Chris Penn

Chris Penn is the Chief Executive Officer of Ace Hotel, responsible for leading the brand’s global operations, growth, and commercial strategy. He stepped into the role in January 2025 following a 25-year career spent founding, developing, and operating hospitality businesses across the lifestyle sector.

Chris has been closely connected to the Ace story for more than a decade. As Managing Director of Ace Hotel London, he led the launch of the Shoreditch property in 2013, helping establish it as one of the defining hotels of its generation. His work combined operational excellence with a deep understanding of culture, community, and the role hospitality can play in shaping neighbourhoods and cities.

Beyond Ace, Chris founded Birch in 2020, an award-winning hospitality concept that challenged traditional ideas of what a hotel could be, creating a hybrid model centred on creativity, wellbeing, work, and community. Throughout his career, he has also advised and developed a wide range of hospitality concepts, from urban lifestyle hotels to longer-stay and eco-tourism ventures.

At The Lobby, Chris brings a perspective shaped by decades of building hospitality businesses that balance commercial performance with strong brand identity and cultural relevance. His experience launching new concepts, scaling operations, and creating places that resonate with both guests and local communities makes him a valuable voice in conversations about leadership, entrepreneurship, brand-building, and the future of experience-driven businesses.

Chris will join a panel moderated by Tina Norden, Partner at Conran & Partners, exploring how hospitality brands can create meaningful connections between people, places, and culture in a rapidly evolving landscape.