Europe's most exclusive luxury hotel design event
What is BOND Five Star EMEA? The format, feel and experience are a world away from traditional industry events. There are no stands or booths to build. Everything is arranged for you from the moment you arrive – from pre-arranged meetings to airport transfers and immersive social experiences.
When you finally arrive at BOND Five Star EMEA for the first time, a couple of things hit you straight away: the people BOND said would be here are here indeed. That’s EMEA's true hotel design leaders - the ones who call the shots on the luxury hospitality projects you want in on (the ones who are usually too busy to take your call).
Strong start.
And there’s something about the atmosphere here, helped, no doubt by the iconic setting and impeccable service of the Carlton Cannes that made everyone feel special and excited to be here. There was something in the air - a curiosity and, dare I say, a mischievousness that was highly infectious.
Conversations happen at BOND Five Star that don’t happen anywhere else. And laughter - people’s real laughter, that only comes out when one finds oneself in the best of company...
The following review will give you a clear picture of who was there, the projects they're working on, what went down and what the people thought about it all, including posts they put on Linkedin. We hope you find it useful.
Guaranteed access to the most in-demand hotel designers in Europe, The Middle East and Africa
First thing to get your head around is the calibre of decision maker you can uniquely access at BOND Five Star - numbers and quality guaranteed.
Here is a small sample from the confirmed attendee list:
Henning Schmidt
VP | Head of Design & Technical Services
Six Senses Resorts & Spas
Andrea Corbie
Senior Designer
Rockwell Group
Hadi El Hmayssi
Senior Director of Architecture, Hospitality Development
Red Sea Global
German Mendoza
Senior Associate
Wimberly Interiors
Jean-Yves Renouf
Corporate Chief Architect Kempinski | President A40 s.a.r.l.
Kempinski Hotels & Resorts
Teresa Gonzalez
Head of Hospitality
AECOM
1-on-1 meetings with EMEA's true hotel design leaders - guaranteed.
To give this due context, please think about the cost and effort involved in trying to get just one meeting in the diary with someone on the list. And, even if you do get that appointment, how likely will it be cancelled, cut short or changed at the last minute for a junior stand in?
At BOND Five Star, you get a guaranteed number of 1-on-1 meetings with your best prospects in a distraction-free environment. Then there’s all that networking… If luxury hotel project business is about relationships, three whole days and nights in this company can win you a blatant competitive advantage.
Luxury hotel projects throughout Europe, the Middle East and beyond
Large-scale luxury hotel projects throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That’s what’s on the table at BOND Five Star. In fact, every hotel designer you’ll meet must:
- Be at Principal level
- Work internationally in scope
- Evidence a portfolio of live, confirmed luxury hotel projects in Europe, the Middle East and beyond.
That’s why BOND Five Star is a unique proposition in the hotel design event space and part of what makes it such an exciting event experience and a potential game-changer for those chasing high-end hotel project business.
When a hotel designer confirms their attendance, they are asked to provide details on the projects they are working on and the products they are looking to source at the event. This information is given to attending suppliers to help them prioritise who they’d most like to meet. It also serves as an ideal conversation starter. ‘Our’ hotel designers had a combined total numbering 300+ live, confirmed luxury hotel projects throughout Europe, the Middle East and beyond on their books. Here are just a few:
Now you have some measure of who was at BOND Five Star this year and the hotel projects they brought to the table. More difficult to convey is the unique level of access attendees got to these 'impossible to meet' hotel project influencers and all the incidental conversations that resulted outside of the official meetings over coffee (or tea), breakfast, lunch and dinner, at the bar and as far into the night as people found themselves being carried...
"Not only in my meetings but during lunch, dinner and drinks, there was very engaging conversations"
Nick Dalley, Trimo D.O.O, Business Development Manager
Networking at the heart of Europe's most prolific hotel design community
The networking started before the event officially kicked off, with a pre-event tour of the contemporary art centre that is Malmaison. A privately guided look through its striking installations gave attendees the chance to connect early, making the Welcome Dinner that evening feel all the more relaxed and familiar.
As the sun set over the French Riviera, Rüya restaurant provided the perfect setting for the evening. With exceptional hospitality from the Carlton Cannes, guests were able to settle in effortlessly and simply enjoy being there.
"The interactions with the designers were all genuine, everyone was interested and wanted to be at BOND. That isn't always the case with other events!"
Ash Burtoft, Global Key Account Manager, Hotels, Villeroy & Boch Group
With the travel behind you, it’s time to arrive properly. A drink in hand, Riviera sunset ahead, and a room full of people worth meeting – this is where the BOND Five Star BOND Five Star experience truly begins.
A total of 488 1-on-1 meetings happened (all on time and uninterrupted), 4 highly topical, AIA-accredited seminars, countless introductions, conversations, re-acquaintances and incidental moments, stacks of physical and electronic business cards exchanged and sales pipelines not quite sure what just hit them.
The meetings got things off to a splendid start, giving manufacturers a perfect snapshot of current project challenges and aspirations and how and when to follow up after the event.
But, it’s so often what happens after the meetings, in those unexpected, serendipitous moments, when chance introductions are made. When you find yourself chatting to a big-name hotel designer about whatever pops into conversation and you’re both still chatting away, nodding a lot with big grins on your faces and a tingle of excitement in your guts an hour later.
Because, as well as being some of the most influential people in luxury hotel design, these are people with stories – just like you. And, the more curious you are to hear their stories and get to know them on a real, personal level, the more likely they are to remember you and take your call when they're back in the office and take things up just where you left off.
Moments that only happen when EMEA's leading hotel designers come together.
The following three evenings and two business days pass in a blur of conversations, shared experiences, new connections, unexpected moments and plenty of laughter.
Every BOND Five Star EMEA is unique – each with its own sequence of moments and experiences that can only happen when you find yourself in the highly convivial company of European hotel design’s most creative and helpful characters.
The venue, naturally, plays a huge role in setting the tone, and returning to the Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel delivered effortlessly. As business gave way to evening celebrations, guests gathered in the iconic Grand Salon for a film noir-inspired finale – chilled Champagne in hand, dress code elevated, and atmosphere defined by timeless Riviera glamour.
Doors that seemed impenetrable at EMEA's most in-demand A&D firms finally start to open
So, was it all worth it? What has been achieved? Only time will tell.
As our project community disbands for another year and those who were picked up from the airport as strangers now leave as friends on their return shuttle bus.
Three days of getting to know each other better, away from day-to-day pressures and distractions in a truly heavenly setting has left our attendees tired and satisfied to their bones.
Deals have been done. Vital project intel has been gathered. Invaluable feedback has been given for product development. Warm handshakes and real eye contact have been exchanged. And doors that seemed impenetrable at EMEA's most in-demand A&D firms have finally started to open.
Luxury hotel project prospects transformed
Five Star EMEA delivers all the things you need to potentially transform your luxury hotel project prospects. Not only will you find yourself in the company of the big-name hotel designers you've been chasing for years, you'll find them more relaxed and open here and THAT's the game-changer.
BOND Five Star EMEA is a community. In fact, it's more than that. Regular attendees genuinely use words such as 'family' because (pardon the pun) there's a real bond that develops here. Something to do with everybody sharing a sense of purpose: to explore and discover new possibilities together and to enjoy the journey in doing so.
Want to know about ROI? That, my friend, is very much down to you...
The potential at BOND Five Star is clear: EMEA’s leading luxury hotel designers are here, and BOND creates the best environment on earth for conversations and relationships to thrive.
Do your prep, turn up with passion and faith in your product and your team, work hard, be your most curious, charming self and see what collaborative opportunities open up in front of you.
Luxury hotel project business is a long game and BOND Five Star puts you in the right place with the right people at the right time to give you the biggest head start possible.
"BOND continues to provide the greatest level of ROI imaginable."
John Johnston, Rocky Mountain Hardware, International Sales Manager
EMEA’s most dynamic and influential hotel project community
What is BOND Five Star? An 'exclusive strategic platform' or 'dedicated, top-tier channel' to the decision makers who can transform your hotel project prospects? It is all those things but, more simply, it is three days at the heart of EMEA’s most dynamic and influential hotel project community in a beautiful, relaxed setting where you can get to know each other better. In a relationship business, we suggest it is where the clever money is.
BOND Five Star EMEA 2027 is happening March 11-14, 2027, at a beautiful venue tbc. If you feel your products deserve a place in EMEA's most exclusive, luxury hotel projects, please get in touch today and start a conversation that will get a lot more interesting after you get here - that's a promise.
The following feedback is from the onsite survey that all attendees were asked to complete and from comments made on Linkedin around the event.
Architects and Designers
How do you rate BOND Five Star EMEA 2026 overall? 4.94/5
BOND Five Star EMEA in Cannes was an outstanding experience, set within a beautifully curated and impeccably organized environment. I had the opportunity to engage with high-caliber vendors, build valuable new relationships, and reconnect with respected industry peers. It was a truly rewarding few days that reflect the strength and evolution of our global hospitality community.
Shannon Kim, Figure3, Vice President
What stood out as the single biggest highlight of the event?
- The overall organisation in a fantastic and appropriate setting which created an environment for professional networking.Marcus Escott, Richmond, Head of Business Development and Operations
Suppliers
What stood out as the single biggest highlight of the event?
- The venue and the staff were absolutely amazing but what was the highlight for me is how everyone attending was really kind and amazing, I did not feel a barrier between suppliers and architects / designersMaryne Besnard, Perennials & Sutherland, Business Development Manager
Want to know more? Get in touch.
