2025 Program Overview

More information about the 2025 program will be available soon.

Monday 24 February 2025

6:00pm-8:00pm Exclusive networking event (for first 250 registrations)

Note: Program is subject to change

Tuesday 25 February 2025

9:00am-10:00am

Registration

10:00am-1:00pm

AHICE Part 1 

1:00pm-2:00pm Networking Lunch (additional cost / registration)
2:00pm-5:45pm

AHICE Part 2

6:00pm-8:00pm

AHICE Gala Networking Event (additional registration)

Note: Program is subject to change

Wednesday 26 February 2025

 

10:00am-6:00pm AHICE Part 3
6:00pm-8:00pm AHICE Gala Networking Event at Pan Pacific Singapore (additional registration)

Note: Program is subject to change

View the 2024 Program Overview below.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

4:00pm-5:00pm Site tours of The Singapore EDITION
5:00pm-7:00pm

GALA NETWORKING EVENT: The 2024 AHICE South East Asia gala welcome event at THE SINGAPORE EDITION, presented by Marriott International.
(Pre-registration required)

Note: Program is subject to change

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

9:00am-11:30am

SINGAPORE NEW HOTEL SITE TOURS.
(Pre-registration required)

-Conrad Singapore Orchard
-Mondrian Singapore
-Pullman Hill Street

11:30am-12:45pm

SITE TOUR & NETWORKING LUNCH: Catch-up with contacts old and new with a site tour and lunch at THE ROBERTSON HOUSE BY THE CREST COLLECTION. Presented by The Ascott Limited.
(Pre-registration required)

1:00pm-2:00pm REGISTRATION, coffee and tea, plus site tours of the new PAN PACIFIC ORCHARD, SINGAPORE.
2:00pm-2:05pm

WELCOME: Opening remarks for the first AHICE South-East Asia by Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON and Emcee NICKY STYRIS.

2:05pm-2:30pm

PANEL SESSION: BY THE NUMBERS – ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY OUTLOOKS. Moderated by: RUTH HOGAN, Editor, HM Magazine.

Panelists:
GUS McCONNELL, Associate Director, Research, CBRE Capital Mark
JESPER PALMQVIST, Senior Director Asia Pacific, STR
XANDER NIJNENS, Senior Managing Director – Advisory & Asset Management, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group

2:30pm-2:45pm

HOTELIER Q&A: IHG Hotels & Resorts Chief Executive Officer – Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa, KENNETH MACPHERSON, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

2:45pm-3:10pm

PANEL SESSION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA HOTEL OPERATIONS OUTLOOK. Moderated by: RUTH HOGAN, Editor, HM magazine.

Panelists:
ALEX MURRAY, Vice President and Regional Head of South-East Asia, Hilton
BEN SCHUMACHER, Vice President Operations-South East Asia Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
CRAIG BOND, Senior Vice President – Head of Operations, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
PAUL PRATT, Senior Vice President – Operations, Asia, Accor
RAJIT SUKUMARAN, Managing Director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts

3:10pm-3:25pm

HOTELIER Q&A: Travel + Leisure Co President and Managing Director International Operations, BARRY ROBINSON, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

3:25pm-3:55pm

NETWORKING: AFTERNOON TEA, presented by IHG.

3:55pm-4:20pm

PANEL SESSION: WHAT ASSET MANAGERS WANT – EXPECTATIONS FOR 2024 AND BEYOND.
Moderated by: RICHARD MUNRO, Director, IP Protect.

Panelists:
CHRIS ELY, Head of Asset Management, Hotels & Hospitality Asia, CBRE Capital Markets
DAVID BARK, Hotels Asset Manager, Mulpha
MINA LI, Director, THSA
ROHAN GOPALDAS, Partner & Asset Manager, Prospect Hotel Advisors
SASHI RAJAN, Executive Vice President – Advisory & Asset Management, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group

4:20pm-4:45pm

PANEL SESSIONTHE ESSENTIAL SOUTH-EAST ASIA TIMESHARE OUTLOOK. Moderated by: RUWAN PEIRIS, Director, THSA.

Panelists:
BARRY ROBINSON, President and Managing Director International Operations, Travel + Leisure Co
KIT WHALLEY, Business Development Director, Interval International Asia Pacific
MARTIN TOLAN, Regional Vice President – Marketing & Sales, Asia-Pacific, Marriott Vacations Worldwide
ROBIN MILLS, Vice President Business Development – Europe, Middle East, Africa, India, Asia and Pacific, RCI International

4:45pm-5:00pm

HOTELIER Q&A: Hilton President – Asia-Pacific, ALAN WATTS, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

5:00pm-5:25pm

PANEL SESSIONTHE MEDIA – MAXIMISING EARNED COVERAGE AND WORKING WITH THE PRESS.  Moderated by NICK WAYLAND, Chief Executive Officer, Travmedia.

Panelists:
KAREN YUE, Group Editor, TTG
MICHAEL PARSONS, Senior Vice President – Marketing and
Communications, Asia Pacific, Travel + Leisure Co.
SAMANTHA BURGESS-ALLEN, Head of Communications, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts
JAMES WILKINSON, Host and Travel Expert, Wayfarer & 7 News Australia

5:25pm-5:40pm

HOTELIER Q&A: Pan Pacific Hotels Group Chief Executive Officer, CHOE PENG SUM, in conversation with HM Editor, RUTH HOGAN.

5:40pm-6:05pm

PANEL SESSION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA INVESTMENT OUTLOOK, presented by IHIF Asia.

Moderated by: NIHAT ERCAN, Chief Executive Officer – Asia-Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group

Panelists:
IAN LIEN, Partner & Managing Director, SC Capital Partners
JAN SMITS, Deputy Chair & CEO APAC, Pro-Invest Group
WONG KAR LING, Chief Strategy Officer, The Ascott Limited and Managing Director, Southeast Asia, The Ascott Limited
RAKESH PATEL, CEO & Founder, ALTA Capital Real Estate
SANJOG MODGIL, Head of Overseas Hotels, TCC Land International Thailand

6:05pm-8:15pm

GALA NETWORKING EVENT at PAN PACIFIC ORCHARD SINGAPORE Garden Terrace Lawn level 11, presented by APRDO.
(Pre-registration required)

       

8:15pm-onwards

THE AHICE SOUTH EAST ASIA NETWORKING BAR at Pan Pacific Orchard, presented by Global Hotel Alliance, OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Wayfarer and De Beaurepaire Wines (drink of premium Australian wine on arrival and pay as you go).

 

 

Note: Program is subject to change

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29

 

8:00am-8:40am NETWORKING: Coffee and Tea.
8:40am-8:45am WELCOME BACK to AHICE SOUTH-EAST ASIA 2024 by emcee NICKY STYRIS.
8:45am-9:10am

PANEL SESSION: ESSENTIAL SUSTAINABILITY: THE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN 2024 AND BEYOND. Moderated by: ANDREW CAMERON, Founder and CEO, Enzyme Consulting.

Panelists:
CASPAR SCHMIDT, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, QCC Collection
EDWARD CHIA, Managing Director – Life Lab Resources, Member of Parliament (Holland Bukit Timah GRC) and Co-Founder of Timbre Group
-MARGARET HENG, Executive Director, Singapore Hotel Association
MONICA SALTER, VP Global Communications & Social Responsibility, Outrigger Hospitality Group
BEH SIEW KIM, Chief Financial & Sustainability Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment Limited and Managing Director, Japan and Korea, The Ascott Limited

9:10am-9:25am

HOTELIER Q&A: Marriott International President, Asia Pacific excluding China, RAJEEV MENON, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

9:25am-9:50am

PANEL SESSION: SOUTH-EAST ASIA HOTEL DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK. Moderated by: ANANTH RAMCHANDRAN, Head of Advisory & Strategic Transactions, Hotels & Hospitality Asia, CBRE Capital Markets.

Panelists:
CLARENCE TAN, Senior Vice President, Development – Asia Pacific, Hilton
MATT HOLMES, Vice President of Development – South East Asia & Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts
OLIVIER BERRIVIN, Vice President – APAC, BWH Hotels
PATRICK FINN, Vice President, Development for South East Asia & Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts
SERENA LIM, Chief Growth Officer, The Ascott Limited

  9:50am-10:10am

THE CEO SESSIONS – TALKING TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS with Luxury Escapes Chief Executive Officer, ADAM SCHWAB and Outrigger Hospitality Group President & CEO, JEFF WAGONER, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON. 

10:10am-10:35am

PANEL SESSION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA 2024 ESSENTIAL FOOD & BEVERAGE TRENDS. Moderated by: BENJAMIN KRIEG, Area Vice President – Strategic Accounts, Asia Pacific, FutureLog.

Panelists:
DORON WHAITE, General Manager, Hotel Telegraph, Singapore
JAEEUN JUNG, Director, F&B, SEAK, IHG Hotels and Resorts
KATHERINE CAMERON, Project Director, EDG Design
LOH LIK PENG, Founder, Unlisted Collection
TONY CHISHOLM, Vice President Food & Beverage – MEAT & Asia, Premium, Midscale, & Economy Hotels, Accor

10:35am-10:45am

HOTELIER Q&A: Chief Executive Officer, Lodging, CapitaLand Investment Limited and Chief Executive Officer, The Ascott Limited, KEVIN GOH, in conversation with HM Editor, RUTH HOGAN.

10:45am-11:15am

NETWORKING: MORNING TEA, presented by CBRE

11:15am-11:40am

PANEL SESSION: THE BOUTIQUE, LIFESTYLE & LUXURY BOOM. Moderated by: EMMA FRASER, Founder, Fraser Marketing International

Panelists:
ANUJ SHARMA, VP of Development – Hotel Conversions, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International
BRETT BARLOW, Group General Manager, EVT Hotels and Resorts
CANDICE D’CRUZ, Vice President, Luxury Brands – Asia Pacific, Hilton
CHRIS McINTOSH, Group COO, Naumi Group
KYU BAEK KIM, Vice President, TriO Capital

11:40am-12:05pm

PANEL SESSION: POWER OF THE PEOPLE – THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA HUMAN RESOURCES OUTLOOK. Moderated by: LADA SHELKOVNIKOVA, Partner, Hotels & Hospitality, Watson Farley & Williams.

Panelists:
ALISON ADIE, Group Director People & Performance, Naumi Group
-ANDREAS SUNGAIMIN, SVP People and Culture, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
-RODNEY SIMPSON, Managing Director of Operations – APAC, BWH Hotels
VIVEK BHALLA, Vice President – Operations, SEAK, IHG Hotels & Resorts

12:05pm-12:15pm

INVESTOR Q&A: Pro-invest Group Deputy Chair & CEO – APAC, JAN SMITS, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

12:15pm-12:30pm

PRESENTATION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA INVESTMENT OUTLOOK by STELLA BLYTHE, Associate Director, Hotels & Hospitality Asia, CBRE Capital Markets.

12:30pm-1:30pm

NETWORKING LUNCH presented by Hilton.

1:30pm-1:55pm

PANEL SESSION: LONG STAYS – APARTMENT HOTELS, BRANDED RESIDENTIAL AND CO-LIVING SPACES. Moderated by PETER HARPER, Managing Director – Head of Investment Sales Australasia, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.

Panelists:
ADELINE PHUA, Managing lyf Partner and Vice President, Business Development, The Ascott Limited
ALEXANDRA YAO, Global Head of Branded Residences, IHG Hotels & Resorts
LADA SHELKOVNIKOVA, Partner, Hotels & Hospitality, Watson Farley & Williams
LINDSAY LEESER, Chief Development Officer Pacific & Head of Apartments and Realty, Accor
-Speakers to be announced

1:55pm-2:20pm

PANEL SESSION: DEEP DIVE – EXPLORING THE MALDIVES’ MARKET AND OPPORTUNITIES. Moderated by SHAHDY ANWAR, Principal, S&A Lawyers.

Panelists:
JEROME NG, Director, Chiu Teng Group
JOAN PLOUVIET, VP Acquisitions and Development, Pontiac Land
NIHAT ERCAN, Chief Executive Officer – APAC, JLL Hotels &
Hospitality Group
HON IBRAHIM FAISAL, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Maldives

2:20pm-2:35pm

KEYNOTE Q&A: Marriott International Chairman, DAVID S. MARRIOTT, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON (exclusive video).

Since May 2022, David S. Marriott has been Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, only the third Chair in the company’s history and a role that was held by his father, J.W. Marriott, Jr. (Bill), and grandfather, J.W. Marriott, before him.

The Marriott family’s history in hospitality over the past 95 years is legendary and now David has the chance to take the business to even greater heights as the company soars towards 10,000 properties across the globe, up from nearly 8,600 properties across 139 countries and territories today.

To find out more about the company’s growth, the phenomenal success of Marriott Bonvoy, philanthropy, leadership learnings and much more, David sat down with James in Singapore recently and it’s firmly a unique insight into one of the world’s most famous hotel families.

2:35pm-3:00pm

PANEL SESSION: THE SENSORY AND WELLNESS HOTEL GUEST JOURNEY. Moderated by: IVAN SUNDE, Industry Consultant.

Panelists:
CLINT NAGATA, Founder and Creative Partner, Blink
JAEL FISCHER, Head of Development – Asia Pacific, Six Senses
KIMMY KWOK, Head of Strategy & Design Transformation – SEA, Dyson
NAOMI RHEINBERGER, Global Marketing & Communications Director, Vanity Group
JEN KWEK, Regional Director, The Wellness

3:00pm-3:30pm

NETWORKING AFTERNOON TEA presented by The Ascott Limited.

3:30pm-3:55pm

PANEL SESSION: THE RISE OF WHITE LABEL. Moderated by ROBERT WILLIAMS, Head of Hotels & Hospitality Asia Pacific, Watson Farley & Williams.

Panelists:
ANDREW BULLOCK, Chief Executive Officer, 1834 Hotels
GLEN BOULTWOOD, CEO and Co-Founder, Serene Capital
JAN SMITS, Deputy Chair & CEO APAC, Pro-invest Group
JERRY XU, Chief Executive Officer, La Vie Hotels
TONY RYAN, Executive Chairman, Trilogy Hotels

3:55pm-4:05pm

HOTELIER Q&A: EVT Director of Hotels and Resorts, NORMAN ARUNDEL, in conversation with HM Editor, RUTH HOGAN.

4:05pm-4:30pm

PANEL SESSION: DEALS, DEALS, DEALS: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA PROPERTY OUTLOOK. Moderated by TONY RYAN, Executive Chairman, Trilogy Hotels.

Panelists:
ALAN CHRISTIE, Senior Director, Growth & Development – SEA, La Vie Hotels
ANDREW LANGDON, Chief Development Officer Asia, Accor
JULIEN NAOURI, Senior Vice President, Investment Sales, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
STEVE CARROLL, Asia Pacific Senior Managing Director and Head of Hotel & Hospitality, CBRE Capital Markets

4:30pm-4:40pm

HOTELIER Q&A: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts President – Asia Pacific, JOON AUN OOI, in conversation with AHICE Convenor and HM Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

4:40pm-4:45pm

DOCUMENTARY: INTRODUCING THE SALABAI HOTEL SCHOOL in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

In the heart of Siem Reap, the Sala Baï Hotel and Restaurant school has been training young underprivileged Cambodians for the past 20 years to be Asia’s finest hotel staff. In this insightful documentary, filmmaker JAMES WILKINSON speaks to students, staff and several graduates who have gone on and found success in roles across some of Asia’s leading hotels.

4:45pm-5:10pm

PANEL SESSION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA RESORTS OUTLOOK. Moderated by: JESPER PALMQVIST, Senior Director Asia Pacific, STR.

Panelists:
CHRIS BATTERHAM, Chief Development Officer, La Vie Hotels
GAVIN WEIGHTMAN, Vice President – Operations (SEAA) & General Manager, Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa
MATTHEW FAULL, Senior VP – IT, E-Commerce & Distribution, Swiss-Belhotel International
PATRICK BOTH, RGM Luxury and Lifestyle – Thailand, IHG Hotels & Resorts
WARREN CULLUM, Senior Vice President – Resort Operations, Asia Pacific, Travel + Leisure Co.

5:10pm-5:35pm

PANEL SESSION: THE GREATER ASIA-PACIFIC HOTEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY OUTLOOK. Moderated by RODGER POWELL, Managing Director, THSA.

Panelists:
CHRISTOPHER HARTLEY, CEO, Global Hotel Alliance
LEIGH HOWARD, Chief Operations Officer, Tourism Fiji
MIRANDA LANG, Senior Manager – Stakeholder Engagement & Industry Development, South Australian Tourism Commission
NICK THOMPSON, Hotels and Hospitality Director, JLL New Zealand
PAUL GORMAN, General Manager – Business Development, Luxury Escapes

5:35pm-6:00pm

PANEL SESSION: THE SOUTH-EAST ASIA OWNER-OPERATORS’ DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK. Moderated by JOE STATHER, VP, Market Leader – Operational Real Estate, Questex.

Panelists:
JAMES MABBUTT, Development Director – APAC, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
KEVIN CROLEY, Senior Vice President, Development, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
NORMAN ARUNDEL, Director of Hotels and Resorts, EVT
RAHUL GHAI, CEO – Asia, Salter Brothers
TIM ALPE, Managing Director, Trio Capital

6:00pm

NETWORKING: Main Stage sessions end and buses depart for PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE.

6:15pm-8:15pm

GALA NETWORKING EVENT at the remodelled PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE. Presented by Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

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 South East Asia.

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 South East Asia 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:

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

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