Laurent Delporte does not approach hospitality as a sector, but as a way of understanding how people, places and experiences come together. Over more than twenty-five years, he has developed a perspective shaped as much by observation as by practice: experience is not delivered, it is designed. A graduate of... Read more
Laurent Delporte does not approach hospitality as a sector, but as a way of understanding how people, places and experiences come together. Over more than twenty-five years, he has developed a perspective shaped as much by observation as by practice: experience is not delivered, it is designed.
A graduate of HEC Paris (Entrepreneurship), his early engagements were already pointing in that direction. As co-founder of the French section of the European Youth Parliament, he conceived and led international gatherings where cultures met, often for the first time. It was there, long before hospitality became a profession, that a simple idea took form: welcoming is never neutral. It is constructed through space, through intention, through attention to others.
His path into hospitality itself came almost incidentally. It became central. At Accor, he chose first to remain close to operations within hotels, alongside teams, where experience exists in detail rarely seen but always felt. This grounding led him to international roles, notably as International Brand Manager for Sofitel, where he contributed to a significant transformation of the brand. His work spanned service standards, experience frameworks and close collaboration with architects and owners ensuring that experience was considered not at the end, but at the very beginning of each project.
That dual perspective — operational and strategic — now underpins DELPORTE HOSPITALITY, the advisory structure he founded. From real estate to healthcare, from luxury to service industries, he works with decision-makers to align environments, cultures and uses, shaping experiences that are both distinctive and coherent.
His thinking continues through DH-Mag, a bilingual publication dedicated to the evolving landscape of hospitality and luxury. There, through essays, interviews and field observations, he explores how the principles of hospitality extend far beyond hotels into any context where relationships define value.
At the centre of his work lies the concept of Generous Hospitality. A framework built on three dimensions: the sense of place, the quality of human connection, and the client’s lived experience. Not as separate elements, but as a system — one that, when aligned, allows organisations to move beyond process and towards something more enduring: engagement, loyalty, and a form of performance rooted in human experience.
As a speaker, Laurent Delporte addresses international audiences of executives, investors and academic institutions. His interventions focus on three themes: hospitality as a lever for organisational transformation, the design of experience within places and services, and the evolution of luxury in response to new expectations around well-being, technology and meaning.
Internationally recognised, Laurent Delporte is listed among the world’s top hospitality opinion leaders by the International Hospitality Institute and the American magazine Global Hospitality, and among the Top Luxury Speakers of the World by the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, based in New York.
Recent speaking engagements include FYU Miami, HEC Paris, Luxury Hospitality Conference Milan, Digital Enterprise Show Malaga, and Medi Wellness Congress Geneva.
His talks offer more than perspective — they provide the keys to rethink how organizations welcome, design experiences, and create lasting value.
In a world where hotels, offices, clinics and commercial spaces increasingly look alike, differentiation has become a major strategic challenge. This conference explores how to restore meaning to place, experience and human connection in order to create true singularity. A key topic for hospitality, real estate, retail, healthcare and all environments welcoming...
What if performance did not come only from processes, but from the way we welcome? This conference introduces a clear model: place, human connection and customer experience as drivers of engagement, well-being and value creation. An approach applicable to all sectors where relationships are at the heart of the business.
Why do certain experiences leave a lasting impression, regardless of the sector? Drawing from the codes of luxury hospitality, this conference shows how to adapt these principles to other environments: healthcare, retail, industry, services, real estate or public spaces. A powerful lever to transform the perception of clients, patients or users.
Everyone talks about customer experience. Few truly define it. This conference decodes the contemporary challenges of experience: expectations, perception, emotion and consistency. An essential framework to understand how to create experiences that are meaningful and impactful
The quality of experience begins with the quality of the relationship to oneself. This conference explores the role of teams in creating authentic experiences beyond scripts and standards, highlighting the importance of presence, listening and intention. A powerful lever for management, leadership and all service professions.
What if hospitality first meant understanding yourself? This conference offers practical keys to learning how to welcome yourself understanding your thoughts, limitations and strengths in order to better welcome others and create genuine human connection. A deep and structuring perspective on leadership, relationships and meaning in action.
Luxury has profoundly evolved. It is no longer defined by visible codes alone. This conference explores what truly defines a luxury experience today: authenticity, emotion, attention to detail and the quality of human connection. An essential perspective for all high-end players and beyond.
Luxury hospitality is no longer about visible standards, status symbols or an accumulation of services. This conference decodes the foundations of contemporary luxury hospitality: sense of place, excellence in human connection, consistency of experience, well-being, personalization and authenticity. It highlights major industry shifts, evolving expectations of high-end clients and the trends...
In service professions, the pursuit of perfection can become a trap. Too many standards create rigidity; too much control distances from what truly matters: the relationship.
This conference proposes a shift in perspective: aiming for excellence rather than perfection. A living excellence, based on the ability to perceive, adapt...