2024 Speakers 

Jess is the Technical Solutions Consulant for APAC at Serko and is responsible for new business and retention across Serko's partners through understanding the complexities of a modern travel program, and translating it into viable product solutions. She is insatiably curious about problem...

With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, Howard is a passionate and award-winning Technology Leader who excels in driving innovation and excellence in the hospitality and private equity sectors. He is currently the Group Director of Digital Data and Technology at Pro-invest Group, a...

Ben has 30 years of delivering technology service and solutions across hospitality, property management, FMCG, Payments and Financial Services, both in Australia and internationally. He has a passion for innovation and building strong teams and platforms for the future, which solve problems...

Grant Alchin is the Chief Operating Officer and Co Founder of Independent Hotel Management Company Trilogy Hotels. Prior to founding Trilogy, Grant held senior positions in asset management for large scale investment firms as well as senior operational roles for global brands IHG Hotels &...

Victoria Peterson is a dynamic marketing leader with a proven track record across a broad spectrum of industries, including luxury ski travel, coatings, behavioural strategy, and hotels. As the Director of Marketing Communications for The Langham, Gold Coast, she was instrumental in the...

Katherine has led the People & Culture department since 2021 at Meriton Suites and after joining the hospitality industry in 2013, is a passionate advocate of attracting and retaining top talent to this ever-evolving industry.With 18 years of leading teams in human resources, across Australia...

Jay Nikolin has been appointed as the Cluster Director of Marketing and Communications for The Langham, Melbourne, and The Langham, Sydney. With over seven years in luxury hospitality, Jay has made significant impacts at Accor - Hotel Lindrum by MGallery and The Sofitel on Collins, where he...

Stacey Plaine is the Director of Marketing at W Brisbane, a passionate brand builder, and a global award-winning Marketing & PR specialist. She has 14 years of experience working in luxury/ lifestyle hotels and resorts with Marriott International across UK, Europe, Maldives & Australia and...

Kathryn brings 20+ years of industry experience as a General Manager for DOMA Hotels. Since graduating from the University of Canberra with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Kathryn combined her passion for travel and hospitality by working and training in Japan and Canada for four...

Telena Frost has 20 years of experience in the hotel industry, with over a decade dedicated to revenue management. She joined Choice Hotels Asia-Pac in 2017 as the first Revenue Manager for the region. Now, as Director of Revenue Management, she oversees a team dedicated to driving revenue results...

Catherine is an interior designer with over a decade of professional experience spanning a range of sectors and typologies. Well versed in the full spectrum of design services from conception to construction to styling, she is committed to delivering the highest quality outcomes.Prior to joining...

Hayden is the Commercial Director for APAC at Mews, a cloud-native, innovative hospitality management system. Hayden’s expertise in hospitality management, hotel technology, and corporate travel technology spans across the past 15 years, with a focus in commercial strategy and customer...

James Goodwin is an experienced executive and non-executive director with a background in media, corporate affairs and public policy. He has particular interests in the tourism, visitor economy, transport, infrastructure and education sectors.  He was appointed Chief Executive of Accommodation...

Karen is an award-winning executive and growth leader in the digital, technologyand startup industry. She uses her experience in driving reinvention and transformation tohelp the world’s biggest brands to stay ahead of disruption.Karen launched Peloton in Australia, the number one global connected...

Philippa Lucas is a Customer Success Manager at Revinate, where she specializes in helping hotels optimize their guest communications to drive direct bookings. With a background in revenue management and having grown up in a Bed and Breakfast, she has a deep understanding of the hospitality...

Tamie is a leading expert in revenue management, sales and marketing within the hotel industry. Establishing her own consulting business, RevenYou, in 2015 after working on property in both the UK and Australia, Tamie now employs a team of fifteen who work with hoteliers throughout Asia Pacific and ...

Anthony Metcalfe is a trusted senior leader in the hospitality industry possessing over a decade of multidisciplinary experience spanning guest services, operations and pre-opening projects across Australia, New Zealand and Japan. A passionate luxury-brand ambassador, Anthony is currently leading a ...

Oswin Ribeiro is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 31 years' experience in the industry. He is currently the Hotel Manager of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney which is an upper upscale brand of the Radisson Hotel Group. He complete his Bachelor of science degree in Hotel...

Sam is one of the Directors at MostynCopper, specialising in complete Project Management services for the construction industry.  Sam’s role is the driving the Commercial and Mixed-Use Sector, inclusive of innovative procurement methodologies to align with current pressures in the construction...

Director of Sales & Marketing at the newly opened (01 July, 2024) dual branded Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport - the first new hotel to open in the terminal precinct in 20 years!  Featuring 464 accommodation rooms across two hotels, three food and beverage venues, two floors of...

André is a seasoned and well respected international luxury hotelier having in-depth experience spanning over three decades from his luxury hotel & resort assignments in London, Australia, USA & the Middle East across both urban and resort luxury properties. A passionate and dedicated...

I am a hotel school graduate from HTMi, Luzern, Switzerland. My first role in hospitality was a banquet Food & Beverage attendant at Savoy Zurich (now Mandarin Oriental Zurich) back in 2006, I quickly immersed myself in the hospitality industry. After graduating in 2008, I embarked on a...

Born and raised in The Netherlands, Hugo moved to Australia in 2012. Over the past few years, something has been brewing within Hugo. A desire to actively contribute to solutions in the climate crisis. When Hotels for Trees started in The Netherlands in 2021, he knew that one day, he would bring it ...

Michelle Finney brings 14 years of hospitality expertise, graduating from the Blue Mountains International Hotel School and named 2023 Alumni of the Year. With a decade at Park Hyatt Sydney, Michelle excels in rooms division, having taking on roles within both front office and housekeeping...

As Commercial Director for DOMA Hotels, Clare is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of commercial strategies relating to; pricing, distribution, sales, marketing, and reservations. Clare also supports the restaurants and bars and conference and events functions, to assist...

Jade Cooper is an experienced marketing and communications specialist in the hospitality and professional services industries. She joined M&L Hospitality as a marketing consultant in 2009, and her progression to her current role as Director of Marketing and Communications for the broader...

Anthony is General Counsel of Pro-invest Group APAC, the executive responsible for legal and compliance, ESG and People & Culture for the Group.  As part of this role, he manages the organisation’s internal governance, providing company secretarial duties, drafting and settling legal...

Tom Fitzgerald is the Regional Director of Human Resources for the Pacific Region for Langham Hospitality Group (LHG), the region currently includes Victoria, NSW, Queensland and New Zealand. Tom is a hotelier, having worked in the industry of more than 20 years in Australia and...

Jana Doebbert is a seasoned digital marketing executive with a deep-rooted passion for the hospitality industry. Since joining Amadeus in 2016, she has led the ASPAC digital media team, guiding accommodation providers toward success in the dynamic digital landscape. With over 15 years of experience ...

Emilie has been engaged in the hospitality adventure for more than 2 decades. At Accor Asia Pacific, she successively led the Digital Marketing, Loyalty, Customer Experience and B2B sales support departments. She has contributed to the above-market performance of the Accor network in the...

Todd Stuart, born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1970, is a distinguished sculptor and industrial designer with a career spanning over three decades. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from Curtin University in 1992 and began his career as a Creative Designer at Artifex...

Nana manages the Global GreenTag Certification Program and is a Sustainability and LCA Specialist who holds a PhD in Strategic Management and the Natural Environment. He also holds a Master of Engineering in International Material Flow Management and Master of International Cooperation Policy in...

Andrew is a results-driven business leader with a distinguished career in driving growth and innovation across global markets. As the Senior Vice President of Supply at Agoda, a subsidiary of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG), Andrew plays a pivotal role in expanding Agoda's market presence and...

Lachlan is a visionary thinker with almost 30 years of hospitality experience across multiple departments, known for his innate ability to conceptualise innovative ideas, often guided by his intuition. A focus on revenue generation and efficiency optimization, with proven abilities to lead and...

Leah Rankin is a seasoned executive with a passion for people, technology and delivering customer-driven products to market at a global scale. Over the past 20 years, Leah has gained local and international experience across the telecommunications, travel and technology industries, holding numerous ...

Matthew Burke is Regional Director – Pacific, Japan and South Asia. He has 20 years of experience in hospitality originating from an operations and revenue management background. With a passion for analysis of the hospitality industry he works to increase the engagement in hospitality data...

Lydia MacDonell is a seasoned professional in the hospitality industry with a rich background in employment services and human resources. Lydia holds a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations/HR and is a certified career coach. With 15 years’ experience as a Career Coach and HR...

Mark is an esteemed commercial leader with 19 years’ experience working with leading brands in the hospitality industry. He is currently General Manager of Commercial Strategy & Revenue Optimisation at G’day Group, Australia’s leading regional accommodation provider with more than 300...

Sammy is the head of strategy and Client Service at Talk Agency. She has worked across north of 10,000 keys across the Australiasian Hotel landscape, designing, implimenting, testing and optimising strategies to drive direct bookings for asset owners and brands alike. 

Nader Agha has 18 years of experience at IKEA, working across a wide spectrum of roles within the company. Nader began his IKEA career in store in living rooms and kitchens department manager positions, where he saw first-hand customers’ needs, frustrations and dreams for their spaces and homes. He ...

Meet David Thompson, the visionary CEO & Co-Founder of Myma.ai (Formerly BookMeBob AI Chatbot for hotels), a trailblazing global Market AI Chatbot company with its groundbreaking Generative AI product. With an illustrious 25-year journey in the Hospitality & Tourism industries, David has...

Danelle Ayers is the Founder & Director of Moda - a specialist hotel and hospitality brand and marketing studio. Moda partners with hoteliers, management companies, owners and developers to provide comprehensive and creative solutions through strategy, branding, marketing and project...

Brett Salter is the Head of Accommodation, ALH Hotels, a business owned by Endeavour Group which owns and operates more than 350 hotels and pubs, more than 100 accommodation sites, retail brands Dan Murphys, BWS along with various wineries. Ten years ago, Brett joined ALH Hotels to spearhead the...

Matthias is a thought leader in the fields of revenue management, distribution, marketing, and speaks regularly at conferences and events. Matt’s insight is supported by a career rising through hotel operations, to lead the revenue and distribution management functions for large companies including ...

Erin McLeod is the CEO of the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC), with almost 20 years of experience in tourism and a strong background in developing accreditation and quality assurance programs specifically tailored for the tourism industry. At ATIC, Erin drives efforts to strengthen...

Angus Stevens is the CEO and co-founder of Start Beyond, Australia’s leading award-winning virtual (VR) and augmented (AR) reality studio. Working with Fortune Global 500 companies Accenture and Meta, as well as US-based VR company Strivr, Start Beyond is at the forefront of the metaverse for...

Jackie currently heads up HSMAI for the Asia Pacific Region as President and CEO and is Global Chair of the HSMAI Academy where we have developed many educational programs designed specifically for hoteliers working in the commercial areas of sales, marketing & revenue management.  The Academy...

Based in Australia, Amit is currently the Regional General Manager for APAC & Oceania at Lighthouse, leading the regional teams with go-to-market strategy, data partnerships, enterprise account management and sales support. He has over 25 years of experience in operational, commercial and...

Jerry Xu is the visionary founder and esteemed CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, a leading force in the hospitality industry renowned for its commitment to excellence and innovation. Fueled by an unwavering passion for hospitality, Jerry embarked on his journey in the industry more than 19 years ...

Dan is the former Vice-President of the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida. He attended Boston University, graduating in 1991, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  Upon graduation from Boston University in 1991, Dan moved to Florida and worked as a parking...

Nick's energetic and engaging presence makes him a leading figure in tourism innovation and operations. With over 25 years of experience leading Australia’s most awarded brands and hotels, Nick is a highly regarded, adaptable, and accomplished commercial leader who advocates for experience...

Luke Rayner is a passionate commercial leader in tourism with over 20 years’ in the industry. He is currently the National Revenue Manager for Ingenia Holidays Parks - a portfolio of 34 properties from the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Ocean Road - and part of the S&P/ASX200 listed company...

Brendon is a seasoned hotel industry professional with over thirty years of experience, specialising in technology integration to enhance guest experiences. Holding various management positions in 5-star hotels, consulting and with leading global technology vendors, he brings extensive knowledge to ...

Isabella helps leaders solve complex problems.  As an organisational psychologist she has worked with leaders and boards of some of the world’s most important organisations.  She is a best selling author and speaks globally about how to lead in times of complexity and how to get ahead of the...

I’ve enjoyed a diverse career in a number of hospitality settings from remote luxury lodges and sun-drenched beaches to the hustle and bustle of CBD locations. Working across a number of large hotel companies like Accor, IHG and Kerzner, and fantastic Australian based companies like Meriton and now ...

Ozge Fettahlioglu Wellness/Biophilic Interior Designer | Custom Modular Construction Ozge Fettahlioglu, Managing Director of Cocoplum | Biophilic Design Studio and Boxareno | Custom Modular Constructions, is a visionary leader in bespoke wellness design, building materials, furniture, and...

Caspar P. Schmidt BIO 2024.   With more than 25 years of hospitality experience Caspar brings a valuable, composed, and universal leadership style into the businesses he leads. AQ, and EQ are some of his strongest assets. Caspar is change-savvy, a driven team motivator, a mentor, and a...

Christopher is a sustainable hospitality expert for businesses and destinations, a trainer, coach and author who loves to share his passion to inspire business owners and managers into taking progressive steps to make their operations leading lights in the fast-developing world of sustainable...

Andrea is Co-founder and CEO of Hotel Etico, the first not for profit social enterprise hotel in Australia, employing and training young people with disability, challenging the wider community to see both the human and economic value of an inclusive society. A strong believer in the transformative ...

Jane Langof is an internationally accredited, award-winning Feng Shui Master based in Sydney, Australia. She specialises in combining Feng Shui with modern design principles for residential, commercial, and community projects. Her work has been recognised by leading industry associations such as...

Patrick is a seasoned industry expert with over 35 years of experience in the travel and hospitality technology industries.  He has in-depth knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region where he spent 25 years working for global organizations based out of Hong Kong and Singapore.  At Oracle Patrick leads a ...

Cate Liedtke – Bio Cate Liedtke is the creative Director and Design Principal at Tidda Interiors and Catherine de Meur Interiors, where she brings over 13 years of award-winning experience to the forefront of the design industry. Cate’s lifelong passion for interior design has evolved into a...

Gabrielle Daniels is the CEO of her own Boutique Hospitality, Tourism & Small business advisory firm, servicing the accommodation sector, major sporting events, destinations and small businesses. Gabby prides her business and service as unique in this space as not outsourced. Gabby supports her ...

Benjamin, as the Global Vice President Strategic Accounts, supports the strategic direction and growth of customer portfolios, placing a strong emphasis on nurturing growth opportunities within Global and Regional Strategic Partnerships. His approach focuses on seamlessly integrating client needs...

Sarah has been working in tourism since 2001 and the sustainability profession since 2015.  In 2014 she completed Climate leadership training via Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, after which she moved to Cambodia she combined her enthusiasm for reducing single-use plastics with her expertise in...

Michael is a director of business development at Expedia Group Media Solutions where he oversees the Asia Pacific region, leading his team of trusted advisors to develop insights-led marketing strategies for lodging partners. Michael has worked in the hospitality and online travel industries for...

Trent Innes is the Chief Growth Officer at hotel tech leader SiteMinder, an ASX 200-listed company and one of the few Australian businesses to achieve a truly global presence. Passionate about fostering a thriving global technology industry, Trent has earned recognition for his contribution to the...

Puneet Mahindroo is a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry, boasting over 25 years of extensive experience in various corporate roles encompassing Marketing, Revenue Optimization, and Distribution. His entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in premium Restaurant and Bar projects, have...

Program Performance Manager,  Insights Kerry Gouws is the Program Performance Manager for the Revenue Insights team. Based in Perth, Kerry works within the team at Expedia Group responsible for Insights programs design and performance. This team is focused on offering solutions that help lodging...

Kristi is Director of Design & Technical Servies at Pro-Invest Developments, a global investment firm renowned for its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Pro-invest Group's portfolio, spans diverse assets across the UK and Australia/NZ with a focus on...

  HEYWARD GROUP Heyward Group is passionate about enabling leadership to empower a workplace where people and businesses thrive. Since our inception in 2015, we have been consulting and developing bespoke training for various industries and countries, making a global impact and inspiring...

In 1989, he established E Horner & Associates Pty Ltd  a Consulting Practice specializing in Technology Consulting to the Hospitality Industry  and  he is  now widely respected as Australia's leading consultant in this area .   In 1996  created Australia’s first dedicated Hotel Technology ...

Jo has over 20 + years of experience in tourism & hospitality, and more than 10 years in the Corporate Travel industry with global company FCM, part of the Flight Centre Travel Group.  With a passion for analysis, and with more than 2 years under her belt with STR CoStar Group, she works to...

With 25 years’ experience leading at the forefront of innovation in the intersecting hospitality and property industries, Jorn crafts unique products, services and businesses that build true competitive advantage. His entrepreneurial vision is honed in start-up contexts with an operational...

Founded in 2008 by Rachel Luchetti and Stuart Krelle, Luchetti Krelle's projects range from extensive restorations and rejuvenations of heritage buildings through a lavish contemporary lens to the creation of immersive settings inspired by an adroit telescoping of design genres and cultural...

Rick Whalley is the founder of CHADA and current part Owner/Director with Creative Director, Juliet Ashworth. The CHADA Interior Architectural design studio has been established in Sydney for over 4 decades and is proud to have provided lead design for over 140 completed projects, principally in...

Angela Biddle is an Interior Designer with over 20 years’ experience specialising in hotels, lifestyle residential and mixed-use developments, with a portfolio of work that spans Europe, the Middle East, North and South America and Australia. Her objective is to create unique brands and inspiring...

Tracey offers unparalleled design experience across the high-end residential and hospitality sectors. Her international portfolio reflects more than 25 years' experience, leading award-winning projects across Europe, the UK and Asia for a diverse range of retail, residential, commercial and...

Mr. Peter Pfister, with 25 years of global experience in the hotel industry, currently serves as the Vice President of Operations for GCP Hospitality’s Perth and Melbourne properties in Australia. His career, spanning leadership roles in the Food & Beverage and Rooms Divisions across...

With over 10 years background in project management and a Masters of Sustainability, Andrew is a Sector Lead in the NSW Government's NABERS program. As a Sector Lead is responsible for customer outreach and stakeholder engagment in the hotel and accomodation building sector, helping building...

Sioux Clark is an interior designer and co-director of design-based architecture practice Multiplicity. Working in conjunction with partner architect Tim O'Sullivan and a family of exceptional architects and designers, Multiplicity have garnered awards across genres in recognition of the...

With over 15 years of experience in Information Technology, Mohannad has specialised in the hospitality and entertainment industry. Currently serving at Pro-invest Group as a Senior PM Information Technology , he has spearheaded numerous projects aimed at enhancing guest experiences through...

Jon and Katie King are directors of Design King Company, an architectural practice established in 1994 and specializing in highly crafted and considered residential and commercial architecture and interiors and have established a highly regarded reputation. Over the last 30 years of practice DKC...

Blake Riddington is the Regional Director at TravMedia, a global leader in travel media networking and communication. With a passion for building meaningful connections and fostering relationships, Blake plays a key role in driving the company's initiatives across the region. He is the host of...