Chef Sally Abé Reveals Spectacular Line-Up of Panels for International Women’s Day Event at Conrad London St. James

Following last year’s hugely successful International Women’s Day event (which sold out in a matter of days), Chef Sally Abé has announced an incredible line-up of female talent and a shake-up for this year’s event at Conrad London St. James and The Pem restaurant, which promises to be bigger and bolder.

The International Women’s Day event, being held on Wednesday 8^th March at Conrad London St. James in partnership with Lillet, builds on the foundations of last year’s panel talk and represents Sally and the hotel team’s strides in supporting and nurturing female talent in the hospitality industry. This year, there will be a series of four panels and workshops running simultaneously – each of which will be led by female powerhouses of hospitality, exploring life in the kitchen, on the restaurant floor, in operations, journalism, branding, mental health, and beyond. The day has been designed to explore the wealth of opportunities available in the industry, to inspire, foster collaboration, and provide the tools to help propel careers and businesses forward.

Designed to be a full day event, attendees will get the opportunity to join two panels throughout the day, with all sessions running in the morning and afternoon. After each panel session, guests will get the opportunity to network and connect with like-minded women in the ‘Showcase’ area, where a selection of handpicked female-led hospitality businesses and organisations will be showcasing their brands and services. Also included in the ticket price is a stunning three-course lunch paired with Lillet serves at The Pem which has been specially designed by Sally and The Pem’s Head Chef Laetizia Keating, and the day will finish with Lillet Spritz cocktails and  Champagne networking sponsored by Champagne AYALA.

“Last year’s event was amazing but this year, I wanted to take more action on the topics that we discussed, so I’ve split it into four talks and workshops. I thought about what I needed as a young woman coming up in the hospitality industry – these are the kind of women with real insight I would have liked to have talked to but didn’t have the contacts. It’s all about bringing women together, and showing them that there are other women in this industry that want to help them and put the ladder down for the next generation. I want everyone to come away from this day inspired by the women and businesses they’ve seen, make friends, and build a network so we can all succeed together,” says Sally Abé, Consultant Chef, Conrad London St. James.

Sally is well-known as an advocate for women in hospitality and her vision is supported by Conrad London St. James’s General Manager, Beverly Payne. Her restaurant, The Pem, is located in the hotel and is inspired by suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, whose family used the pet name ‘Pem’ for her, and celebrates generations of pioneering women leading from the front. Alongside being in the heart of Westminster, one of London’s most symbolic boroughs, the building itself has its own rich history – Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the Suffragettes, chained herself to the railings outside of the hotel in protest.

The ticketed event starts at 10.00am and will finish at 4.30pm. Tickets are £50pp and include two panel sessions, a three-course lunch at The Pem, Showcase networking, and a Lillet cocktail and Champagne AYALA to finish.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inspiring-women-in-hospitality-registration-528178144047

Conrad London St James: 22-28 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH | Website: www.conradhotels.com/london