#7 IBIZA
13 - 15 May, 2025
Ibiza Congress Centre / Melia Ibiza Hotel
A COSMIC TRIP ACROSS THE HOSPITALITY DESIGN UNIVERSE, FROM SUNSET TO MOONRISE
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 destination to see what the future holds in areas such as art and sculpture, agritourism and regenerative farming, wellness and mindfulness, 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.
Central to SESSIONS, the SYNC meetings programme that drives the event, will see over 1,200 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, Hayon’s talk, entitled ‘The Big Bang’ will explore this unique creative cosmos traversing art, design and hospitality.
Four figures shaping the future of nightlife and entertainment will participate in a conversation on ‘Nightlife 3.0’: Josh Wyatt of AvantGardner, currently overseeing the highly anticipated relaunch of Mirage Brooklyn; Julia Birzele of Lio Group; and Jesse MacDougall, Design Director for Journey, and Tibor Martin, former head of technical services for Pacha Group now leading the design and architecture of Sabina Estates.
A constellation 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; Tatjana von Stein, founder of her eponymous practice with studios in London and Mallorca; 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; Despina Kalapoda, VP Design Strategies EMEA for Marriott International ; Neil Kazakos-Andrew VP Design ‑ EMEA for Starwood Hotels 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 optional, opening day 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 vinyl digging adventure with Jaime Fiorito, music curator for Slowness and son of legendary Amnesia resident DJ Alfredo; a meditative walk for mindful explorers with Chris Connors, founder of OPO; a unique ‘Remember the Future’ workshop with Colourfeel / Creative Monastery,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 and Tulum-inspired DJ set at Cuyo, the Mexican restaurant at Mondrian Ibiza, one of the most significant new hotel openings on Ibiza in recent years.
Keep scrolling to see our at-a-glance schedule and full programme…
Schedule
Tues 13 May
All Day Delegate Arrivals & Check-In14.00 Free Time19.00 Dinner & Drinks
Weds 14 May
07.00 Breakfast09.30 Conference Keynote10.30 Coffee Break10.45 Meetings12.55 Lunch14.15 Conference Panel Discussion15.00 Coffee Break15.20 Meetings17.00 Free Time / Breakout Workshops19.30 Networking Dinner & Drinks
Thurs 15 May
07.00 Breakfast09.30 Conference Panel Discussion10.30 Coffee Break10.45 Meetings12.55 Lunch14.30 Meetings15.50 Coffee Break16.00 Conference Panel Discussion17.00 Free Time19.00 Closing Party
Fri 16 May
07.00 Breakfast10.00 Departures & Check-Out
AGENDA
ALL DAY
Delegate Arrivals & Check-In
14:00 - 17:00
SOCIAL: Journey to Juntos Farm*
Founded by a group of passionate individuals, Juntos Farm is on a mission to revolutionize farming by embracing regenerative practices that benefit both the environment and local communities.
Guests on this optional excursion will enjoy a guided tour through the crops and gardens, to discover the eco-friendly and healthy practices that the team follow to harvest the finest ingredients straight from the earth, and learn how they care for the soil, water, and biodiversity to ensure a more sustainable future.
*Spaces on the Juntos Farm Tour are strictly limited in consideration for the delicate eco-system of the farm. Places must be pre-booked.
19:00 - 22:00
SOCIAL: Sunset at Llum Rooftop Bar & Restaurant (Melia Ibiza)
07:00 - 09:00
Breakfast at Mosaico (Melia Ibiza)
09:30 - 10:30
SYMPOSIA: Jaime Hayon Keynote‘The Big Bang – Exploring A Creative Cosmos of Art, Design and Hospitality’
10:30 - 10:45
Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:55
SYNC: Specifier and Supplier Meetings Programme(6 x 20 min meetings / 10 minute break)
12:55 - 14:15
Lunch – Picnic in the Pine Forest (Palacio de Congresos Ibiza)
14:15 - 15:00
SYMPOSIA: ConversationThe Sky at Night – New Dimensions in Nightlife, Hospitality & Entertainment’
Jesse MacDougall – Principal & Design Director, Journey
Josh Wyatt – CEO, AvantGardner / Brooklyn Mirage
Julia Birzele – Group Operations & Development Director, Lio Group
Tibor Martin – Director of Architecture & Design, Sabina Estates
15:00 - 15:20
Coffee Break
15:20 - 17:00
SYNC: Specifier and Supplier Meetings Programme(5 x 20 min meetings)
17:15-18:45
SUSTENANCE Sessions
The Balearic Beat – in association with Fiorito Space Systems
Hosted by Jaime Fiorito in conversation with Matt Turner
Lifelong Ibicenco Jaime Fiorito will be setting up decks in the pine grove at Ibiza Congress Centre and digging into the crates of his dearly departed dad – DJ Alfredo the pioneer of the Balearic movement and legendary resident at Amnesia – to share the sounds that have defined Ibiza’s clubbing history.
Jaime has acted as curator and community director for Slowness – creating cultural programmes for La Granja Ibiza and Tulum Treehouse. As well as giving an unparalleled first-hand account of Ibiza’s evolution he will also share his wider philosophies on the power of multimedia experiences to cultivate creativity and activate spaces. His SUSTENANCE session will also provide the perfect warm-up to his closing party set at Cuyo the following evening, which will explore a more a contemporary global soundscape.”
www.jaimefiorito.com
Sonic Adventure – in association with OPO
Hosted By Chris Connors
OPO founder Chris Connors will guide us on a sonic amble along the shores of ibiza. The land he calls his home. This session is designed to enhance our connection to the world around us through sound, deeper listening and meditation. In a world overloaded with screens and visual information, sound and listening are a much-needed tonic to help us relax and restore.
OPO’s mission in hospitality is to elevate the guest experience through sound and deeper listening experiences that ultimately create a sense of greater wellbeing and connection.
www.opo.world/hospitality-solutions
Remember the Future – in association with Creative Monastery and Colourfeel
Hosted by Jenni Dawes
A unique workshop that distills core tenets of futures thinking into simple, poetic meditations. This phenomenally powerful technique – popular with artists, CEO and elite athletes – invites you to actively experience your ideal future, helping you determine what you want, and tricking your brain into believing – and behaving like – it’s already true.
Melding key techniques from cognitive neuroscience, creative visualisation and somatic therapy, the workshop is easy to follow and will leave you feeling relaxed, inspired and with an array of tools that you can continue to practice on your own.
www.creativemonastery.co/remember-the-future
Herbal High – Hierbas Ibicencas Workshop
Hosted by Azuree Ibiza Events
Hierbas Ibicencas, a deep golden liquid made from the extractions and distillations of over a dozen local herbs and plants, is Ibiza’s local liqueur. The traditional drink is served in bars, restaurants and seaside shacks all over the island, many of which make it themselves with recipes that are handed down through generations. Ingredients and flavour tones include fennel, aniseed, juniper, rosemary, mint, lavender and oregano, but everyone’s blend will be slightly personal. All the herbs used can be found growing wild around the island.
Participants will learn the secrets of this magical elixir to make their own bottle of Hierbas Ibicencas.
*All SUSTENANCE Sessions are optional and must be pre-booked. Each activity is limited to a maximum number of guests. Guests can only book one sustenance session per timeslot.
19:30
SOCIAL: Paella Plates at UM Beach House (Santa Eulalia)
07:00 - 09:00
Breakfast at Mosaico (Melia Ibiza)
09:30 - 10:30
SYMPOSIA: Conversation‘Shooting for the Moon: A Constellation of Rising Stars in Hospitality Design’
Enrico Fratesi – Co-Founder, Gam Fratesi,
James Waterworth – Founder, Thurstan
Rodrigo Izquierdo – Founder, Rodrigo Izquierdo Design Studio
Tatjana von Stein – Founder & Creative Director, Tatjana von Stein
10:30 - 10:45
Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:55
SYNC: Specifier and Supplier Meetings Programme(6 x 20 min meetings / 10 minute break)
12:55 - 14:30
Lunch at Mosaico (Melia Ibiza)
14:30 - 15:50
SYNC: Specifier and Supplier Meetings Programme(4 x 20 min meetings)
15:50 - 16:00
Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:00
SYMPOSIA: Conversation‘Field of View – Lighting the Way in Lifestyle Hospitality’
Aysegul Ozar – Global Brand Design Director – Ennismore
Sam Hall – Director, Interior Design Europe – IHG
Neil Kazakos-Andrew – Vice President of Design, EMEA – Starwood Hotels
Despina Kalapoda – Senior Director, Design Strategy EMEA – Marriott International
