Our team’s highlights from The Hospitality Expo, Dublin

Earlier this month, our team headed to the 2026 Hospitality Expo in Dublin,  one of the industry’s key gathering points for operators, suppliers, innovators and investors across the hospitality sector.

We asked two of our resident sales superstars, Dan and Ben, to share their take on one of the year’s standout industry events.

What is the Hospitality Expo, and why is it special?

Dan:

“The Hospitality Expo is essentially a showcase of where the industry is heading. You’ve got food and beverage suppliers, tech platforms, fit-out specialists, entertainment providers, everyone under one roof.”

Ben:

“It’s not just a trade show. We see it as a pulse check. You get real conversations with operators about what’s working, what’s not, and what customers are demanding more of. That honesty is what makes it valuable.”

For us as a competitive socialising business, the Expo is a chance to sense-check our direction and products against wider hospitality trends, ensuring we’re building experiences that genuinely resonate with both operators and guests — especially as demand grows for more active, participatory forms of socialising.

What were the top three highlights this year?

Ben:

“Seeing the shift toward experience-first venues in real time. Operators aren’t asking, ‘How many covers can we fit?’ anymore,  they’re asking, ‘What moments can we create?’ That mindset shift is huge.”

We were proud to be the only dedicated gaming provider exhibiting this year which was a clear reflection that while the trend is still in its early stages, it is gaining real traction. The level of interest and the quality of conversations throughout the event made one thing evident: demand is accelerating, with venues actively exploring how immersive, experience-led guest journeys can help them stand out and future-proof their offering.

What really stood out was how closely this aligns with the rise of social fitness, a movement we strongly advocate for. Structured, game-oriented experiences that get people moving, competing and interacting are increasingly recognised as powerful drivers of engagement and repeat visits. More importantly, they get people out of the house and connecting with friends, helping people become socially fitter in the process.

What emerging trends should venue operators be paying attention to?

Dan:

“Hybrid social spaces. Venues that can flex from daytime corporate bookings to after-work socials and weekend group celebrations consistently outperform single-purpose spaces. Flexibility is revenue protection.”

Blending gaming, food and premium casual dining into adaptable layouts is proving both resilient and profitable, particularly when venues can host structured competitions, tournaments or social fitness sessions at different times of day.

Ben:

“There’s clear demand for structured, easy-to-understand competitive formats. Guests want frictionless fun, not complicated rules.”

Short-format games, automated scoring, shareable results and built-in replay value are becoming essential. Social fitness and structured competition tap into people’s desire to move, compete and connect, delivering experiences that feel active and social without being intimidating.