Hospitality Tech360 chats to event partner Chris Fletcher, Founder of Tech on Toast, about cutting through the noise, solving real operator problems, and why the time is right for a new dedicated event for the hospitality tech community.

What was your experience of the TechX area at HRC like last year, and why do you think now’s the right time for a dedicated hospitality tech show like HT360?

Last year’s TechX area felt like the start of something. There was this growing buzz around technology, but it was tucked away, almost like tech was still being treated as an add-on rather than a strategic driver. Fast forward to now, and we’re at a tipping point. Operators are no longer just curious about tech, they’re actively looking for solutions. HT360 couldn’t come at a better time. We need a space that treats hospitality tech with the same importance we give to food, design or service. A show like this signals that tech is now central to how we operate, scale, and survive.

What are you most looking forward to about HT360, and why should tech providers and operators sign up?

I’m most excited about the conversations that happen between the panels, the real, gritty chats where operators open up about what’s actually happening on-site. HT360 gives tech providers the rare chance to listen first-hand to the problems operators are trying to solve. And for operators, it’s a chance to cut through the noise and find solutions that aren’t just shiny, they’re practical. If you’re in this industry, you should be there to listen, share and connect. It’s not just a trade show, it’s a catalyst for collaboration.

What’s the biggest challenge you think hospitality businesses will face in the next few years, and how could tech help?

The biggest challenge will be finding balance, between automation and human touch, cost-saving and quality, innovation and consistency. We’re entering a phase where operators will have to do more with less, and tech can play a massive role in that. Whether it’s AI helping reduce admin, predictive tools driving smarter scheduling, or platforms that actually connect your stack, tech can ease the pressure, not add to it. But only if it’s chosen wisely and implemented with the team in mind.

How is tech changing hospitality?

It’s shifting the centre of gravity. Tech used to sit in the back office, now it’s in the kitchen, the front of house, in the guest’s hand. It’s influencing how we train staff, how we personalise experiences, how we manage margins. But the real game-changer is how it enables better decision-making, faster, more accurate and often more empathetic too. It’s giving operators breathing space to focus on what really matters, people and product.

Is it hard to find staff with the right tech skills? Where are the biggest gaps? And where will we find the talent?

Yes, it’s tough. Not because people aren’t willing, but because we’re still not great at teaching hospitality tech in a way that makes sense operationally. The biggest gaps are around systems integration, digital ordering, and analytics, anything that requires critical thinking and comfort with digital tools. We need to start growing that talent in-house, through upskilling and better onboarding. And we’ll also find it by looking beyond traditional roles, think career-switchers, digital natives, even gamers. The skill is out there, we just need to know where to look and how to nurture it.

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