Programs for the annual HotelsWorld suite of events released today, reveal that nearly 100 international, regional and local speakers are set for this year’s three events to be held over consecutive days from 27 to 29 July in Sydney, Australia. Over a third of the speakers are overseas based and many have never appeared at an industry event in Australia before.
Under a theme of “Think Global, Act Global and Local” the events, which include Hotels Investment World and
Boutique & Lifestyle Hotels World, will again be the leading conferences in the region for CEO’s and other senior industry executives, with over 400 delegates expected. The events are supported by almost every major hotel company operating in the region.
Highlighting the growing importance of the tourism and hotel sector, Andrew Robb AO, Minister for Trade and Investment in the Australian Government, will deliver a keynote opening address at Hotels Investment World.
The management talent lined up for the events, is led by Geoff Ballotti, President & CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group
(the world’s largest hotel company by hotel count) and legendary resort developer and operator, Ho Kwon Ping, Founder & Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings. Both will participate in one on one interviews.
Other global and regional hotel CEO’s to speak at the events, include:
> Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotel Group
> Iqbal Jumabhoy, Managing Director and Group CEO, SilverNeedle Hospitality > Hubert Viriot, CEO, Yotel
> Christopher Hartley, CEO, Global Hotel Alliance
> Girish Jhunjhnuwala, Chairman & CEO, Ovolo Hotels
> Bruce Wardinski, Chairman & CEO, Playa Hotels & Resorts
> Dean Schreiber, Managing Director, Oakwood Asia Pacific
> Gavin Faull, Chairman & President, Swiss-Belhotel International
> Thorsten Kirschke, President, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; and > Mike Crawford, President, Asia Pacific, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Local hotel and tourism industry CEO’s to speak, include:
> Bob East, CEO, Mantra Group
> Rachel Argaman, CEO, TFE Hotels
> Barry Robinson, President & Managing Director, Wyndham Hotel Group, South East Asia & Pacific Rim > Trent Fraser, CEO, Choice Hotels Australia
> Zed Sanjana, CEO, Quest Serviced Apartments
> Richard Doyle, Director, StayWell Hospitality
> Simon McGrath, COO, Accor Pacific
> John O’Sullivan, CEO, Tourism Australia
> Anthony Hayes, Global Managing Director, AAT Kings; and
> Craig Davidson, CEO, Dreamworld, WhiteWater World & SkyPoint
Highlighting the increased focus on hotel transactions and development, leading international and local investors speaking at the events include:
> Neil Maxwell, CEO, M&L Investments
> Andrew Heithersay, Managing Director, SC Capital Partners
> Peter Wilding, Managing Director, Royal Group Of Companies
> Tim Church, Managing Director Head of Real Estate Australasia, UBS
> David Gribble, Managing Director Securities Division, Goldman Sachs Australia > Robert Magid, Chairman and CEO, TMG Developments
> Shane Bulloch, CEO, Anthony John Group
> Glen Boultwood, Executive Director, Aligned FM
> Paul Fischman, Founder & CEO, Eight Hotels
> Steven Haggert, CEO, RDG; and
> Julian Clark, CEO, The Lancemore Group
Feature sessions will also include:
- > Insight from two senior executives of Wanda Hotels and Resorts, which is part of the Dalian Wanda Group, China’s largest property owner. Wanda has recently acquired Goldfields House in Sydney for a reported $1billion conversion to a hotel and mixed use development; and is also developing the $900m hotel and serviced apartments Jewel project on the Gold Coast;
- > A conversation incorporating “both sides of the story” on the rise of Online Travel Agent, Expedia and airbnb, with executives
of both companies engaged in face to face discussions with renowned hotel industry leaders Rachel Argaman and Barry Robinson; and - > Some of Australia’s most innovative and successful boutique and lifestyle hotel designers, operators and owners, discussing the reasons behind the recent rapid growth of this part of the accommodation industry.
Commenting on the Programs, Horwath HTL Australia CEO and Chair of HotelsWorld, Mr John Smith said:
“In fifteen years of creating and attending industry events in Australia, I believe this is the best cast of speakers that has ever been assembled”.
“Given the calibre of the people on the stage and the historically high level of development, transaction and management activity presently underway, we expect that HotelsWorld 2015 will fully succeed in meeting our goals of delivering an unsurpassed level of insight, ideas and networking” he added.
For further information and to register for HotelsWorld, Hotels Investment World and Boutique & Lifestyle Hotels World, please visit the event calendar.
