSTENANCE sessions offer additional opportunities to deepen connections through shared experiences. The optional workshops at the end of the first day of meetings are curated to immerse you in the culture of Ibiza – be it a DJ workshop with Jaime Fiorito, son of legendary Amnesia resident DJ Alfredo; a meditative session for mindful explorers with Chris Connors, founder of OPO; or the chance to learn the secret recipe for local liqueur ‘hierbas Ibicencas’ – originally a medicinal tonic made by Balearic monks in the middle ages.

Lunches and dinners throughout the event vary from an al fresco picnic in the pine forest of the congress centre, to an evening at UM Beach House in Santa Eulalia. SESSIONS #7  will close with a celebratory dinner at Cuyo, the Mexican restaurant at Mondrian Ibiza, one of the most significant new hotel openings on Ibiza in recent years.