The Class Conference 2026 brought the people leading Europe’s student housing sector to Amsterdam for three busy days of networking, site visits and plenty of discussion. The Utopi team was there for the full programme, from co-hosting the Women of PBSA drinks reception on the first night to presenting on the Regional Stage on the last day.
With operational pressures, shifting sources of capital, booking rates and incentives all in focus across the UK, Ireland and Europe, it was a good moment for operators, developers and investors to get together and compare notes. Here are some of our highlights from the week.
Night One: Women of PBSA Drinks Reception.
We kicked off the week on Tuesday 3 November by co-hosting the Women of PBSA drinks reception with The Class Foundation. The evening celebrated the women working across the sector who keep pushing boundaries in development, operations and investment.
It was also a chance to recognise the community these women have built together, one shaped by mentorship, support and championing each other’s work. We were really pleased to partner with The Class Foundation on it, and it set the tone for the rest of the week.
Day Two: Site Tours and The Best in Class Awards.
Wednesday started with site tours of some of Amsterdam’s leading schemes, including The Social Hub Amsterdam City, which brings student accommodation, hotel rooms and co-working space together under one roof. Seeing buildings in person is always valuable, and the tours gave everyone a first-hand look at how operators are approaching shared space, community and day-to-day operations.
Jonathan Burridge Shortlisted for PBSA Leader of the Year.
In the evening, the sector headed to ARTIS Royal Zoo for The Best in Class Awards. Our Co-Founder and CEO, Jonathan Burridge, was named a finalist for PBSA Leader of the Year. The award went to another nominee on the night – Congratulations to Brian Welsh, a very deserving winner – but we’re proud to see Jonathan recognised alongside such a strong shortlist of leaders in European student housing. It’s a fitting nod to his work building Utopi and helping raise standards in building performance across the sector.
Day Three: The Conference.
Thursday 5 November was the main conference day at Het Sieraad. Between sessions, we spent time catching up with clients, partners and industry contacts, strengthening existing relationships and talking through where the market is heading.
What If We Built It Backwards?
On the Regional Stage, Chanel Turner-Ross, Marketing Director, Europe at Utopi, presented: “What If We Built It Backwards? Affordability, Data and the Future of PBSA.”
The talk started from a simple idea: Affordability isn’t only a market condition, it’s also a design decision. So what changes if operators start with affordability and work backwards through operations, energy and the way space is used?
“...and 11.5% of KLDs sit inside a spell of 24 hours or more of no motion. So are residents not cooking? Are they cooking and taking it back to their rooms? Are KLDs not designed for multiple occupancy right now? Maybe the answer is less KLDS but at a larger spec with more home comforts; regardless, right not its a space that residents aren't fully utilising - but that to us signals an opportunity for change.”Chanel Turner-Ross on the data behind Space Utilisation. A key influence on Affordability.
Drawing on continuous, room-level data from live buildings across 13 countries, Chanel looked at where cost really sits inside a building, and how clearer visibility of building performance can shape better design and operational decisions. Thank you to everyone who came along and to those who stopped by with questions afterwards.
Looking Ahead.
A big thank you to The Class team for putting together another strong programme, to The Class Foundation for partnering with us on the Women of PBSA reception, and to everyone who took the time to meet with the Utopi team during the week. We’ve come home with plenty to follow up on.
If you’d like to talk about how room-level data can support affordability across your portfolio, book a demo at utopi.co.uk/contact.
