Elevating Every Experience: The Spirit of Hospitality Summit Returns for 2026
The call for speakers for the 2026 Spirit of Hospitality Summit, November 4-5, 2026, is currently open. Deadline to submit a proposal is June 12.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Hospitality is more than service. It is more than transactions, systems, or even satisfaction scores. At its best, hospitality is about people – how they feel seen, understood, and valued in every interaction.
That belief has been at the heart of the Spirit of Hospitality Summit since its inception, and it returns to Purdue University on November 4–5, 2026, for its fifth year with a theme that reinforces that commitment: “Elevating Every Experience: People First.”
Hosted by the White Lodging–J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Summit has grown into a signature gathering that bridges industry and academia, tradition and innovation, strategy and heart. It is a place where professionals pause from the pace of daily operations to reflect on why their work matters—and how it can be better.
A Summit Built on Human Experience
The Spirit of Hospitality Summit was created to spark meaningful dialogue around what it truly means to lead, serve, and design experiences in a rapidly evolving world. Each year, it brings together industry professionals, alumni, faculty, and students to share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore emerging ideas across service-driven industries.
What makes the Summit unique is its cross-disciplinary approach. Conversations extend beyond hospitality alone, incorporating insights from:
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Selling and Sales Management
- Retail Management
- Financial Counseling and Planning
This diversity of disciplines reflects a simple truth: meaningful experiences do not happen in silos. Whether in a hotel, a retail space, a sales interaction, or a financial advising conversation, people remember how they were treated – and the systems, cultures, and leaders behind those moments matter.
People First, Always
The 2026 theme, “Elevating Every Experience: People First,” builds on that foundation. It challenges organizations to think beyond efficiency and metrics and instead focus on intentionality, empathy, and impact. It asks questions that resonate across industries:
- How do leaders create cultures where people thrive?
- How can innovation enhance – not replace – human connection?
- What does it take to design experiences that are both scalable and personal?
- How do collaboration and community shape long-term success?
These questions will frame keynote conversations, breakout discussions, and professional development workshops throughout the two-day event.
Sharing Wisdom, Shaping the Future
At the heart of the Summit are the voices that bring these ideas to life. Each year, speakers – from seasoned executives to emerging thought leaders – share stories, strategies, lessons learned, and practical insights rooted in real-world experience.
The impact extends far beyond the stage. Students gain exposure to industry realities and future opportunities. Professionals leave with renewed perspective and actionable takeaways. Faculty and alumni reconnect around shared values and evolving challenges. Together, they help shape the next generation of Experience Engineers, leaders who understand that excellence begins with people.
As planning begins for the 2026 Summit, Purdue HTM is inviting professionals who are passionate about people-first leadership, innovation, and experience design to lend their voices to this ongoing conversation. Those interested in speaking will find full details in the official Call for Speakers, now open and linked below.
A Community Conversation
As the Spirit of Hospitality Summit celebrates its fifth year, it continues to reflect the values that define Purdue HTM: intentional leadership, meaningful connection, and a commitment to excellence that leaves a lasting impact.
Whether you join as a speaker, attendee, sponsor, or student, the Summit offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recommit to what matters most – elevating every experience by putting people first.