Blog. Serving Up Something Special: Back to the Floor Is Back.

March 09, 2026 | Author Giuliana Vittiglio

There are less than two weeks to go until the legendary Back to the Floor! On Friday 20 March over 100 of hospitality’s leading figures will roll up their sleeves and don their aprons against the elegant backdrop of London Hilton on Park Lane. Ahead of this very special occasion we spoke with event sponsor Allan Reeder and some of the returning silver servers to hear why they’re supporting the event and what delights await diners this year.

Allan Reeder, Event Sponsors
While Allan Reeder has sponsored Back to the Floor and supplied a range of dairy products to help make the night a success, director Heidi Reeder wanted to go a step further and show how much she loves the concept of this fundraiser.

In the true spirit of the event, Heidi has literally been ‘back to the floor’ herself. Last week, she joined the team in the warehouse, helping to pack products and load the vans. The Allan Reeder team work hard every night to ensure customers have their deliveries ready when they need them.

Heidi believes that it is really valuable for senior leaders to step back into frontline roles whenever it’s needed. It offers a fresh perspective on any operational challenges and gives a full picture of what’s happening on a night shift. This is often where new ideas are discovered.

Allan Reeder is a family business built on teamwork, outstanding customer service, and a passion to support the wider hospitality community. Heidi is loving being part of her first ever Hospitality Action event with Back to the Floor. 

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Sue Williams, Sustainability Advisor, Positive Hospitality
“Who knew way back in 2013 just how iconic Back to the Floor would become.

It has gathered such momentum which is no surprise to me, it is an event which brings out the very best of the relationships in our industry. Every GM, industry friend and sponsor jumps in every time without hesitation and once experienced no one would want to miss out on the night’s fun. Among the highlights are the team dynamics and the mischief that goes on behind the scenes. Momentarily jousting trying to get ahead of each other. After all, the better the service the better the tips! 

Seeing some of the most elevated industry luminaires picking up a plate and serving for the first time in decades is almost a recipe for disaster, yet it’s like riding a bike and it all comes flooding back and goes swimmingly on the night. The roving musicians create the very best atmosphere to the point where we have octogenarian hoteliers dancing in the isles, in between serving the wine! 

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No one would forget the sight of a certain waiter standing on a chair, hurling dessert plates over the guest’s heads, and being caught so deftly thank goodness. Madness but so much fun, and most remarkable of all are the sums of money raised each time this event rolls around. Back to the Floor is legendary and I encourage everyone to support if you can.” Tip Sue here

Tej Walia, Managing Director, Foxhills Collection
“I am absolutely delighted to be taking part in Back to the Floor 2026. Hospitality Action is an extraordinary charity, and one whose impact on our industry cannot be overstated. As a business, Foxhills Collection is proud to be part of Hospitality Action; on a personal level, as a long-standing hotelier and Master Innholder, I feel a genuine responsibility to champion this cause and encourage the next generation of hoteliers to get involved.
 
BTTF is always highly competitive, with over 100 industry leaders rolling up their sleeves to raise vital funds and brush up on their skills. I won’t be giving away my secrets just yet, but my loyal guests, friends, and family know that I won’t be leaving them alone until they have put the hand in their pockets. I will certainly be doing everything I can to retain the top spot. I am looking forward to it - watch this space."  Tip Tej here

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Anne Golden, Vice President Operations, UK & North America and General Manager, Pan Pacific London
“The camaraderie, naughtiness, fun and true spirit of hospitality have all motivated me to get involved again. I would love to say that my skills as a waiter have improved, that would be grossly untrue, however my skills of extricating cash from unsuspecting colleagues, friends and hoteliers is stronger than ever. I am all set to “persuade” as many people as possible to part with as much cash as possible – all for an incredible charity.”  Tip Anne here.

Profound thanks to everyone who is working hard to make Back to the Floor 7 possible. Stay tuned for all the highlights and please get in touch if you’d like to learn more. #wevegotyou