SOCIETIES au Consulat Général de France à New York : 19 février 2026

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY

Hospitality is entering a defining decade.

Luxury expectations are rising.
Digital touchpoints are multiplying.
Brands are becoming experiences long before the guest arrives.

At the intersection of culture, design, service, and innovation, hospitality is evolving — not through trends, but through vision and execution.

Under the patronage of Cédrik Fouriscot, Consul General of France in New York, Influence Society invites you to join an esteemed group of hoteliers and hospitality executives for this industry gathering. This afternoon event will feature a lineup of leading minds in our field sharing topical and relevant insights into what's tangibly propelling our industry forward. A private cocktail reception will be held onsite immediately following the discussions.

Location: Consulate General of France at 934 Fifth Avenue, between East 74th and 75th

Thursday, Feb 19, 2026

Welcome: 3:00 PM

Panel Discussions: 3:30PM - 6:00 PM

Cocktail Reception: 6:00PM - 7:30 PM

From Heritage to Innovation

This edition of SOCIETIES is not about chasing technology, rather it’s bringing into focus how the most advanced hospitality brands are evolving — with intention.

Throughout the afternoon, speakers will explore:

How luxury hotels are redefining brand expression in a digital-first world
How to recapture “lost” revenue
How innovation can support service, without replacing it
The evolving role of websites, platforms, and content as strategic assets in an IA-world
How digital ecosystems can elevate desirability and long-term brand equity

Technology is a tool. Hospitality remains the art.

Keynotes & Conversations

SOCIETIES brings together voices operating at the highest level of hospitality — from ultra-luxury operators to innovation and revenue leaders — to share grounded, real-world perspectives.

Featured sessions include:

‍Sébastien Félix
Founder & CEO, Influence Society
“Hospitality, Now Powered by AI”
A dedicated intervention on how artificial intelligence is reshaping discovery, visibility, and digital ecosystems in hospitality. This session positions AI as a strategic layer — supporting design, storytelling, and performance — not as a replacement for human-driven service.

‍Abe Salam
CEO, EPIC Revenue Consultants
“How to Find Money in Your Hotel’s Sofas… Literally!”
A pragmatic and insightful session uncovering hidden revenue opportunities within hotel operations. From overlooked assets to smarter revenue structures, this keynote explores how hotels can unlock value without compromising guest experience or brand integrity.

‍Alex Pensyl
Sr. Director of Growth, Curacity
“The New Economics of Hotel Visibility”
In an AI-first landscape, appearing in authoritative media is no longer a discretionary marketing expense but a mandatory distribution cost required to enter the LLM-generated consideration set and drive revenue.

‍Alex Zhardanovsky
CEO, PRIMA & Michael Ridard - Partner, Riviera Dining Group
“Winning the war on hospitality fragmentation”
Discover how transformative technologies can elevate service quality and guest satisfaction while generating passive revenue for hotels. This panel explores how curated access, direct relationships, and infrastructure built for the top end of the market can better serve iconic restaurants, luxury hotels, and the guests they share - without discounting, noise, or operational friction.