SPONSORS
The Event
Welcome to Social Media Mania - The day-long bootcamp hosted by Mark McCulloch MBE and Alison Battisby, where hospitality marketers finally get the answers they've been searching for at 2am while doom-scrolling competitor accounts.
Whether you're a seasoned social media manager or a restaurant owner who's been winging it with whatever your nephew said TikTok needs, this conference is your chance to stop guessing and start growing.
We're bringing together the brightest minds in hospitality marketing to share the strategies, shortcuts and creative sparks that'll help you cut through the noise, connect with hungry customers, and turn your social feeds into serious bookings.
Expect practical tips you can use tomorrow, laughs you'll remember forever, and maybe - just maybe - the confidence to finally hit 'post' without second-guessing yourself seventeen times.
Sound good?
Thursday, 9th July - BOX, Piccadilly
What to Expect
A focused, fast-paced day, Social Media Mania will tackle the questions hospitality marketers are dealing with right now, without the fluff.
You’ll learn:
What’s actually working on social media for hospitality in 2026
How AI is changing content, ads and workflows (and what you can safely ignore)
How to get your whole team on board - from chefs to front-of-house
How to turn views, likes and saves into bookings
Smarter approaches to ads and influencers that don’t waste budget
Boardroom-level thinking from multi-site brands and senior marketers
This isn’t theory. It’s practical, honest insight you can apply immediately.
The full agenda and speaker line-up will be revealed soon.
Waitlist members will be the first to see it, and the first to access early-bird tickets.
AGENDA
9.00am Welcome Coffee & Networking - Glenda from Team Marketing
Join us for coffee, pastries and networking. Glenda Barber from Team Marketing will get the conversation flowing with discussion around your wins, challenges and what you're hoping to take away.
10.00am Introductions & State of the Nation - Mark McCulloch MBE
What does the world of social media look like for hospitality marketers right now? Mark McCulloch MBE sets the scene with the headlines that matter, the brands cutting through the noise, and what it all means for your strategy in 2026.
10.40am Are You Findable in TikTok, Instagram, ChatGPT and Other Searches in 2026? - Alison Battisby
SEO isn't dead, it's just changed. Today's customers and guests are discovering you through tools like ChatGPT, TikTok, Instagram and Reddit. In this session, Alison Battisby explores how hospitality brands can show up in the places that matter most, and what you can do right now to stay visible in an increasingly AI-driven world.
11.15 Coffee Break
11.30am The Guide to TikTok Discovery Commerce for Hospitality - George Meagher, TikTok Shop
TikTok isn't just where your guests discover you, it's fast becoming where they buy from you too. TikTok will share how restaurants and dining brands are already capitalising on TikTok Shop to sell merchandise and products directly to their audience. Plus, get a first look at the key developments coming down the pipeline, straight from the platform itself.
12.00pm Turn Your Team Into Your Most Powerful Marketing Channel - Alison Battisby
Human-led content consistently outperforms polished, staged content - and it costs almost nothing. But getting your GMs, chefs and owners comfortable on camera, bought into LinkedIn, and genuinely excited about showing up online? That's the hard part. In this session, we’ll share the practical tools, confidence-building techniques and internal frameworks that turn even the most camera-shy team members into authentic, high-performing content creators.
12.30pm Once and For All: The Definitive Marketing Team Structure - Mark McCulloch MBE
What if everything you thought you knew about structuring your marketing team was wrong? In this session, Mark McCulloch MBE shares how rethinking processes, resources, and mindset can transform your social media function from a cost centre into a revenue driver.
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Creative is the New Targeting: Winning at Social Ads in the Age of AI - Alison Battisby
The rules of paid social advertising have been completely rewritten. Meta's Andromeda AI engine killed the era of audience obsession. TikTok is turning scrollers into bookers. And LinkedIn is quietly becoming hospitality's most underrated B2B weapon. In this session, you’ll discover how to cut through the noise, whether you're managing ads in-house or briefing an agency.
14.30 The Creator Playbook: The Honest Guide to Creator Marketing in 2026 - Expert Panel hosted by Joli
Let's talk creators - are they worth it, and can they transform your hospitality brand? Hosted by influencer platform Joli, this candid panel brings together three of the UK's top TikTok and Instagram creators to share exactly what hospitality marketers need to know. From crafting a pitch that actually gets a response, to contracts, briefing and the age-old question of payment - this is the honest conversation you've been waiting to have.
15.00 Coffee Break
15.20 TBC - with Exciting Special Guest
15.40 TBC: Interview with a successful restaurant brand - with Exciting Special Guest
16.00 Social Media Open Q&A & Discussion - Chaired by Mark McCulloch MBE
This is your chance to get specific. Bring your content headaches, your engagement frustrations, your "why isn't this working?" moments and get honest, practical answers from people who've been in the trenches. Chaired by Mark McCulloch MBE, this open session invites hospitality brands to share what's working, what isn't, and what's keeping them up at night when it comes to social media. Whether it's paid or organic, strategy or execution, nothing is off the table.
16.30 Sponsored Drinks / Networking
17.30 Event Ends
Get Early Access
Early Bird Tickets: £299 + VAT (until 30th April 2026)*
Plus, a further £50 Discount for Team Marketing members
Full Price Tickets: £349 + VAT