Sydney Summit

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AHICE Summit | Sydney

Thursday 30 July 2026

Crown Sydney, New South Wales

The Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition (AHICE), hosted by HM and Wayfarer magazines, is set to make its return to New South Wales on July 30, 2026, with the 4.5-hour Sydney Hotel Summit being held at the luxurious Crown Sydney.

The event will be attended by Sydney, NSW and Australia’s leading hotel owners, operators, consultants and suppliers.

Our program for the 2025 launch event included evocative, educational and insightful keynote speakers, Q&As and panel sessions featuring more than 25 key speakers from across Sydney, New South Wales and globally.

The launch of AHICE in Sydney follows the success of our global events in Australia (Adelaide and Perth), the United States (Hawaii and Los Angeles), Japan, Singapore, the Maldives, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Fiji, with more than 4,500 people attending what’s become the leading hotel industry event series across the Asia-Pacific region.

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2025 AHICE SUMMIT SYDNEY HIGHLIGHTS

2024 AHICE SOCIAL GALLERY

2025 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

2:00pm-2:45pm - REGISTRATION, tea and coffee.

2:45pm-2:55pm - WELCOME TO THE SYDNEY HOTEL SUMMIT

BY AHICE Group President and Wayfarer Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON and emcee, WILLIAM DE BEAUREPAIRE, Director, De Beaurepaire Wines.

2:55pm-3:20pm - PANEL SESSION: THE SYDNEY INVESTMENT OUTLOOK.

Expectations for 2025 with leading investors.

Hosted by:

• ROBERT WILLIAMS, Head of Hotels and Hospitality Asia Pacific, Watson Farley & Williams

Panelists:

• GREG SHAW, Chief Executive Officer, Mulpha International

• IVY CHENG, Director, Investment and Business Development, CapitaLand Australia

• LUCIA GRAMBALOVA, Chief Investment Officer & Head of Asset Management, Hotel Capital Partners

• RAHUL PARRAB, Chief Executive Officer, Ark Capital Partners

3:20pm-3:35pm - KEYNOTE: LEADERSHIP IN SPORT.

Former Australian Wallaby, Stan sports host and commentator and property industry executive, CAMERON SHEPHERD, in conversation with AHICE Group President and Wayfarer Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

3:35pm-4:00pm - PANEL SESSION: THE SYDNEY TOURISM OUTLOOK.

Expectations for 2025 with leading executives.

Hosted by:

• DORA STILIANOS, Partner, Baker & McKenzie

Panelists:

• ANDREW McEVOY, Chairman, Luxury Escapes

• LACHLAN HOSWELL, Managing Director, Business Unit Australasia, Radisson Hotel Group

• TIM WALLIS, Regional Manager – AU, NZ, Tahiti, United Airlines

• TONY RYAN, Executive Chairman, Trilogy Hotels

• WAYNE TARANTO, Chief Operating Officer, Ovolo Hotels

4:00pm-4:10pm - HOTELIER Q&A

Crown Sydney Chief Executive Officer, STANFORD LE, in conversation with AHICE Group President and Wayfarer Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

4:10pm-4:30pm - POWER SESSION: HOTEL INDUSTRY INNOVATION.

Talking innovation through technology, marketing and more.

Hosted by:

• RUTH HOGAN, Editor, HM magazine

Panelists:

• BENJAMIN KRIEG, Senior Vice President Operations and Global Strategic Accounts, FutureLog

• COOPER JITTS, Founder, Talk Agency

• MICHAEL BONGIOVANNI, Enterprise Sales Director, Cendyn

• MICHAEL MAGAFA, Commercial Director APAC, Encore Event Technologies

4:30pm-4:40pm - TOURISM Q&A

New South Wales 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, MICHAEL RODRIGUES, in conversation with AHICE Group President and Wayfarer Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.

4:40pm-5:05pm - PANEL SESSION: THE SYDNEY HOTELIERS’ OUTLOOK.

Expectations for 2025 with leading General Managers and executives.

Hosted by:

• GUS MOORS, Managing Director, Hotels & Hospitality Group, JLL

Panelists:

• MARC VON ARNIM, General Manager, Capella Sydney

• MARCUS HANNA, Chief Operating Officer, La Vie Hotels

• NATHAN COX, Vice President – Operations, Accor

• ROD MUNRO, Managing Director, BWH Hotels Australasia

• SCOTT BOYES, Chief Executive Officer, Trilogy Hotels

5:05pm-5:30pm - PANEL SESSION: THE SYDNEY HOTEL DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK.

Expectations for 2025 with leading development executives.

Hosted by:

• KAREN WALES, Head of Hotels – Australia, Colliers

Panelists:

• CAMERON BURKE, Director of Development – Australasia and Pacific, IHG Hotels & Resorts

• SCOTT ARMSTRONG, Director of Development, 1834 Hotels

• TESS GEGENHUBER, Development Executive, TFE Hotels

5:30pm-5:45pm - KEYNOTE: TV ICON

Gold Logie Winner, game show host and whiskey brand owner LARRY EMDUR, in conversation with AHICE Group President and Wayfarer Editor-In-Chief, JAMES WILKINSON.