Image: Ibrahim said the BHA is eyeing 'new links'

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) will bring industry representatives, investors and government officials together as part of the first-ever Tourism and Hospitality Summit on 1 June.

Around 400 delegates are expected to attend the event at InterContinental London Park Lane, which will provide the forum for discussions that will help shape the UK industry's future.

It is also hoped that the inaugural summit will improve the links between major events, sports, tourism and hospitality in order to drive economic growth and create new job opportunities.

BHA chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said: "In a year when the UK will play host to visitors from all over world, the summit provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate the breadth and vitality of the tourism and hospitality industry.

"All too often we focus merely on expansion and more specifically on increasing volume within existing structures. What if we focused on new partnerships, reaching across conventional boundaries between hospitality, tourism, sport, media, arts and culture?

"This summit – under the theme Ready, Set, Go – focuses on all aspects of growth and explores the potential for improved links in one of the world's most diverse industries - hospitality and tourism."

The programme and speaker list for the event is yet to be finalised. The main partner sponsor is InterContinental Hotels Group.

Details: www.bha.org.uk