25 September 2025
EQ Kuala Lumpur
Breaking The Mould: Hotel restaurants and bars are struggling to stay relevant, while independent venues are taking the lead on innovation. What do hoteliers need to do to refresh, reshape and re-energise the perception and positioning of hotel-based F&B outlets?
Event Details
25 September 2025
3 PM to 4 PM Malaysia (GMT+8)
This session will be delivered in English
Diamond Ballroom, Level 1, EQ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
EQ, Equatorial Plaza, Jln Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
About session
Breaking The Mould: Independent venues are taking the lead on innovation, while many hotel restaurants and bars are lagging behind and struggling to stay relevant. At the same time, consumer expectations of hotel F&B has shifted from being a secondary amenity to a significant factor influencing overall hotel satisfaction and brand image. Guests now expect high-quality food and beverage offerings, including diverse menus, culinary innovation, and attentive service, impacting their willingness to return and recommend the hotel.
This session aims to challenge hoteliers to rethink the possibilities, and evaluate what they need to do to refresh, reshape and re-energise the perception and positioning of hotel-based F&B outlets. Panelists include Emma Watson, Founder of Emma Watson Studio; Petr Raba, Vice President Food & Beverage Asia Pacific excluding China; and Nicola Lee, Academy Chair of the The World's 50 Best Restaurants, Southeast Asia (South). The panelists will be joining moderator Sameer Seth, Founder & CEO of Hunger Inc. Hospitality in dicussing the following:
1. How can hoteliers leverage F&B to elevate hotel reputation and drive guests preference.
2. What do independent venues do well, and what can hoteliers learn from the way they operate?
3. How can hotels create a more inspiring and innovative environment for F&B teams, while respecting corporate redtapes?
4. Are there competitve advantages that hoteliers are overlooking or can leverage on, for a positive edge in an overcrowded F&B space?
About The Speakers
Petr Raba
Vice President Food & Beverage APEC (Asia Pacific Excluding China)
Marriott International
With over 23 years of experience at Marriott International, Petr Raba serves as the Vice President of Food & Beverage for the Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) region. In his current role, Petr is responsible for overseeing Food & Beverage and culinary operations across restaurants and bars in more than 570 hotels. His responsibilities include ensuring Quality Assurance for all hotel’s brands, developing and implementing continent-wide Food & Beverage strategies, and spearheading culinary and marketing initiatives. Petr's focus is on building Marriott’s Food & Beverage reputation, developing talent, growing revenues, and maximising financial performance.
Emma Maxwell
Founder
Emma Maxwell Studio
Emma Maxwell is the Founder of Emma Maxwell Studio, with locations in Singapore, Bangkok, and London. Bringing a global perspective to every project, the studio specialises in crafting immersive interiors for luxury hotels, Michelin-starred, and World’s 50 Best restaurants, including Burnt Ends and Araya. With a deep understanding of the needs of chefs, guests, and operators, the studio designs spaces that are both highly functional and emotionally resonant—transforming dining into a theatrical and unforgettable experience through thoughtful interior design, storytelling, and meticulous attention to detail.
Nicola Lee
Academy Chair of Southeast Asia (South), The Word's 50 Best Restaurants; and Contributor at Tatler Asia and the Singapore Business Times
Nicola holds a degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management and currently serves as the Academy Chair for South East Asia (South) for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. With a background in luxury hotels, she has extensive experience in food and beverage operations, as well as training and development. In addition to her industry expertise, Nicola has lectured in Hospitality and Tourism and is a contributing writer on wine and travel for Singapore Business Times and Tatler Asia. She was a panel member for the Singapore Tatler Best Restaurant Guide.
About The Moderator
Sameer Seth
Founder & CEO
Hunger Inc. Hospitality
With 15 years in the restaurant industry across India and the USA, Sameer blends business insight with a deep passion for hospitality. He is the Founder & CEO of Hunger Inc. Hospitality, an Indian hospitality group creating fresh, exciting dining experiences through The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, Bombay Sweet Shop, Veronica’s and Papa’s. With a focus on reinterpreting tradition in fun and unexpected ways, they bring regional Indian flavours and experiences to life while pushing creative boundaries. Committed to new-age Indian hospitality and creative storytelling, Hunger Inc. is all about celebrating India’s rich food culture while shaping what’s next.
Attendees
This is a paid conference for trade professionals. Kindly purchase your delegate pass to access the event.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
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