2026 Program Overview

Please see the 2026 Aotearoa Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition (AHICE) program overview below.

Monday 10 August 2026

6.00pm-8.00pm

NETWORKING: AHICE AOTEAROA ‘AFTER DARK’ NETWORKING BAR.
Our networking kick-off at a venue to be revealed via the Event App. Enjoy a drink on arrival and pay as you go.
Pre-registration required.

Presented by

Note: Program is subject to change

Tuesday 11 August 2026

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
12:30pm-1:15pm REGISTRATION, coffee and tea in the exhibition showcase.
1:15pm-1:30pm WELCOME TO AHICE AOTEAROA 2026 with emcee NICKY STYRIS, Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA) Strategic Director JAMES DOOLAN and AHICE Group President and Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON, including a pōwhiri Māori welcoming ceremony.
1:30pm-2:20pm

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE FOCUS SESSIONS.

Presented by
1:30pm-1:55pm

PANEL SESSION: INTERIOR DESIGN & FURNISHINGS. Top trends from leading executives.

Hosted by:
• MONIQUE ENOKA-DAVIDSON, Director, Space Studio

Panelists:
• MARK KESSNER, Director, Space Workshop
• PHILIP CLARKE, Senior Interior Designer, BCN Architects
• REUBEN BEATSON, Managing Director, Astro Hospitality
• SCOTT COMPTON, Principal – Interior Design, Warren and Mahoney
1:55pm-2:20pm

PANEL SESSION: ARCHITECTURE. Top trends from leading executives.

Hosted by:
• RICHARD DALMAN, Managing Director, Dalman Architects

Panelists:
• BRETT RUSSELL, Director, Russell Group
• CHRISTOPHER KELLY, Principal, Architecture Workshop Aotearoa
• PERRY ROYAL, Principal Architect, Royal Assoc Architects (RAA)
• PHILLIPA LE ROUX, Design and Project Director – Architecture, Design and Construction, Australasia, Hilton
2:20pm-2:35pm KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: BEYOND THE SPA. Emerging health and wellness trends reshaping New Zealand hotels by DOUGLAS DRUMMOND, Director Tourism and Leisure, Horwath HTL.
2:35pm-2:45pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS: MAYOR’S WELCOME. The Mayor of Christchurch, PHIL MAUGER, welcoming delegates to the city.
2:45pm-2:55pm PRESENTATION: THE RISE OF ASSET MANAGEMENT. The Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) arrives in Aotearoa by RODGER L. POWELL, Managing Director, THSA.
2:55pm-3:10pm KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: THE ESSENTIAL DATA OUTLOOK FOR AOTEAROA. Where the market is at present by MATTHEW BURKE, Regional Director – Asia Pacific ex China, STR.
3:10pm-3:25pm

INDUSTRY TALKS: OWNERSHIP RULES. Talking ownership with a leading New Zealand investor.

Hosted by:
• MATTHEW TRIPOLONE, Managing Director – Australasia and Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts 

Speaker:
• SHANE LE COMPTE, Owner, Crowne Plaza Christchurch
3:25pm-3:55pm

AFTERNOON TEA in the exhibition showcase.

Presented by
3:55pm-4:05pm

KEYNOTE: SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE. The HCA Sustainability Group look at the latest news and trends.

Speakers:
• DANIELLE KENNEDY, Sustainability Manager, Millennium Hotels and Resorts
• RICHARD HAYMAN, Head of Property and Environmental Policy Advisor,
Scenic Hotel Group
4:05pm-4:30pm

PANEL SESSION: SUSTAINABILITY. Top trends from leading executives.

Hosted by:
• DANIELLE KENNEDY, Sustainability Manager, Millennium Hotels and Resorts

Panelists:
• KANIKA JHUNJHNUWALA, Chief Strategy & Sustainable Growth Officer, Hind Management
• KATHARINE HOPPER, Head of Sustainability, EVT
• MIKE BAKER, Managing Director, Fellow of Engineering NZ, CMInstD, Mechanical and Hydraulics Engineer, TMCO
• RICHARD HAYMAN, Head of Property and Environmental Policy Advisor,
Scenic Hotel Group
4:30pm-4:45pm TOURISM LEADER Q&A: Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Officer, RENÉ DE MONCHY, in conversation with Hotel Council Aotearoa Strategic Director, JAMES DOOLAN.
4:45pm-5:10pm

PANEL SESSION: THE DEVELOPERS’ OUTLOOK. New Zealand developers talk about future opportunities and projects.

Hosted by:
• NICK THOMPSON, National Director – Hotels, New Zealand, Colliers

Panelists:
• ANDREW KRUKZIENER, Governing Director, Krukziener Properties
• IAN WILSON, Director, Title Hospitality
• NIC SMITH, Managing Director, Alfred Taylor Development
• PIENAAR PISO, Hotel Developer and Founder, Vision Complete Earthworks
5:10pm-5:20pm

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: STATE OF THE INDUSTRY. The latest from Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA).

Speaker:
• JAMES DOOLAN, Strategic Director, Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA)
5:20pm-5:35pm

HOTELIER Q&A: One on one with Accor.

Hosted by:
• JAMES WILKINSON, Group President, AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines

Speaker:
• ADRIAN WILLIAMS, Chief Operating Officer PM&E – Pacific, Accor Hotels
5:35pm-6:00pm

PANEL SESSION: VIEW FROM THE TOP: THE LEADERS’ EXPECTATIONS (part 1) An essential outlook for the year ahead from leading hotel executives.

Hosted by:
• STEPHEN HAMILTON, Director, Horwath HTL

Panelists:
• DANIELLA TONETTO, Senior Director, Commercial – Australasia, Hilton
• KARL LUXON, Chief Executive Officer Scenic Hotel Group
• LUKE MORAN, Co-CEO, Drifter hotels
• RAYMOND FAULKNER, Vice President Operations and Development, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, Swiss-Belhotel International
6:15pm-8:15pm

NETWORKING: GALA NETWORKING EVENT at RYDGES CHRISTCHURCH LATIMER SQUARE. Enjoy fantastic food, drinks and live entertainment (delegates only).

Presented by

Supported by

 

8:15pm-onwards

NETWORKING: AHICE AOTEAROA ‘AFTER DARK’ NETWORKING BAR at RYDGES CHRISTCHURCH LATIMER SQUARE (delegates only and pay as you go).

Presented by

Note: Program is subject to change

Wednesday 12 August 2026

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
8.00am onwards

BREAKFAST, coffee and tea in the exhibition showcase.
RSVP for breakfast masterclass required for breakfast.
8:40am-8:45am WELCOME BACK TO AHICE AOTEAROA by emcee NICKY STYRIS.
8:45am-10:15am INN TECH SESSIONS FOCUS SESSIONS. INN Tech is our mini-Hotel Technology Summit with a keynote outlook and showcase sessions and to give you a flavour of what’s hot in technology.

Presented by
8:45am-9:20am BREAKFAST MASTERCLASS: TECHNOLOGY – AI ESSENTIALS. A masterclass in AI you won’t want to miss, served up with breakfast.

Hosted by:
• BEN CHARLTON, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Cloudbeds

Panelists:
• CHRIS CLAYTON, Head of Technology, Scenic Hotel Group 
• DAVID THOMPSON, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, MyMA.AI
• MARK ALLEN, Special Counsel, Anthony Harper Law
• MYLES CARR, VP Sales, Revenue & Distribution 1834 Hotels

Presented by
9:20am-10:00am INN TECH PANEL SESSION: TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION SHOWCASE. What’s hot in technology, plus innovative solutions for 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• BENJAMIN KRIEG, SVP Commercial & Strategic Growth Metro Global, MYBOS Hospitality Distribution Partner

Panelists:
• ALISTAIR ROBERTSON, Strategic Sales Leader – Hospitality & Entertainment, Honeywell
• CAROL NESBITT, Director, FlexKeeping
• CHRIS ORMISTON, Senior Sales Engineer, Agilysys
• ERIC WONG, Vice President, Hospitality – Asia Pacific, Infor
• JUSTIN DE LILLE, Group Chief Executive Officer, Liverton
• LAUREN COLES, Growth Marketing Manager – APAC, Canary Technologies
• MATT ROSE, Commercial Director, Room Price Genie
• MICHAEL BONGIOVANNI, Enterprise Sales Director, Cendyn
• SILVIA CHEN, New Zealand Market Manager, Hub OS
10:00am-10:15am INN TECH Q&A: SERVING YOUR GUESTS MORE EFFECTIVELY AND BOOSTING PROFITABILITY. Explore strategic approaches to heightening both guest satisfaction and the bottom line.

Hosted by:
• BENJAMIN KRIEG, SVP Commercial & Strategic Growth Metro Global, MYBOS Hospitality Distribution Partner

Speaker:
• CHRIS ORMISTON, Senior Sales Engineer, Agilysys
10:15am-10:30am INDUSTRY TALKS: NEW SIGNINGS. Announcing exciting new projects for a key regional city.

Hosted by:
• JAMES WILKINSON, Group President, AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines

Speakers:
• PIENAAR PISO, Hotel Developer and Founder, Vision Complete Earthworks
• TIM MACINDOE, Mayor of Kirikiriroa Hamilton
10:30am-11:00am NETWORKING: MORNING TEA in the exhibition showcase.

Presented by
11:00am-11:25am PANEL SESSION: FRANCHISING: MARKET EXPECTATIONS. Franchising is again set to grow in Aotearoa in 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• RUWANI WEERASINGHE, Director Asset Management and Acquisition, La Vie Hotels

Panelists:
• DANESH BAMJI, Vice President Franchise, Pacific, Accor
• JONATHAN GELL, Regional Director, Brand Performance Support, Hilton
• SAM DAVIES, Director of Operations – Australasia & Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts
• SCOTT ARMSTRONG, Director – Development ANZ, Choice Hotels APAC
• SURESH SUBRAMANIAM, Head of Development, New Zealand and South Pacific, BWH Hotels
11:25am-11:40am

HOTELIER Q&A: One on one with IHG Hotels and Resorts.
Hosted by:

• JAMES WILKINSON, Group President, AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines

Speaker:
• RAJIT SUKUMARAN, SVP & MD EAPAC, IHG Hotels and Resorts
11:40am-12:05pm PANEL SESSION: REGIONAL NEW ZEALAND. A dive into the new projects and development opportunities for key regional areas across Aotearoa.

Hosted by:
• ALISTAIR LAW, Partner, Anthony Harper

Panelists:
• DANILO CURCURUTO, Director, Development, Australasia, Radisson Hotel Group
• LISA HOPKINS, Chief Executive Officer, Business Events Industry Aotearoa
• MATT HOLMES, Vice President of Development, South East Asia & Pacific Rim,Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific
• PETER DOHERTY, Development Director, Choice Hotels APAC
• PETER HILL, Director of Development, EVT
12:05pm-12:20pm INDUSTRY TALKS: THE DEAL: Talking about the listing of the New Zealand Hotel Holdings properties and how the process went down.

Hosted by:
• MICHAEL SIMPSON, Managing Director Capital Markets, Hotels, CBRE

Speaker:
• BRETT RUSSELL, Director, Russell Group
12:20pm-12:40pm PANEL SESSION: FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRENDS. New benchmarks to expect for 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• ALISON HULM, Director, JACK Hospitality Consulting

Panelists:
• MICHAEL STAMBOULIDIS, General Manager, QT Auckland
• MINA LI, Regional Vice President & Country Manager, Hyatt
• ROBERT DAVIES, Global Key Account Segment Leader Hotel, Unox
• ZAC LUMSDEN, Portfolio General Manager, CP Hotels New Zealand, Accor
12:40pm-1:00pm PANEL SESSION: HUMAN RESOURCES. New benchmarks to expect for 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• RUWAN PEIRIS, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel Advisors Global

Panelists:
• CRAIG BINNEY, Head of People & Culture, Scenic Hotel Group
• GIOVANNA GREEN, Industry Placement Manager, PIHMS
• SALLY CARR, P&C Manager, Wairakei Resort Taupo
• SUE DUNCAN, General Manager Hospitality, Working In
• TODD WACKROW, Country Manager – New Zealand, Sidekicker
1:00pm-1:50pm NETWORKING: LUNCH in the exhibition showcase.

Presented by
1:50pm-2:15pm PANEL SESSION: THE INVESTORS’ OUTLOOK. An essential investment outlook for the coming years.

Hosted by:
• PETER HAMILTON, Director of Hotels, CBRE

Panelists:
• DEAN BAGLEY, Senior Director of Regional Development, Australasia, BWH Hotels
• MICHAEL PATTERSON, Owner, Commodore Airport Hotel
• NICHOLAS LOCKYER, Executive Director – Development, Pacific, Accor
• RODGER L. POWELL, Managing Director, Hotel Advisors Global
• SUDESH JHUNJUNWALA, Founder, Hind Management / Sudima Hotels
2:15pm-2:40pm PANEL SESSION: THE AOTEAROA GENERAL MANAGERS’ OUTLOOK. General Managers look at their expectations for 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• WIM RUEPERT, Director, New Zealand, Horwath HTL

Panelists:
• ANNIKA WORTH, General Manager, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
• BRUCE GARRETT, General Manager, The George Christchurch
• CLINTON FARLEY, General Manager, The Hotel Britomart
• COLIN McCLEAN, Area General Manager – North Island New Zealand, EVT
• MICHAEL SARINO, General Manager, Hilton Auckland
2:40pm-3:05pm PANEL SESSION: ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK. What to expect in 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• ADAM BURY, Executive Vice President, Investment Sales & Head of Debt Advisory Australasia, JLL 

Panelists:
• CAMERON BURKE, Director of Development – Australasia and Pacific, IHG Hotels and Resorts
• RICHARD CRAWFORD, Vice President – Hotel Development, Australia, NZ, and Pacific, Marriott International
• TUSHAR RANIGA, Regional Director, Development – Australasia, Hilton
• JOHN SUTCLIFFE, Director of Development, TFE Hotels
• LINDSAY LEESER, Chief Development Officer Pacific and Head of Apartments and Realty, Accor
3:05pm-3:35pm NETWORKING: AFTERNOON TEA in the exhibition showcase.

Presented by
3:35pm-4:00pm PANEL SESSION: WHITE LABEL’S GROWTH CONTINUES. Third party management companies are all seeing increased demand as the platform continues to grow and this session will uncover how, why and where.

Hosted by:
• SHAUN ORMSBY, Vice President of Growth, 1834 Hotels

Panelists:
• LES MORGAN, Chief Operating Officer, Hind Management
• SAJAD BASSAM, CEO, Marsden Hotel Group
• THOMAS JOHN, Vice President Strategy and Development, Panache Hotel Group
• TROY CUTHBERTSON, General Manager – Operations, EVT Connect Hospitality
4:00pm-4:15pm HOTELIER Q&A: One on one with EVT.

Hosted by:
• JAMES WILKINSON, Group President, AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines

Speaker:
• NORMAN ARUNDEL, Director of Hotels and Resorts, EVT
4:15pm-4:40pm PANEL SESSION: THE AOTEAROA TOURISM OUTLOOK. Industry executives look at their tourism market expectations for 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by:
• RONNIE RONALDE, Advisor, Hotel Council Aotearoa

Panelists:
• ANNE NEWMAN, GM – Visitor Economy, ChristchurchNZ
• FIONA WINGER, General Manager, Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa
• MARK WONG, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, Small Luxury Hotels of The World
• PAUL GORMAN, General Manager, Luxury Escapes
• RACHAEL NICHOLSON, Director of Commercial, NZ & Fiji, Accor
4:40pm-4:50pm KEYNOTE: NATIONAL OUTLOOK by LANI HAGAMAN, Chair, Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA).
4:50pm-5:15pm PANEL SESSION: CLOSING BELL: THE LEADERS’ EXPECTATIONS. An essential outlook for the year ahead from leading hotel executives.

Hosted by:
• JAMES DOOLAN, Strategic Director, Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA)
• JAMES WILKINSON, Group President, AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines

Panelists:
• BRETT FORER, Chief Development Officer Asia Pacific, EVT
• CLARE DAVIES, Chief Operating Officer, Capstone Hotel Management & Marsden Group
• LACHLAN HOSWELL, Managing Director, Business Unit Australasia, Radisson Hotel Group
• ROB McINTYRE, Vice President Operations New Zealand and Fiji, Accor
• TRENT CONROY, Head of Investments and Portfolio Growth, Choice Hotels APAC
5:15pm-5:20pm AHICE 2026 WRAP-UP from emcee NICKY STYRIS, Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA) Strategic Director JAMES DOOLAN and AHICE Group President and Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON.
6:00pm-8:30pm NETWORKING: GALA FAREWELL EVENT at ONE NEW ZEALAND STADIUM AT TE KAHA. Headlined by rocker TOBY RAND from Los Angeles and a band of leading Kiwi musicians, alongside fantastic local food and wine. (Delegates only)

Presented by
   
8:45pm-onwards NETWORKING: AHICE AOTEAROA ‘AFTER DARK’ NETWORKING BAR at RYDGES CHRISTCHURCH LATIMER SQUARE (delegates only and pay as you go).

Presented by

Note: Program is subject to change

IMPORTANT: THE AHICE HOUSE RULES

A note from the organisers: Due to a number of unofficial invite-only events taking place during conferences in recent years, we would ask that businesses and individuals please do not host any events during the above times as a courtesy to other sponsors of AHICE Aotearoa.

We all know that without sponsors, events like this cannot happen and we ask that our request is respected. If unapproved events do take place during the official times, the organisers and representatives of those companies will not be able to attend any AHICE sessions and are at the risk of passes being revoked.

We are also requesting that supplier and adviser attendees that aren’t sponsors of the event do not canvas for business with sales materials and documents at AHICE Aotearoa events. Those that do will be at the risk of passes being revoked.

To find out how you can be involved in the program, please contact:

HOTEL OWNERS & CHAINS

James Wilkinson, AHICE Chair & Convenor: jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

SUPPLIERS & ADVISERS

Tara Ducrou, Group Commercial Manager: tducrou@intermedia.com.au

Get in touch

Want to get more information and discuss commercial opportunities?

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