W South Beach
Monday 19 May 2025
12:00-17:00
Segue from a series of limited edition experiences and killer F&B to hearing from contemporary travel’s leading visionaries, all while vibing with the 2000-strong L.E/Miami collective at the iconic W South Beach. For the love of limited edition, Open House is the first official day of L.E/Miami — and the only place to begin your week of biz on South Beach.
THE SPEAKERS
Sarah
Owen
Futurist, Trend Forecaster & Social Scientist
Sarah is a futurist, trend forecaster and sociologist, specialising in human values and cultural shifts. With 14 years of experience in future trends, consumer research, and strategy, she helps brands navigate what’s next. Currently Head of Research at RADAR, she’s worked with WGSN and SOON Future Studies, then consulting for Fortune 500 brands and writing for The New York Times and i-D magazine to name a few. She’s taken the stage at Cannes Lions, FUTR Summit, and World Retail Congress and has been quoted in The Financial Times, CNN, Vogue, Bloomberg and The Guardian.
Sarah
Owen
Futurist, Trend Forecaster & Social Scientist
Richard
Danks
Executive Vice President - Lifestyle, EMEA, PURPLE
In a world saturated with sponsored content and short-term noise, hospitality brands need more than just visibility — they need real connection. In this session, Richard Danks will draw on work with brands like Soho House, Rosewood, The Standard and Le Collectionist, exploring how to build high-value relationships with the cultural connectors and loyal advocates who *truly* shape brand relevance. From lasting communities to long-term loyalty, this is about trust over trends and word-of-mouth that actually matters.
Richard
Danks
Executive Vice President - Lifestyle, EMEA, PURPLE
Sam
Blenkinsopp
CEO & Co-Founder, Trippin
Sam is the CEO and Co-Founder of Trippin, a revolutionary independent platform designed to reshape the travel industry through unrivalled cultural experiences, empowering people to travel more consciously — all through the eyes of locals. He is also the Founder and CEO of All Corners, a creative agency powered by global insights, helping the likes of Adidas, Farfetch, Nike and Versace weave compelling narratives and tell fresh, previously untold stories.
Sam
Blenkinsopp
CEO & Co-Founder, Trippin
Kazeem
Kuteyi
Cultural Curator and Editor-in-Chief, New Currency
Kazeem Kuteyi is a cultural curator, editor-in-chief and dot-connector at the centre of today’s global arts and culture. Kuteyi is best known as the founder of New Currency, a global youth culture platform that celebrates, documents and exposes groundbreaking ideas from emerging creatives around the world. Kuteyi has contributed to Dazed magazine, Real Review and 032c, and has delivered lectures at the University of Toronto and Royal College of Art, London.
Kazeem
Kuteyi
Cultural Curator and Editor-in-Chief, New Currency
Diamond
Jones
Programme Director, Summaeverythang Community Center
Diamond Jones is the Programme Director of the Summaeverythang Community Center, where she leads innovative programming that uplifts and empowers youth in South Central Los Angeles. A passionate philanthropist, tastemaker and founder of the wellness brand Nior Skin, Dime is known for curating impactful experiences that blend culture, community, and creativity. With a background in grassroots organising and a sharp eye for cultural trends, she’s committed to creating spaces where underserved communities can access education, healing and inspiration.
Diamond
Jones
Programme Director, Summaeverythang Community Center
Louie
Stewart-Poynter
Senior Designer, Matter of Form
Louie Stewart-Poynter is a London-based designer and speaker with expertise across branding, UI, artificial intelligence and experience innovation. Prior to joining Matter Of Form — a design consultancy specialising in brand strategy, CX and digital — Louie worked as a lead designer in a variety of sectors including sports, NFTs, gaming and FTSE 100. Now more focused on travel and hospitality, his portfolio contains work with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Dorchester Collection, Maxx Royal Resorts, NEOM and more.
Louie
Stewart-Poynter
Senior Designer, Matter of Form
Thomas
Heyne
CEO & Founder, Scorpios
For over two decades, Thomas Heyne has been a driving force behind some of the world’s most renowned hospitality brands, shaping cultural movements that extend beyond nightlife and dining. As the co-founder and visionary behind Scorpios, an immersive beachside experience, along with Scorpios Music Label, Nōema, San Giorgio Hotel, and Paradise Club, he has set an iconic precedent for social spaces that blend community and creativity.
Thomas
Heyne
CEO & Founder, Scorpios
Bashar
Wali
CEO & Founder, Practice Hospitality
As CEO and Founder of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, Bashar draws upon expertise honed over a 30-year career in hospitality. An expert in the lifestyle space, Bashar is known for pushing limits in his philosopher-meets-hotelier kind of way. Whether helming the TEDx stage, hosting a Global YPO event, or collaborating on Clubhouse, Bashar’s message is unwavering: service is what you deliver, hospitality is how you make people feel. Bashar has done every job in a hotel — from frying an egg to negotiating a deal — working for Starwood Hotels before leading acquisitions and development globally at Grand Heritage Hotels.
Bashar
Wali
CEO & Founder, Practice Hospitality
Henrik
Good Hovgaard
Chief Futurist, Universal Futurist
Henrik is one of the best future workshop facilitators in the world. He has been working as a futurist and running workshops on the future since 2005, managing to get hundreds of companies and organisations to see the future that could be theirs. Not just as passive tourists — but as active futurists. Henrik is an expert in "future training" — the next step on the ladder of futurism. With future training, you put your vision and creative power together, becoming one of those ‘visionary types’ who can imagine the future, take action and do something about it.
Henrik
Good Hovgaard
Chief Futurist, Universal Futurist
Chip
Conley
Founder and Executive Chairman at MEA, NYT Best-Selling Author and Speaker
Entrepreneur, bestselling author, and speaker, Chip has redefined hospitality three times. He founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality, growing it into the second-largest boutique hotel brand in the U.S. before its acquisition by Hyatt. As Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, he helped shape it into the world’s most valuable hospitality brand. In 2018, inspired by his midlife journey, he co-founded the Modern Elder Academy (MEA), the world’s first midlife ‘wisdom school.’
Chip
Conley
Founder and Executive Chairman at MEA, NYT Best-Selling Author and Speaker
THE SESSIONS.
The Crisis Of Originality: Why Hospitality Needs a Creative Rebellion
With Sarah Owen, Futurist, Trend Forecaster & Social Scientist
The Crisis Of Originality: Why Hospitality Needs a Creative Rebellion
With Sarah Owen, Futurist, Trend Forecaster & Social Scientist
13:15-14:00 | THE LIMITED EDITION STAGE
Culture isn’t created by committees: it’s built by visionaries, outsiders, and rule-breakers who aren’t afraid to disrupt the norm. (Sounds familiar? It should, rebels!) And yet, in an era of seemingly limitless inspiration, contemporary hospitality has somehow landed in a creative rut — where ‘authentic experiences’ all look eerily alike, and the ‘next big thing’ often feels like a redux of the last. The result? Hospitality is in serious need of a creative overhaul — like, yesterday.
Steered by a woman who has helped Fortune 500 brands like Intel and L’Oréal define emerging trends and behavioural shifts — futurist, trend forecaster, and sociologist Sarah Owen — this session will show you how to go about reclaiming originality.
You’ll learn:
• How you can stop reacting to trends, and start setting them
• Why cultural pollination, not replication — is the key to standing out and staying limited edition
• How to build experiences that feel deeply personal, not algorithm-approved
No F****ng Influencers: How to Build Authentic Brand Communities in 2025
With Richard Danks, Executive Vice President - Lifestyle, EMEA, PURPLE
No F****ng Influencers: How to Build Authentic Brand Communities in 2025
With Richard Danks, Executive Vice President - Lifestyle, EMEA, PURPLE
13:15-14:15 | SCHOOL OF LIMITED EDITION
In a world saturated with sponsored content and short-term noise, hospitality brands need more than just visibility — they need real connection. In this session, Richard Danks will draw on work with brands like Soho House, Rosewood, The Standard and Le Collectionist, exploring how to build high-value relationships with the cultural connectors and loyal advocates who *truly* shape brand relevance. From lasting communities to long-term loyalty, this is about trust over trends and word-of-mouth that actually matters.
You’ll learn:
• How to seek out — and form impactful partnerships with — valuable and knowledgeable advocates, with the power to spread your brand message far and wide
Culture Club: Rethinking Hotels’ Place In the Lifestyle Landscape
Curated by Trippin
With Sam Blenkinsopp, CEO & Co-Founder, Trippin
Kazeem Kuteyi, Cultural Curator and Editor-in-Chief, New Currency
Diamond Jones, Programme Director, Summaeverythang Community Center
Moderated by Rhianne Patent, Senior Creative Strategist, All Corners
Culture Club: Rethinking Hotels’ Place In the Lifestyle Landscape
Curated by Trippin
With Sam Blenkinsopp, CEO & Co-Founder, Trippin
Kazeem Kuteyi, Cultural Curator and Editor-in-Chief, New Currency
Diamond Jones, Programme Director, Summaeverythang Community Center
Moderated by Rhianne Patent, Senior Creative Strategist, All Corners
14:15-15:00 | THE LIMITED EDITION STAGE
What role should hotels and travel brands play in shaping the cultural landscape? In an era of cultural depletion — characterised by the decline of shared spaces and traditions — today’s discerning traveller seeks enrichment at every turn. The appeal of luxury for its own sake is diminishing; instead, time and presence, however fleeting, have become the ultimate luxury. While hotels often contribute to culturally extractive tourism, they also serve as essential economic lifelines, holding the potential to enrich rather than exploit local culture. This panel will take you out of the industry bubbles, sharing insight and inspiration from creative institutions, innovators, and community spaces that are shaping the future of cultural experiences.
You’ll learn:
• How to champion local culture and look beyond the algorithm
• How to create events that help create sustained connections with guests
• The expert view on the future of cultural programming, and what your guests want from you as they navigate the world at home and abroad
Your Creative Co-Pilot: Using AI To Your Advantage
With Louie Stewart-Poynter, Senior Designer, Matter of Form
Your Creative Co-Pilot: Using AI To Your Advantage
With Louie Stewart-Poynter, Senior Designer, Matter of Form
14:30-15:30 | SCHOOL OF LIMITED EDITION
In a world of copy-and-paste creativity, how do you stay unmistakably human? This hands-on masterclass will show you how to turn generative AI into your creative co-pilot: not a shortcut, but a springboard. We’ll explore how AI can amplify your brand voice, sharpen your storytelling, and unlock new ways of thinking — without losing the emotional resonance that sets your work apart. Equal parts inspiration and experimentation, this session is for bold travel brands who want to co-create with AI, not compete with it. You’ll walk away with practical prompts, thought-stretching exercises, and the tools to stand out — while everyone else blends in.
You’ll learn:
• How to use AI as your ally to create unique, impactful brand content that resonates
In The Hotseat: How Scorpios’ Thomas Heyne Put The ‘Cult’ In Culture
With Thomas Heyne, CEO & Founder, Scorpios
In Conversation With Bashar Wali, CEO & Founder, Practice Hospitality
In The Hotseat: How Scorpios’ Thomas Heyne Put The ‘Cult’ In Culture
With Thomas Heyne, CEO & Founder, Scorpios
In Conversation With Bashar Wali, CEO & Founder, Practice Hospitality
15:15-15:45 | THE LIMITED EDITION STAGE
Enough with the platitudes and echo chambers: it’s time for real talk. Get seated for a 100% unfiltered, unscripted conversation with one of contemporary hospitality’s most revolutionary minds, Thomas Heyne — the CEO and Founder of Scorpios, whose cult beach clubs in Mykonos and Bodrum have redefined modern hedonism. Chaired by BS-allergic Bashar Wali, hospitality legend and provocateur, our first-ever CEO Hotseat will give you a rare glimpse into the mind of a true hospitality visionary — from how he built a lifestyle brand from scratch; to how you can blend wellness with hardcore hedonism; to how to expand into new markets while remaining authentic to your brand; and how to attract a younger, less-wealthy crowd while still driving up revenue. Above all, Thomas will prove how it’s still possible to create a cult hospitality brand in the hellishly competitive landscape that is 2025.
You’ll learn:
• How to expand into new markets while remaining authentic to your brand
• How to attract a younger, less-wealthy crowd while still driving up revenue
• How to evolve your brand to remain relevant, while staying true to your original ethos
Future Sense: How to Predict Travel’s Next Big Thing
With Henrik Good Hovgaard, Chief Futurist, Universal Futurist
Future Sense: How to Predict Travel’s Next Big Thing
With Henrik Good Hovgaard, Chief Futurist, Universal Futurist
15:45-16:45 | SCHOOL OF LIMITED EDITION
The future is moving faster — and hitting harder than ever for contemporary hospitality. To stay truly limited edition, you need to nurture your ‘future sense’ — aka the mindset that helps you predict, anticipate and design the future. Helmed by one of the world’s leading futurists, Denmark-based Henrik Good Hovgaard, this highly visual and entertaining masterclass will deliver hands-on tips and tricks that you can use in your 9-5 and beyond.
You’ll learn:
• How to predict, anticipate and design the future of contemporary travel, giving you a competitive advantage in a fast-evolving world
Surfing Disruption: How to Catch Hospitality’s Next Wave (Before Everyone Else)
With Chip Conley, Author, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Modern Elder Academy, Former Airbnb Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy
Surfing Disruption: How to Catch Hospitality’s Next Wave (Before Everyone Else)
With Chip Conley, Author, Founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Modern Elder Academy, Former Airbnb Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy
16:00-16:45 | THE LIMITED EDITION STAGE
From founding (and selling) Joie de Vivre Hospitality to Hyatt to steering Airbnb’s ascendance to becoming the most valuable travel company in the world, Chip Conley has disrupted hospitality not once, not twice, but three times. Using his wealth of experience as a jumping-off point, he’ll lead a fascinating deep-dive on how to identify and act on ‘waves’ — aka burgeoning hospitality trends — before everyone else. In his signature dynamic style, he’ll address pressing questions, including how to more deeply understand how human needs change over time; how to lead an organisation through periods of uncertainty; and how to encourage potential investors to buy into your most creative, disruptive ideas. Surf’s up.
You’ll learn:
• How to more deeply understand how human needs change over time
• How to lead an organisation through periods of uncertainty
• How to encourage potential investors to buy into your most creative, disruptive ideas
THE AGENDA
THE LIMITED EDITION STAGE
SCHOOL OF LIMITED EDITION
L.E/POP-UPS
