The History of HIX

HIX London 2025 will be open on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November. Make sure you get your tickets now so you don’t miss out on the must-attend event for  designers, architects, hoteliers, and suppliers from across the Europe and beyond. But how did it all begin?

Origins of HIX

HIX was launched to fill a gap in the European design scene, a dedicated platform for the hotel interiors supply chain. While other design expos covered broader themes, HIX focused specifically on the guest experience, bringing together the full spectrum of hotel design, from bathers and lighting to furniture, fabrics and technology.

Since its first edition back in 2021, after planning got interrupted by the COVID19 pandemic, the event has been hosted at the Business Design Centre, a venue steeped in history and known for its architectural charm and central location. The BDC, orgianlly the Royal Agricultural Hall was built in 1862 and was transformed into a design hub in the 1980s and has since hosted some of the UK’s most iconic design events such as London Art Fair, Surface Design Show and Workspace Design Show.

Each year there has been an overarching theme that brings together the show, from the signature installations and the topics up for debate on the talks stage, to the soundtracks and canapés served up at the HIX social sessions. In 2021 it was All Together Now, 2022 was Great Things Will Grow, 2023 was A Room With A Point Of View and the most recent edition, 2024 was A Sense of Place. This year the theme has just been announced and it will be Cultural Clash and it will discussing cross-cultural hospitality experiences, evolving notions of luxury, and advancements in hotel wellness.

What Makes HIX Unique?

HIX is much more that just an exhibition, it is an immersive design experience. Each edition features:

• Over 160 exhibitors from leading and emerging brands
• Panel discussions with industry leaders at HIX Talks
• Installations that reimagine hotel spaces
• Networking events and parties that bring the community together

Each year there has been an overarching theme that brings together the show, from the signature installations and the topics up for debate on the talks stage, to the soundtracks and canapés served up at the HIX social sessions. In 2021 it was All Together Now, 2022 was Great Things Will Grow, 2023 was A Room With A Point Of View and the most recent edition, 2024 was A Sense of Place. The 2025 edition’s theme is Culture Clash which addresses innovations in hotel wellness, the shifting definitions of luxury, and cross-cultural hospitality experiences.

Growth and Impact

Since its first edition, HIX has seen rapid growth with attendance growing to over 4,700 visitors annually, growing from the main exhibition space and some conference rooms, to a full venue show, and attracting more top-tier brands each year. HIX has become a launchpad for innovation, where new products, trends and ideas are unveiled to a global audience. It’s also a space for critical conversations about the future of hospitality, touching on sustainability, inclusivity, and the evolving roles of hotels.

As HIX continues to evolve, it remains committed to its founding mission: celebrating everything that makes hotels incredible. With each edition, it pushes the boundaries of what a trade show can be, transforming into a living, breathing design experience that reflects the pulse of the hospitality industry.

From its roots as a niche design event to its current status as a leading hotel interiors exhibition, HIX has carved out a unique space in the global design landscape. Held at the BDC, it’s not just a show, it’s a celebration of creativity, community and the future of hospitality.