HM June 2023

OPPORTUNITY PATH TO

Graduates of Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School explore diverse career paths.

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AHICE 2023 breaks records as we look ahead to new events

As the Chair, Convenor and Co-Founder of the Asia-Pacific Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), I’m immensely proud of the 2023 edition we hosted in Adelaide during May, which resulted in the highest number of attendees (almost 1500), the most female speakers (44% across three days) and announcements of more hotels (over 45) than the event has seen in its 15-year history.

HM is proud to host AHICE and Design Inn every year, and standing on stage at the Adelaide Oval and seeing a full house at 9am on day one and 5pm on day two was fantastic. I’m so happy we have been able to unite and bring together the industry like no other major event ever has in Australia.

This year, AHICE attracted some of the world’s largest investors in the global accommodation sector from the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, alongside the leading developers and owners here in Australia and New Zealand.

Adelaide is an exciting destination for AHICE as the city’s accommodation sector has boomed, with so many brilliant new hotels added to the mix in recent years and even more to come.

AHICE has grown into the largest and most significant hotel industry conference in the world outside Europe and the United States, and with such strong demand for hotel rooms being experienced in Adelaide, it is fitting to have South Australia firmly in the spotlight for the global hotel industry.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the South Australian government for its tremendous support of AHICE over the past three years and for truly making Adelaide feel like home.

Special thanks to South Australia’s Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, The Honourable Zoe Bettison, alongside Nick Jones, Miranda Lang and Chelsea Clack, and South Australian Tourism Chair, Andrew Bullock, for the incredible support.

In this special edition of HM, we have all the news and signings from AHICE across eight pages, and I know it’s a feature you won’t want to miss.

I’m also excited to reveal planning is well underway for our other three new AHICE events – AHICE Aotearoa (October 10-11, 2023 in Wellington), AHICE Aloha (November 28-29, 2023 in Honolulu) and AHICE South East Asia (February 28-29, 2024 in Singapore) – which have all received tremendous support already from our major partners.

I look forward to bringing you updates on them over the course of the year.

As always, enjoy our June edition and I look forward to your feedback.

Yours in hospitality,

James Wilkinson Editor-In-Chief, HM magazine Chair & Convenor, AHICE global conferences

AHICE broke attendance records in 2023

The HM global hot list

Hotels around the world capturing our attention this month.

ONE: The Langham New York, Fifth Avenue @langhamnyc

TWO: Rydges Latimer Christchurch @rydgeslatimer

THREE: The Dorchester, London @thedorchester

South Australia’s Tourism Minister, Hon Zoe Bettison, welcoming AHICE delegates to Adelaide

FOUR: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort @outriggerreef

Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort

Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

AI: friend or foe?

It’s hard to believe we’re at the midway point of the year already; winter has arrived, and we have another AHICE, Design Inn and Future Leaders Forum under our belts.

One topic that has stuck with me since AHICE and has dominated much media discussion of late is artificial intelligence (AI). The impact AI will have on every industry including hotels cannot be underestimated.

AI-powered technologies have enabled hotels to deliver highly personalised and seamless experiences to guests. Through chatbots and virtual assistants, guests can now easily interact with AI-driven systems to get real-time information, make reservations, or seek recommendations. These intelligent systems can understand guest preferences and provide tailored suggestions, creating a more personalised and memorable stay.

Could you tell that paragraph above was written by ChatGPT?

The capability of AI is, in my mind, equal parts mesmerising and terrifying. After all, maybe AI will be producing the magazines of tomorrow.

But according to Paul McLoughlin of Frontline Performance Group, AI should be embraced and not seen as a threat. Speaking as part of the hotel technology panel at AHICE, McLoughlin said: “AI will create a higher expectation with guests and allow frontline staff to focus on the human element of hospitality. It will coexist but must focus on the correct areas like e-learning and product knowledge.”

There’s no doubt we are navigating unchartered waters when it comes to AI, but here’s hoping we can harness its potential to create better outcomes for all.

For now, I hope you enjoy this issue – from one human to another.

Ruth Hogan Editor

MEET THE HM TEAM…

Managing Director Simon Grover

Publisher James Wells

Editor–In–Chief James Wilkinson jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

Editor Ruth Hogan rhogan@intermedia.com.au

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

Production Manager Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au

Graphic Designer Sean Barlow

Photography Cover story by Oneill Photographics.

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The launch of ChatGPT has propelled AI to a mainstream audience

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AI was a hot topic on the hotel technology panel at AHICE

Eco-conscious luxury no longer a contradiction..

Weatherdon introduces the innovative Ecofill dispenser system supported by an exclusive range of curated, global amenities brands.

NEED TO KNOW

The essential hotel and travel industry news and trends from across the globe. Read more at HotelManagement.com.au

Langham appoints Bob van den Oord as CEO

Langham appoints long-time employee to top job as Brett Butcher steps down.

LANGHAM HOSPITALITY GROUP has announced Bob van den Oord as its next Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Brett Butcher, who is stepping down from the position.

Butcher took up the CEO position in 2021, seven years after he departed the organisation from the same role. He will retain responsibilities within Great Eagle as well as CEO of Langham Hospitality Investment Ltd.

Van den Oord, a senior leader at Langham for the last 20 years, has previously served as COO and Senior Vice President – Sales and Marketing. He is currently Regional Vice President – Europe, Middle East and North America.

He will officially commence the CEO role from September 1, 2023.

“I am delighted and humbled to have been appointed to lead Langham Hospitality Group into a new era of success,” said van den Oord.

“We have an attractive brand portfolio of iconic hotels, with strong appeal to guests and partners. Supported by our talented colleagues around the world, we will continue to deliver enhanced guest experiences, drive business performance with exceptional results as we serve our guests every day.”

Bob van den Oord, Langham Hospitality Group

Salter Brothers acquires Escarpment Group hotels

The global fund manager adds a further five boutique properties to its books.

AUSTRALIAN-OWNED GLOBAL FUND manager Salter Brothers is growing its luxury hotel portfolio with the acquisition of Escarpment Group’s five boutique properties in NSW.

The portfolio, totalling 237 rooms, includes hotels and estates located across tourism hotspots the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley regions.

Lilianfels Resort and Spa (89 rooms), The Hydro Majestic Hotel (84 rooms), Echoes Boutique Hotel (14 rooms), Parklands Country Gardens and Lodges (31 rooms) and The Convent Hunter Valley (19 rooms) will all join Salter Brothers under this deal.

“We are delighted to add to the Salter Brothers’ strategy of acquiring luxury assets in unrepeatable locations,” said Salter Brothers, Managing Director, Paul Salter.

“These boutique hotels and estates will complement our growing portfolio for this strategy and the assets present significant opportunities as part of our broader platform.”

Each property includes significant landholdings as well as hatted restaurants such as Darley’s Restaurant at Lilianfels Resort and Spa and Circa 1876 at The Convent Hunter Valley.

The Hydro Majestic in the Blue Mountains is among the hotels to join Salter Brothers

PATH TO OPPORTUNITY

Graduates of Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) explore diverse new career paths.

BMIHMS graduates pictured at the recently opened McRae Bar, Capella Sydney

The global hospitality industry has undergone a major transformation in recent years, diversifying into areas such as wellness, lifestyle branding and property investment. An innovative and resilient industry, hospitality is now full of new opportunities for businesses and for savvy young professionals.

“The hospitality industry offers a number of career pathways, including hotel operations, investment, transactions, valuations, development, tourism, technology, and the list goes on,” according to Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) alumna, Amelia Perez.

“Initially, I was not fully aware of the diverse opportunities. I find it fascinating how in many cases hospitality tends to be associated mainly with hotels. Through consulting, I’ve had the opportunity to explore many areas of the industry, such as investment and development, which are interesting and dynamic.”

In this dynamic landscape, new hospitality jobs emerge every year requiring talented young professionals who are capable of innovation, flexibility and lifelong learning.

“Working in hospitality is definitely different from what I expected,” said BMIHMS alumnus, Dimitri Karam.

“I’ve come to realise that we are in ‘the people business’ selling coffee, and not in ‘the coffee business’ selling to people.”

MYRIAD OF OPPORTUNITIES

BMIHMS graduates put their broad skill sets to use across a diverse spectrum of careers. Four BMIHMS alumni who’ve taken their hotel management education to unexpected places are Elise Dao, Senior Analyst

Salter Brothers; Amelia Perez, Development Manager at Hilton; Ben Salter, Director of Distribution for Accor Pacific; and Dimitri Karam, Area General Manager and Group Compliance Officer, Oscars Hotels.

All four of these talented BMIHMS alumni have ended up in diverse roles across areas, such as consulting, investment and business analytics. Today we’re celebrating these students, their entrepreneurial spirit and their successes in the industry.

“My ideas about working in hospitality have definitely changed since I moved to my current role. Now, hospitality for me is a much broader concept,” said BMIHMS alumna Elise Dao.

“It is not only just about operating hospitality venues, such as hotels and managing the day-to-day guests’ interactions; it’s also about being able to look at hospitality assets through a different lens, and seeing all the different investment potentials.”

EDUCATION EVOLVES

As the industry changes, hospitality and hotel management education must also evolve. At BMIHMS, we have a responsibility to provide our future hospitality and hotel leaders with the education they need to tackle the realities of a rapidly changing industry.

Hotel professionals today need to be prepared to handle change, navigate crises with confidence and meet uncertainty with innovation. They need to be flexible, responsive, and trained to step up into a diverse range of roles and career paths, depending on where the industry takes them – even if it takes them into roles that didn’t exist when they completed their studies.

“When I started my course, I believed I would progress through to a Hotel General Manager at some point, but my career trajectory took another turn,” said BMIHMS alumnus, Ben Salter.

“My current role simply did not exist in 1995, but the skills I learned at BMIHMS all contributed to the trajectory I have been on. With the skills I learned, I was able to slot into different hotels and different roles.”

Hotel Management students at BMIHMS receive a broad, transferable educational experience covering every aspect of contemporary hospitality and hotel businesses. Preparation for the real world requires more than a standard education.

Through innovative soft skills and leadership training, plus a significant focus on personal and professional development, students become lifelong learners capable of adapting to new challenges in real time. In the fast paced and shifting industry of today, that’s an essential skill set for any business. n

at

L-R Elise Dao, Senior Analyst at Salter Brothers; Ben Salter, Director of Distribution for Accor Pacific; Amelia Perez, Development Manager at Hilton; and Dimitri Karam, Area General Manager and Group Compliance Officer, Oscars Hotels

Small wins in the Budget

By Michael Johnson, CEO, Accommodation Australia

THE ALBANESE GOVERNMENT Budget was more about relieving cost of living pressures on individuals rather than business – and understandably so. But drill down into the detail and there were some wins for the accommodation sector.

There was good news for smaller and independent hotels. The instant asset write-off threshold will be increased to AU$20,000 for 12 months for small businesses with annual turnover of less than AU$10 million. And AU$314 million in Small Business Energy Efficiency Incentives will be available to operators with a turnover of up to AU$50 million.

On the skills shortage front, the Cheaper Child Care program, which starts in July, will make it easier for parents and carers – particularly women – to participate in our workforce.

A total of AU$75.8 million will be spent over two years to improve existing visa processing systems which will help further clear the backlog of applicants. Temporary Skill Shortage short stream visa holders will now be able to access permanent residency which is a welcome addition.

However, there are concerns about the increase in visa application charges at a time when bringing back working holiday makers is crucial. And the reintroduction of a 48-hour-per-fortnight cap on international student work from 1 July is disappointing, however, at least it is higher than the pre-pandemic cap of 40 hours.

The increase to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold to AU$70,000 is also concerning and is something we will be keeping a close eye on as it affects recruitment of key hospitality workers, particularly for regional areas.

Luxury resort on the way for Townsville

Morris Group reveals plans for 132-room lifestyle hotel.

FAMILY-OWNED TOURISM AND hospitality business, Morris Group, is set to introduce an AU$88 million luxury hotel in North Queensland’s Townsville.

The 132-room lifestyle resort, known as Ardo, will feature a luxurious day spa, and a rooftop pool deck.

The property’s premium suites, positioned on the corners of the hotel, feature expansive balconies, while eight of the rooms also feature outdoor baths.

Rooftop restaurant Marmor will offer contemporary Australian cuisine, while ground floor restaurant, Terasu, will serve up traditional Japanese fare.

Ardo guests will have access to amenities at Morris Group’s nearby resort The Ville, including its oceanside swimming pool with swim-up bar, gym and casino.

“While The Ville provides relaxed, tropical surroundings and casual sophistication, Ardo will offer a luxury accommodation experience for travellers seeking a more high-end stay,” said Morris Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Chris Morris.

“With Ardo joining The Ville, and the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on the Breakwater, what we’ve created will enhance the precinct, and become the region’s leisure and entertainment hub.”

Ardo is reported to be the first luxury hotel in the area

Ardo will feature a day spa and rooftop pool deck

Funding farce

By James Doolan, Strategic Director, Hotel Council Aotearoa

IN MID-MAY, NEW Zealand’s Supreme Court issued its decision in long-running litigation concerning Auckland Council’s Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate (APTR). In short, the Supreme Court held that the APTR was not unlawful, overturning the Court of Appeal.

There is no sign the APTR will be reintroduced soon. After all, the Supreme Court did not rule that the APTR was a good, fair or best-practice tourism tax.

The APTR was imposed on accommodation providers to fund Auckland City’s destination marketing and event attraction work. No other business sectors were similarly targeted. The APTR was a rate on underlying property values rather than a surcharge on room rates. This made it almost impossible for hotels to “pass through” the burden of the APTR to guests. Since the rate did not fluctuate up or down with actual hotel revenues, Auckland Council was forced to suspend it during Covid or else smaller accommodation providers may have been bankrupted by their over-sized rates bills. There is no precedent anywhere for a “visitor levy” that looks anything like the APTR – it was a dog’s dinner policy from start to finish and attempts to re-introduce or copy it could well lead to new court action.

New Zealand continues to grapple with the issue of reforming the governance structures and funding framework for tourism. Pre-Covid, more than NZ$3.9 billion was generated annually through tourism-related GST, yet local councils had no line-of-sight to consistent and repeatable funding to offset the cost of local tourism infrastructure. Amongst different tourism sub-sectors the call for genuine reform is getting louder.

Accor opens new-build Sebel in Wellington

The apartment-style hotel is designed to cater to familes and groups.

ACCOR HAS OPENED a 60-key new-build apartment offering in Wellington.

The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt, built by Sarin Investment, spans five levels and offers a mix of studio, one-bedroom and dual key apartments designed specifically for families and groups.

“The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt’s riverside location holds great appeal for visitors to the region,” said Accor Pacific CEO, Sarah Derry.

“It is an outstanding property, built to a high standard with impactful details, and providing an impressive Italian culinary experience for hotel guests and the local community.”

With an electric blue colour palette

throughout, the design elements have been inspired by the river, and surrounding hills.

“We wanted to ensure we adhered to our reputation of delivering high standard projects and internally believe we’ve met those,” said Owner and Developer, Raman Sarin.

“We can finally focus on doing what we do best, operating a family run hotel with great efficiency, passion and care for our guests.”

The new hotel will be the only premium 4.5-star apartment-style hotel in Wellington, according to Accor.

The hotel features ground floor Italian restaurant and pasticceria Grazie offering a relaxed dining space inside and alfresco in the surrounding courtyard.

Sebel Wellington offers 60 rooms over five levels

The hotel’s electric blue colour palette is inspired by the natural surrounds

Veriu to open Punthill in Melbourne’s west

Veriu expects the property to benefit from ongoing development in the Sunshine suburb.

The 90-key Punthill Sunshine is expected to open in late 2024

VERIU GROUP HAS commenced construction on a 90-apartment Punthill property in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine which is slated to open late next year.

Located adjacent to Sunshine Station, which is currently undergoing a major redevelopment as part of the Sunshine

Hilton Garden Inn debuts in Darwin

Hilton introduces a third brand to the Northern Territory.

HILTON HAS INTRODUCED its first Hilton Garden Inn to the Northern Territory following the conversion of DoubleTree by Hilton Darwin.

The Hilton Garden Inn Darwin, in partnership with Berger Group, marks the arrival of Hilton’s third brand in the state.

“We are thrilled to introduce our awardwinning upscale focused service brand, Hilton Garden Inn to Darwin which now gives travellers visiting Darwin for business or pleasure even more accommodation options,” said Hilton’s Cluster General Manager, Northern Territory, Todd Grierson.

“The transformation has created an inviting

Precinct Masterplan, the hotel will support the transformation of the station into a transport ‘superhub’ connecting Melbourne Airport with both the CBD and regional Victoria.

“Strategically we’ve always sought to grow the Punthill portfolio by opening in locations supported by major sources of corporate

room night demand,” said Veriu Group CEO Zed Sanjana.

“While Sunshine has historically been undersupplied in terms of quality extended stay accommodation, its existing transportation links with Melbourne’s CBD, the Suburban Rail Loop and the regional rail network, are set to be strengthened even further once the Melbourne Airport Rail service is up and running.

“That’s going to put Sunshine right at the epicentre of the city’s thriving western region, offering enhanced prospects for employment, investment and overall liveability. At the same time, the State Government’s significant investment in infrastructure and amenities in Melbourne’s west is also expected to deliver an increase in tourism.”

Punthill Sunshine will feature a mix of fully self-contained modern studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, each with a fully equipped kitchen, desk and fast, highquality internet, as well as access to conference and meeting facilities, on-site parking, gym and laundry.

DoubleTree by Hilton Darwin has been converted into a Hilton Garden Inn

hotel that we believe showcases the best of what Hilton Garden Inn has to offer — subtly elevated accommodation and thoughtful amenities that allow travellers to unwind, relax, and rejuvenate at great value.”

The extensive renovation includes a refresh of the lobby, bar, restaurant, and each of the hotel’s 184 guestrooms and

suites, which now feature warm oak tones, custom-designed furniture and workspaces with ergonomic chairs.

The hotel also features The Shop, a 24-hour grab-and-go offering with a selfserve coffee bar, as well as three meeting rooms, a poolside garden and 24-hour Business Centre.

Bring your special spark.

Meet Steph and Kane, proud local business owners of Quest Collingwood.

Steph has worked in hotels since she was 18, being exposed to many different roles in hospitality across Australia. Kane joined Quest as a Franchise Relationship Manager in late 2021 after a range of hospitality jobs before. Then the two teamed up with business partners Roberto Salicio and Ben Burns of Quest Breakfast Creek and sparks flew.

Now as the business owners of Quest Collingwood, Steph and Kane bring their special spark to the local Collingwood community by developing an energetic team laser-focused on the guest experience. Read more about the special people who own local Quest Apartment Hotels at questapartment.com.au/hotel-franchise-opportunities.

MANTRA’S LIMITLESS POTENTIAL

Australia’s largest hotel brand continues to grow, expanding its footprint and enhancing the guest experience.

As Australia’s largest hotel brand with 75 properties across the country, Mantra has experienced significant pipeline growth since the brand was born in 2007.

Accor acquired Mantra in 2018 and, since then, the brand has built its portfolio, adding 10 new hotels to its already impressive collection across Australia.

Accor Pacific Chief Development Officer, Lindsay Leeser, said: “Our development strategy for Mantra has been focused on domestic expansion and we have developed new properties in key locations across Australia. With the brand renowned for consistently delivering exceptional stays to both business and leisure travellers, we continue to field a high level of enquiries from hotel developers, owners and investors.

“Mantra is a household name in Australia and the addition of our loyalty programme ALL - Accor Live Limitless has taken the brand’s growth potential and performance to the next level. We are looking to grow the brand where our guests and loyalty members want us to be.”

Mantra is synonymous with having a great selection of hotels, resorts and spacious selfcontained apartments in vibrant cities and favourite holiday hotspots, allowing guests to create the perfect stay by giving them the space and freedom to come together in their own unique ways.

Its brand positioning demonstrates Mantra’s easy-going Australian heritage and showcases the brand’s ability to provide guests with the freedom and flexibility to stay, work and play their way. It appeals to modern families, work from holiday, multigenerational, millennial friendcations, and bleisure travellers.

“Mantra is a fantastic and wellknown brand, distinguished by its quality and the generous size and facilities of its apartments. Mantra has a strong connection with its guests and, with innovation a hallmark of the brand, we will maintain its strong position as a national treasure, deepening its connection with our loyal guests and reaching a new generation of travellers.”

LATEST MANTRA HOTELS TO

Accor Pacific Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Derry, said:

OPEN

Mantra Southport Sharks adjoins a premier sport, leisure and entertainment precinct in

Accor is focused on domestic expansion of the Mantra brand

Since acquiring the brand in 2018, Accor has added 10 new Mantra properties in Australia

Southport and features 120 modern rooms. Mantra Castle Hill boasts 82 guestrooms, a gymnasium, barbeque deck and continental breakfast offering. The hotel is located within the commercial and industrial precinct of Castle Hill.

Mantra Traralgon features 50 wellappointed guestrooms and is located opposite the city’s major retail centre and within an entertainment complex that houses a cinema, 10-pin bowling centre and bistro.

Mantra Bathurst offers comfortable rooms, a fitness centre, an indoor pool, onsite dining, conference facilities, and a convenient location near Bathurst’s best attractions and events.

Mantra Gladstone is located minutes from the CBD and adjoins the Yaralla Sports Club. The hotel features arguably the best amenities, including fitness centre, dining options and swimming pool, in terms of choice and quality in the region.

Mantra Melbourne Melton is a 41-room hotel at Tabcorp Park. It is a destination of choice

for racegoers, business travellers, sporting groups and families looking for convenient, contemporary trackside accommodation.

Mantra Epping Melbourne is a 214-room hotel with extensive onsite amenities and services, including the Trader Café, Restaurant and Bar, Republic Tavern and Beer Republic Brewery, a gymnasium, 24-hour reception, and open-air secure car parking.

Mantra Mackay is situated on a prime waterfront location with views over the Coral Sea and features 79 rooms, a restaurant and bar, fitness centre, swimming pool, four conference and meetings rooms, and a business centre.

Mantra Albury features 146 spacious studio rooms and suites, a ground floor restaurant and bar, executive lounge, gym, and large conferencing facilities.

Mantra Melbourne Airport is located in close proximity to Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport. The hotel offers a range of contemporary accommodation options, including spacious suites and apartments, perfect for both short and long-term stays. The hotel’s facilities include a fitness centre, swimming pool, and on-site restaurant and bar, providing guests with everything they need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. n

Mantra is known for the quality, generous size and facilities of its apartments

Mantra offers guests freedom and flexibility

“We will maintain Mantra’s strong position as a national treasure.”

Sarah Derry, Accor Pacific

Elie Maalouf, IHG

Elie Maalouf to lead

IHG as Group CEO

IHG’S GROUP CHIEF Executive Officer, Keith Barr, is stepping down from his position and from the IHG Board on June 30 after six years in the top job.

Elie Maalouf, a member of IHG’s Board and Executive Committee, will take over as Barr’s successor. Maalouf, who has led IHG’s Americas business as regional CEO for the past eight years, will commence the position on July 1, based in the UK.

Barr has been a part of IHG for more than 30 years, and during his time as CEO he has driven sustainable growth surpassing 6,000 open hotels and the addition of seven brands.

He plans to return with his family to the US but will remain available to support and advise the business until the end of 2023.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have spent three decades as part of IHG, working alongside the many talented colleagues that make it such a special company, and in partnership with our hotel owners who share our passion for hospitality,” Barr said.

“I have been lucky enough to experience this in multiple countries over the years and to have spent the last six as CEO has been an honour.

After a long time living abroad, now is the right time for me and my family to return to the US.

“I am proud of the strong position that IHG is in today, thanks to the investments we have made to transform every aspect of our business, deliver for our guests and owners, and grow and operate our brands in the right way around the world.”

Maalouf joined IHG as Americas CEO in February 2015. During this time, the region has grown from approximately 3,700 hotels to more than 4,350. He has spent several decades in the global hospitality sector – including in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the US – and has experience in hotel development, branding, finance, real estate and operations management, as well as food and beverage.

Maalouf said he is “extremely proud” to be appointed CEO in “an important new chapter for IHG”.

“Working closely with Keith and as an Executive Committee, we’ve made a number of critical strategic investments in recent years that position us with exciting opportunities to realise IHG’s full industry leading potential,

by driving the performance and growth of our fantastic brands and delivering strong returns for all our stakeholders,” he said.

Keith Barr is stepping down from the CEO position after six years

Elie Maalouf will take over from Keith Barr who is stepping down after six years as CEO.

UNSUNG HEROES

Operating Supplies and Equipment (OS&E) are the unsung heroes of the guest room. Peter Weingartner, Principal of Swisstrade, spoke to Anthony Metcalfe, Director of Rooms at Capella Sydney, about hotel room OS&E selections that take the guest experience at the hotel to the next level.

Recently at Design Inn, we discussed how companies with a disruptor-mindset, like Swisstrade, are helping hoteliers innovate the guest room journey.

Was this your experience in the case of Capella?

We sought out partners that were willing and excited to help us curate a range of products that was different to anything that existed in the market currently, and we had an uncompromising vision of how we wanted that to be executed. Swisstrade was a key partner for us in this space and allowed us the creative direction to really push for some exciting new products.

OS&E seems to be the new buzz word in hotel projects and refurbishments and is something that should be considered in the design phase of a project. Can you explain why this is the case?

We had a clear direction of the journey of experiential touchpoints that we wanted to bring to our guests as we introduced Capella to the Australian market. We curated an extensive range of products with a select group of partners, focusing on all areas of the guests’ tangible experiences. As an example, Swisstrade designed our magnificent bathrobes and slippers, with a very specific profile and composition and the result of that time and detail has been incredibly well received by our guests.

What else sets The Capella guest room experience apart from other hotels?

We sought to create a space that was reflective of staying as a guest in a beautiful residential home, filled with touches that exuded warmth and personality, yet with intuitive functionality and moments that would make a guest say ‘wow – I have never seen that in a hotel room before’. Touches such as the 8-bottle JVD wine fridges in all guest rooms are a key example.

Is it possible to combine luxury with sustainability?

Yes indeed. In fact, we feel it is impossible to not create a luxury product without considering sustainability as key cornerstone of that process. Discerning travellers are increasingly aware of their footprint and expect we do not unnecessarily create waste.

In summary, what was your experience working with Swisstrade?

We have created a great partnership with Swisstrade. In fact, they were heavily engaged in the project far earlier than I was and it was great to have that thorough understanding of the early phases of the building development prior to the development of our OS&E programming. I appreciate the team of knowledgeable, hospitality-versed project managers that really aided in our ability to execute some exciting innovations for our hotel. We have a strong relationship postopening and that will continue to grow as our journey of continuous improvement moves forward. n

Working with Swisstrade, Capella set out to create a space that resembled a beautiful residential home

Image credit Timothy Kay

Anthony Metcalfe, Capella Sydney

A luxury arrival

Tell us about your career journey to date?

My hotel career started in 2002, by chance, when I secured a job as a doorman at the Le Meridien Waldorf. I was in that position for a year before moving to the Landmark London Hotel where I was Head Porter for three years. I then decided it was time to move back to Australia and secured a concierge position at Sydney Harbour Marriott. In January 2020, I moved to the Intercontinental Sydney as Chief Concierge, and in early 2023, I moved to Melbourne to join The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne pre-opening team as Chief Concierge. I joined the Les Clefs d’Or society in November 2015 – a major goal of mine since commencing my concierge career.

Is it an exciting challenge setting up a concierge department at a brand-new property?

I’m finding it to be an exciting and rewarding challenge. It’s been such an amazing experience to be part of The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne opening team.

After relocating from Sydney to Melbourne, have you needed to reestablish your network of contacts and knowledge of local attractions etc.?

As a concierge, it’s pivotal to have a network of contacts. I’ve certainly had to work on re-establishing and creating new ones. Joining The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne over two months prior to our opening gave me the time to accomplish this.

Have you found it helpful to consult your local Les Clefs d’Or associates when researching venues and activities in Melbourne?

The Les Clefs d’Or members in Melbourne have been extremely welcoming and helpful in assisting me with local insider information and introducing me to tour operators and restaurant managers. There have also been famils and events organised by Les Clefs d’Or which provide great networking opportunities.

Connect and collaborate

By Peter McBrearty, Les Clefs d’Or

WITH THE ONSET of autumn and winter we have noticed a drop in occupancy levels – as we usually do at this time – mirrored by a similar discernible drop in the numbers of international arrivals.

After a two-year hiatus, the 67th International Congress took place in Istanbul in March, giving members the opportunity to catch up and network with their associates from around the world. Attendees enjoyed workshop sessions and listening to speakers from Fairmont Hotels, Next Phase Consultancy, Forbes Travel Guide and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. A statistic our members found particularly interesting, per Forbes, was that five-star properties with a Les Clefs d’Or Concierge average five points higher in guest service than those without.

In Western Australia, our members staged a successful WA Les Clefs d’Or Tourism Expo at the Pan Pacific Perth in March, supported by WA Tourism and the City of Perth; and in New South Wales, members attended the NSW Tourism Expo at the Sofitel Wentworth in April. Both events provided attendees a valuable opportunity to update their knowledge of tourism services and attractions.

In addition, our NSW members raised more than $2,100 for their long-time charity, St Anthony’s Family Care. Also in Sydney, we were very happy to welcome new member Katekunthapat Nimibutr (Arm), who has assumed the position of Concierge Supervisor at Sydney Harbour Marriott.

Down in Victoria, our Melbourne Tourism Expo will take place on Monday July 10 at the Pullman Albert Park, with 32 exhibitors. As with Perth and Sydney the event was also an almost immediate sell out, with many previous exhibitors electing to return again this year.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Ritz-Carlton Melbourne was accompanied by the equally anticipated arrival of Chief Concierge Greg Hillard, well known to our membership from his recent tenure at InterContinental Sydney and previously at Sydney Harbour Marriott.

Fresh from the opening of The Ritz Carlton, Melbourne, Chief Concierge Greg Hillard shares an insight into life behind the concierge desk.

Greg Hillard

Behind every great menu

Comcater is Australia’s most trusted commercial kitchens expert. We live and love food service, cooking up the kitchens of tomorrow for more than 40 years. comcater.com.au

Paradise SURFSIDE

STYLISH HOTEL QT GOLD COAST HAS DEBUTED ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S COOLEST HOTEL-WITHIN-A-HOTEL CONCEPTS WITH THE OPENING OF QTQT CABINS, WHICH OFFER A CALMING STAY AT ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST POPULAR BEACHES.

JAMES WILKINSON REPORTS.

Adestination in its own right, qtQT is a unique open-air sanctuary oozing contemporary coastal cool.

An escape where laid-back flirts with luxe, the six qtQT Cabins each feature a private balcony, set within a tropical green oasis and a golden horizon.

Guests can book one or secure all six cabins exclusively, with each cabin suited for up to two guests or perfect for a solo escape.

Designed for discerning creatures of comfort, the cosy cabins each have their own character; filled with natural textures, earth tones and lavish local linens, creating a welcoming sense of tranquillity.

The inspiration was developed alongside EVT’s longstanding collaborator and award-winning designer, Nic Graham.

qtQT Cabins give guests the choice to either unplug, without the distraction of televisions, or book all six cabins exclusively.

“This is a place for our guests to simply be – whether it’s an unplugged solo escape or couples getaway with guests still accessing all of the designer comforts and culinary creations of QT Gold Coast,” said QT

QT Gold Coast has introduced six cabins, each with their own private balcony

Earthy tones and natural textures present a relaxed setting

Hotels and Resorts’ Group General Manager, Callum Kennedy.

“At the core of QT’s success is our people strategy and we create unique roles to be able to deliver the recognised QT experience.

“Our Directors of Chaos have always made an impact, for this experience we have created the ‘Curator of Sunshine’ role to collaborate with the best local partners to truly personalise each experience.

“This new space can also be booked exclusively for groups. We have created lush landscapes for weddings full of wonder, to off-beat corporate retreats.

“Meditate, celebrate, and everything in between. Checking into qtQT means you can delight in disconnecting from the world or lean into all the Coast has to offer.

“The combination of the new qtQT cabins alongside our recently completed QT Gold Coast upgrade takes the entire experience to a new level,” he said.

Guests can make their stay even more unique with individualised Curated Experiences.

These experiences are bespoke activities organised by qtQT’s Curator of Sunshine, a dedicated concierge to curate unforgettable stays.

From elevated feasting on The Terrace, an al fresco dining area, followed by star gazing by the firepit or bespoke local bucket list dreams made a reality.

The QT brand is part of the EVT portfolio and the new qtQT Cabins concept has been one of the company’s most exciting projects to date.

“At EVT, part of our property strategy is to innovate to commercialise under-utilised spaces and we refer to this as ‘maximising our assets’,” said EVT CEO, Jane Hastings. “When designing the overall QT Gold

Coast upgrade, we identified a previously un-used lower-level rooftop.

“We had been exploring the world of tiny accommodation and standing there as the sun set, we knew this would be the perfect location to trial our interpretation of this experience, the QT way.

“The cabins are low-key coastal cool, designed for the modern

traveller, exclusive group stays or an innovative event option,” she said. The qtQT Cabins are also doing their part to support the local communities and the Gold Coast’s artisan producers. They are loaded up with a carefully curated collection of luxe neighbourhood amenities, including linen and robes from I Love Linen (Burleigh), Saya Skincare amenities (Noosa), Harvest Clay ceramics (Gold Coast) and Drift Candles (Currumbin).

Whether it’s pamper pad, harmonious hut, love shack, kick back, all of the above, and then a little more, these new qtQT Cabins sure are an experience for everything unforgettable. n

“The cabins are low-key coastal cool, designed for the modern traveller, exclusive group stays or an innovative event option.”

Jane Hastings, EVT

The tiny accommodation concept is set within a tropical oasis

Hawaiian STYLE

WHEN IT COMES TO THE MOST STYLISH RESORTS ON THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND OF OAHU, ONE OF THE STANDOUTS IS THE ‘ALOHILANI RESORT WAIKIKI BEACH, WHICH FEATURES AN INFINITY POOL, CABANAS, TOP RESTAURANTS AND BARS, SPACIOUS ROOMS, SUITES AND A FANTASTIC CLUB LOUNGE. JAMES WILKINSON REPORTS.

The ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach is located across from the golden sands of Hawaii’s most popular seaside attraction and it’s also home to some of the best hospitality in the United States.

The 839-room ‘Alohilani Resort, named in honour of Queen Lili’uokalani, opened in May 2018 after a spectacular, five-year US$125 million reimagination of the former building – and what’s on offer makes it one of the best properties on Oahu.

Headlined by two restaurants by internationally acclaimed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, a

17,000-square-foot seascape pool deck, a captivating 280,000-gallon Oceanarium and a rooftop fitness experience, the ‘Alohilani Resort makes for a fantastic stay for both leisure and business travellers alike.

For those that don’t know the property, they are in for a treat, because the resort, also features one of the best executive lounges in all of Hawaii, the Longboard Club, which includes breakfast and evening culinary delights daily alongside local craft beers and a wine ‘cruvinet’ with 16 varietals.

The property impresses with the artworks around the resort and when you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by a custom coral wall sculpture named Makai by famed artist Nina Helms, the signature piece of the reception area that offers a poetic interpretation of the natural coral wonders that lie beneath the ocean’s surface.

After passing by the impressive Oceanarium – expect to pull-up a seat and gaze at the fish with your morning coffee in hand – you’ll head up to your floor to find all guest rooms and suites have private lanais, and offer expansive ocean, Diamond Head and city views.

An airy, guest room experience is inspired by Oahu’s

‘Alohilani is an 839-room resort in Waikiki Beach

serene landscape and pairs rich natural materials with a soothing palette of whites and taupes peppered with bursts of blues and greens.

The resort also offers stylish one-bedroom suites with elegant living rooms accented with large-scale black and white photography.

Also set to capture your attention is the seascape pool deck, which features cabanas, loungers, a heated saltwater infinity pool and a hot tub. The deck is also home to Swell Bar, which offers food and drinks, including some fantastic happy hour concoctions.

Those that like to stay fit on their holiday will want to check out the Island Club and Spa, a fitness and spa experience that includes a state-of-the-art gym on the third floor with a movement studio for daily classes and Fitness on Demand virtual classes.

Enhancing the recreational offerings are two rooftop full-size clay tennis courts, batting cages and training turf, distinct features for a resort in Waikiki Beach.

There’s also yoga and TRX classes overlooking the ocean and three spa treatment rooms, including a couple’s room for massages, body treatments and facials.

Capping off the ‘Alohilani Resort experience is of course the location, with the sands of Waikiki Beach right across the road and you’re only a short walk away to Diamond Head as well. n

Guests can avail of a tranquil rooftop infinity pool

Airy guest rooms are inspired by Oahu’s serene landscape

TOP TECH IN 2023

Discover the technology trends set to boost event bookings in 2023 and keep customers coming back

Thinking on your feet is essential for quality event production. In an ever-changing landscape, AV technology is developing at an astonishing pace leaving many event planners struggling to catch up.

Daniel Lourenco is the Director of Technology at Encore APAC, an award-winning event production company where he is responsible for technical innovation, and has delivered some of the region’s most impressive, immersive events. These interactive experiences have demonstrated how the latest equipment, particularly mobile innovations can be utilised to create agile venues of the future, delivering the choice and flexibility that customers have come to expect.

Encore’s Q4 2022 Event Industry Report revealed that the top two considerations when choosing a meeting venue are meeting space layout, and technology and infrastructure. With this in mind, it is vital to choose an event production partner who understands the latest technical solutions and can devise the perfect technical solution to suit your brief. Many more innovations are poised to help capture engagement and nurture it as audiences (and clients) seek once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

So, which developments are worth the hype? What’s really set to guide the course of event production in the next decade? Daniel Lourenco provides his take on trends that will empower your venue to win more business.

4K, 8K AND LEDS

When you walk into a JB Hi-Fi or Harvey Norman, what’s the first thing you see on a flat display panel? 4K resolution. Although this technology

is still growing, plenty of people have these screens in their homes now, and they want to see similar crystalline definition at the events they attend. That’s without even touching 8K and beyond.

4K projection is starting to become a standard amongst projection manufacturers, we have recently invested in 4k projectors in 15000 ANSI lumens as well as 22000 ANSI lumens projectors for the ultimate resolution quality.

AV production is beginning to embrace high-resolution video for keynotes, panel discussions, virtual speakers and interactive presentations. The challenge can lie in finding a solution that’s easy to deploy anywhere. At Encore, for instance, we’ve just invested in several brand new ultra-fine 1.5mm Pixel Pitch 135-inch mobile LED screens. These screens are incredibly thin, mobile with adjustable heights and

Technology is one of the top considerations for those choosing an event space

Daniel Lourenco, Encore

no longer having to worry about natural light and casting shadows onto projection screens and fixed displays that are less than ideal for our clients desired setup.

Elsewhere, we’ve just received a delivery of 500 sq. metre ground support screens and flow rigging options. These solutions offer boundless flexibility, complemented by our 90-degree LED panels for cubes, pillars and wrap-around columns.

VIDEO OVER IP

When we’re discussing super-high-resolution images, there’s a problem to overcome: transmitting or uploading to any device, over any network, without interruption. Video over Internet Protocol (IP) solves this pain point. It’s more effective than analogue cabling as you can add more sources in the same destination on an LAN network.

Essentially, video over IP makes event technology much more scalable without using traditional or analogue signals. Instead, you just plug a blue cable into a wall plate for multicast integration and rapid data transfers. That means you can transmit video wirelessly, without unattractive cable clumps sitting on meeting or boardroom tables.

USB-C FOR SUSTAINABLE CONVENIENCE

It’s not the most glamorous topic, but we’ve all been frustrated with dongles, adaptors and convertors in the event space. Thankfully, we’re already seeing a push for universal cable adoption, typified by the European Council’s successful ruling for mandatory USB-C ports by 2024. It might take several years until HDMI falls out of favour entirely, but it will happen, and there are big benefits to sustainability goals: fewer cables in your AV toolset leads to less e-waste.

Likewise, we’ll eventually start to see a decline in HDMI connections on our devices — possibly even the slow death of HDMI. This may take many years, but it will happen.

TIMECODE TO AUDIO

Ever wondered how international artists set and perform to cues onstage? This is easier to replicate for you even than you may think. With a little time and forethought, you can elevate your production values with audio, lighting and visuals that are perfectly synchronised.

It’s all possible with timecoding — pre-set triggers for AV effects that kick in during certain moments in a presentation or video stream. Timecodes build a full sensory experience for everyone in the room or watching from home. When you have fresh, creative staging to immerse attendees, they’ll be talking about your event programme weeks or months later, as if they’ve seen an arena concert that took their breath away.

Encore’s event specialists are pioneering this trend with our new LED bars, which are small and adaptable with panning, tilting and zoom abilities. They’re also phenomenally bright for show-stopping staging. They can produce stunning visuals — a genuine performance — for keynotes, demos or awards ceremonies.

ABOUT ENCORE

Encore creates memorable event experiences that engage and transform organisations. As the global leader for event technology and production services, Encore’s team delivers award winning events through design, advanced technology, staging, and digital solutions for in-person and hybrid events. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, throughout Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East. Encore is the trusted partner of choice for over 100 leading hotels and venues in the region. n

Connect with Daniel Lourenco to discuss your venue’s needs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-lourenco-28296670/

4K, 8K and LED screens will transform presentations, according to Encore

Encore delivers design, technology, staging and digital solutions for events

Movin'on up

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN HOTEL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE ASIA

PACIFIC WITH STRONG INTEREST IN WHITE-LABEL MANAGEMENT AND FRANCHISING PARTNERSHIPS.

ACCOR PACIFIC Lindsay Leeser, Chief Development Officer

With growing demand for accommodation, increasing tourism, and changing traveller preferences, developers have a unique opportunity to create properties that cater to the needs of modern travellers.

One of the key trends emerging in hotel development is a focus on sustainable design. As travellers become more conscious of their environmental impact, hotels are increasingly incorporating sustainable design features and green initiatives. These properties appeal to a growing segment of travellers who value eco-friendliness and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Another emerging trend is the focus on wellness. As travellers prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing, hotels are incorporating more health and wellness-focused amenities, such as onsite fitness centres, yoga studios, healthy dining options and spa treatments, to attract health-conscious travellers.

Accor has several properties in the pipeline that will make a big impact in the industry throughout 2023 and 2024. We are building our pipeline rapidly with a focus on strategic locations in major cities, airports and holiday destinations.

Ennismore, a joint venture which Accor holds a majority

shareholding, will introduce two new lifestyle brands to Australia in 2024 with the openings of 25hours Hotel Sydney and Mondrian Gold Coast. In New Zealand, Ennismore will open an additional four new lifestyle hotels in 2023-24, including a Jo&Joe in Auckland, two Tribe hotels in Auckland, and a Hyde in Queenstown.

Mondrian Gold Coast is a dual tower hotel and branded residences property on the beachfront at Burleigh Heads

La Vie recently introduced a new lifestyle brand called NOOE in the Maldives

Additional hotel openings for 2023 include the landmark 153-room Pullman Sydney Penrith, The Sebel Wellington Lower Hutt in New Zealand, and Hotel Morris Sydney, part of the Handwritten Collection. With all of these new developments, there is plenty of excitement on the horizon for Accor and the industry more broadly.

BWH HOTELS

Danilo Curcuruto, Director of Development

Australia is emerging as an attractive market for both local and international investment. The recent domestic recovery combined with the increasing return of the corporate market and international arrivals, with the exception of China, is making the region very appealing.

Driven by the expectation of strong market performance for the foreseeable future, BWH Hotels is experiencing an unprecedented surge of enquiries from investors, developers and hoteliers. Their interest is toward BWH’s impressive ‘Franchise’ (brand and distribution) and ‘Manchise’ (brand and distribution plus management) offerings, including white label solutions.

Australians have rediscovered their passion for travel and the new hybrid working model has led to the expansion of the bleisure market. This increased desire to linger longer in new destinations has fuelled a demand for extended stays and work-cations.

BWH has responded by offering a new range of extended stay options from upper economy through upper midscale. Executive Residency by Best Western Woolloongabba (opening Q4 2023) and the newly signed soft brand property, South Harbour Hervey Bay – BW Signature Collection (opening in 2025) are examples of this. BWH’s Home by Best Western midscale brand is scheduled to launch within Australia in 2024, bringing to market an alternative extended stay offering.

Lifestyle brands are an attractive choice for developers wanting to reposition existing assets or position new builds championing local destinations, their uniqueness and experiences. BWH Hotels encourages this creativity by providing flexible lifestyle options in both hard and soft brand formats. What unites these properties is their common ethos around customer service and food and beverage.

CBRE HOTELS

Michael Simpson, Managing Director – Capital Markets

Ally McDade, Pacific Head of Hotels Research

The Australian hotel market’s expansionary phase experienced over the last 10 years is set to peak in the next 12 months. New hotel room supply tracked by CBRE shows that approximately 8,400 rooms are scheduled for completion across our major hotel markets over the course of 2023 and 2024. Almost 65% of these new rooms will be upscale, upper upscale or luxury, continuing the elevation of luxury hotel standards across Australia. This development trend towards luxury boutique/lifestyle hotels delivers on experience, amenity, design aesthetic and service. Melbourne is the primary recipient of new room supply (35% of total).

Following this wave of additions, higher debt cost and construction costs are anticipated to suppress the development pipeline, with activity being largely limited to key strategic sites usually having mixed use appeal. Sustainability is increasingly a major concern for developers and operators due to rising utility costs of hotels, and the global investment market’s focus on ESG for all real estate asset classes.

The continued recovery of inbound arrivals should provide relief to pressures placed on occupancy, particularly in the major gateway markets of Sydney and Melbourne (where most of the new supply will be delivered). In addition, the new wave of supply is anticipated to play a role in driving rate performance over the next two years.

The opening of several premium projects (which are set to achieve a new luxury benchmark) in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast will elevate Average Daily Rates in the luxury market segment. It is also a segment that represents the most promise as an inflation hedge due to its less price-sensitive clientele.

Relative to peer countries, the number of new hotel rooms to be delivered in Australia remains conservative. We see good opportunities for further development following the stabilisation of market conditions, normalisation of supply chains and moderation of interest rates. >>

Pullman Sydney Penrith is due to open later this year

CHOICE HOTELS ASIA-PAC

Scott Armstrong, Director of Development, Australia and New Zealand

Franchising is emerging as a smart option for future-proofing hotels against tough economic headwinds and helping owners navigate in a hypercompetitive market still struggling with labour shortages.

Cost efficiencies and savings are top priorities right now, and Choice Hotels Asia-Pac brings distribution savings, smart procurement, direct reservations leveraging our loyalty program, and sophisticated book direct strategies to the table. These savings can make a significant difference to hotel profitability and day-to-day operations.

As more inventory supply is anticipated to come into central business district and metropolitan markets over the next two years, we are focused on increasing the visibility of our hotels and competitiveness for owners. Our known and trusted brands, combined with strong national and local area marketing, will help our hotels stand out and compete effectively in the marketplace.

We are still finding many owners of individual properties are busy working in their business, not on their business, picking up the slack for ongoing labour shortages. Our franchisee support services provide much-needed revenue and business support to ensure high yields. Revenue management has been a game-changer for the group over the past 18 months and will continue to drive profitability. Hotels that adopted our revenue management services averaged a RevPAR premium in 2022.

White-label management and franchising partnerships are proving to be a strong source of growth for Choice in 2023 attractive for both investors looking to expand their portfolio and owners who are ready to step back from the day-to-day operations.

The benefits of these partnerships are many, but owners are particularly attracted to our global brand exposure and revenue intense focus, combined with the specialist day-to-day operations and profitability focus from our white label management partners.

We’re excited to announce a new signing alongside Gatehouse Hospitality, bringing two properties in Barham NSW into our portfolio. We now have 10 properties managed between three of our white label management company partners through the APAC region with several more in the pipeline to be announcement in the near future.

COLLIERS

Karen Wales, Head of Hotels – Australia Australia’s accommodation market has continued to expand with the opening of around 3,420 rooms through 2022 in the ten major markets. Whilst projects opening in 2022 represented a moderation from the more than 5,000 rooms which opened in 2021, the expansionary phase of the hotel market cycle is expected to continue over the medium term with a further 12,500 rooms currently under construction and scheduled to open over the next three years. This will result in a 10% increase on the December 2021 base inventory. 2023 now presents as the peak of the hotel accommodation supply cycle.

In terms of new hotel projects, proposed rooms have, for the time being, moderated. The delivery of new hotels is for now held back by both escalating construction costs and investors taking a ‘watch and wait’ position as demand catches up with supply and trading markets ‘normalise’.

The Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) report on Construction at Q1 2023 highlights how Australia, like many other countries, has experienced sharp increases in construction escalation over the last two years due to

a variety of factors, including sharp changes in material prices, labour costs, and other significant internal and external factors. The government is also fast-tracking major transport projects putting additional pressure on costs with nine projects of more than $5 billion underway.

Escalation forecasts of RLB’s offices indicate a slowing of the increases seen over the past two years, with 2022 being the peak rate of escalation for most capital cities. Increases remain higher however than the decade averages previously seen across the country.

EVT Mathew Duff – Director, Commercial

Despite the challenges of the escalation in construction costs in recent years, the strong recovery in hotel trading due to increased travel demand still presents development opportunities for well-located properties in key locations. New or refurbished hotels, if well-executed, have a competitive advantage and create value for longterm asset holders.

Whilst we have seen some recent slowing in the construction cost escalation, pressure on the labour market and financial difficulties experienced by a number of construction contractors is expected to put continued pressure on construction pricing. This will remain an issue for a number of proposed developments and will require innovative design and planning to maximise the revenue generating opportunities from any development.

At EVT, our strategic goal is to maximise our assets to drive bottom line profitability. Our recent transformation of Rydges Melbourne is a testament to this approach, where we incorporated innovative design concepts to create an exceptional guest experience and significantly >>

An artist’s impression of EVT’s proposed mixed-use development in Sydney’s CBD

enhanced conference and F&B facilities in previously underutilised spaces. This property will be a flagship for the Rydges brand.

Mixed use developments will also continue to provide opportunities for development. We are excited about recently receiving the City of Sydney’s Stage 2 Development Application approval for our 525 George St property in Sydney. The proposed mixed-use development includes approximately 115 residential apartments, 290-room QT hotel with conference and F&B facilities, six screen boutique cinema and retail. In line with our sustainable design focus area, we are targeting a minimum five-star Green Star rating for the building design for this development, and a minimum five-star NABERS rating for the building operation.

HILTON

Tushar Raniga, Director of Development, Australasia

Economic growth is creating a more agile global travel landscape, and there are over one billion Asians set to join the global middle class by 2030. This growing segment is looking for brands and experiences that deliver value at an affordable price point. They are travelling more often, at a younger age compared to previous generations, and they want to explore the world, including Australasia. Our Hilton Garden Inn brand offers an attractive accommodation option that checks all these boxes.

We are also seeing increased interest from owners in the mid to upper-midscale sector as cost control and flexibility are now more paramount than ever before. For owners looking to capture demand from both business and leisure travellers in this fast-growing segment, Hilton Garden Inn’s efficient prototype and kit-of-parts approach make upfront investment costs more attractive and its lean operating model drives profitability. Given our region’s vast destination landscape, the brand is highly adaptable for mature and emerging hospitality destinations, as well as across capital cities, regional cities, CBDs, airport and resort locations.

That said, we have an ambition to double our Hilton Garden Inn footprint across Australasia over the next five years, with six projects already in planning or under construction in Australia and Fiji. Hilton Garden Inn Busselton is due to open later this year (Q4 2023) and next year we are scheduled to open Hilton Garden Inns in Brisbane (City Centre North – Q2 2024) and Sydney (Kingswood – Q4 2024). We plan on accelerating this growth via franchising and are confident that this will unlock valuable opportunities for more owners to access one of Hilton’s iconic brands and leverage our powerful commercial engine, robust supply chain, and extensive support network.

IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS

Cameron Burke, Director of Development – Australasia and Pacific

There’s no doubt that prevailing macroeconomic headwinds have suppressed the unprecedented level of growth previously sustained by some quarters of the market. However, hotels remain an extremely attractive asset class for investment serving as an inflationary hedge – with investors measuredly adjusting their return thresholds in order to effectively deploy capital. The confluence of these factors has resulted in a spate of recent development activity for IHG.

At HM’s AHICE 2023 event, we were incredibly excited to announce the signing of Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa, a 324-key conversion that will set a new standard for Crowne Plaza.

It has also been incredibly pleasing to see the high level of demand for our Hotel Indigo brand in the upscale lifestyle segment. Pro-invest will bring eagerly anticipated conversions to Australia’s largest capital cities this year, with both Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point and Hotel Indigo Melbourne Flinders Lane opening soon.

IHG’s broader estate continues to develop courtesy of strong brand resonance across our entire portfolio. We’ve had world-class (and some world-first) examples of the Kimpton, Voco and Vignette Collection brands opening in Australia over the past couple of years, and we’ll be preparing to welcome the luxury wellness brand, Six Senses, to our shores in 2025.

Of course, our core brands InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn continuing to remain attractive to investors looking to enhance owner economics – with InterContinental Auckland, InterContinental Lifou, Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton, Holiday Inn and Suites Geelong and Holiday Inn Dandenong all expected to open in 2023.

LA VIE HOTELS AND RESORTS

Chris

Batterham, Chief Development Officer

2023 is off to a flying start and what an exciting time it is to be in the hotel space. We have seen significant growth over the last 12-18 months and now it is about consolidating our position, aligning with key brands and building strong partnerships with operators, developers and financial institutions.

We continue to invest in human capital resources across operational, commercial and functional disciplines to build a strong support network of industry professionals to service our existing portfolio while ensuring we are well positioned for the next phase of growth. We align ourselves with owner outcomes, so it is important that we can deliver on those expectations with the right support. >>

Hilton recently opened a Garden Inn property in Darwin

IHG is continuing to grow its Voco brand in Australia

MAXIMISE YOUR ASSET THROUGH UNMATCHED PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

PARTNER WITH A GLOBAL LEADER

WE PUT THE WORLD ON VACATION

TRAVEL + LEISURE CO. IS THE WORLD’S LEADING MEMBERSHIP AND LEISURE TRAVEL COMPANY, WITH A PORTFOLIO OF NEARLY 20 RESORT, TRAVEL CLUB, AND LIFESTYLE TRAVEL BRANDS.

Partner with a global leader. Ask us about our hotel management and mixeduse opportunities, benefiting hotel owners and developers with strong returns, multiple income streams and high occupancy rates year-round.

In the Asia Pacific region, our management subsidiaries oversee some 70 properties, some of which are mixed-use with timeshare apartments and others which are conventional hotel or resort developments. We offer access to globally renowned brands; management expertise; exceptional customer experiences; powerful procurement solutions; efficient revenue, sales and marketing systems; and affiliation with Wyndham Rewards®, one of the world’s largest and most generous hotel loyalty programs.

WYNDHAM SURFERS PARADISE

WYNDHAM HOTEL MELBOURNE

CLUB WYNDHAM DENARAU ISLAND FIJI CLUB WYNDHAM FLYNNS BEACH

In Bangkok, we are extremely excited to welcome Chris Sathispornkitti, Director of Growth and Business Development to our development team. As interest in our operating model gains momentum, we see strong opportunity for new-build and conversion projects across South and South East Asia. Within South East Asia we are being contacted by owners who historically have been owner operators as they had no other option. Now, they are seeing the benefits of white label management and the professional operating platform that La Vie can provide.

Moving forward, we continue to see solid interest in our model across Australia and New Zealand with owners having an appetite for bringing lifestyle brands to regional hubs. Within South East Asia, we see strong interest across Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and expect Vietnam to return towards the back end of 2023, on the radar is Dubai, Malaysia and Indonesia.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL Richard Crawford, Vice President of Hotel Development ANZP

It’s no secret that as a NASDAQ listed company, Marriott International’s shareholders demand growth, and we are certainly upholding our end of the bargain in the Australia Pacific region. Globally, Marriott continues to open a new hotel every 14 hours, but while the pace in Australia Pacific is far slower, five openings in the region in the past year is sound growth.

Importantly though, it’s not the number of hotels that is defining our growth, but the quality. Globally, Marriott has more than 800,000 people, but in our Hotel Development team there are only around 130 specialist personnel, stationed in various countries to collaborate with the hotel investment community.

Each year we assess around 200 new hotel opportunities in Australia Pacific, but we will only sign six to eight projects. That means we say ‘no’ often, only putting energy into competing for projects with the right location, the right brand fit, the right commercial terms, and the right owners. In short, we don’t open hotels for the sake of planting another flag in the ground.

Right now, record room rates are giving confidence to hotel developers, who recognise that a strong business case exists for the development of new hotels and resorts across Australia, particularly in the luxury segment. This investor appetite has seen Marriott recently announce new-build world-class resorts on the Gold Coast, under our

iconic Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis brands. And more announcements will follow in the second half of 2023, with negotiations well-progressed for projects in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

It is well known, however, that escalating construction costs, increasing interest rates, and debt challenges have weakened the business case for some hotel developments. Our response to those headwinds has been to extend contracted milestone dates, to give projects every chance of materialising.

RADISSON HOTEL GROUP

Ramzy Fenianos, Chief Development Officer, APAC

The outlook for investment in Australasia is forecast to be relatively modest for the year ahead (2.9%), which is likely to result in significant challenges for hotel developers in the region. As a result, hotel operators need to be innovative and agile in operating and provide owners with the best possible solution to maximise revenue and efficiencies.

At Radisson Hotel Group, we understand the need to continue to provide flexible and innovative business models that meet the needs of owners and developers. This spurred us to strengthen our partnership with La Vie Hotels and Resorts by signing a Master Collaboration Agreement to develop over 30 hotels together.

As we continue to grow the Group’s portfolio across the region, we have also seen a rise in the number of independent and small-scale hotel companies looking for different business models to support their growth, especially post-pandemic. This trend is likely to stay as independent owners continue to navigate operating in the postpandemic era.

As a result of this growing demand, we brought the centralised franchising service model into the region so that owners can harness the power of Radisson Hotel Group’s global network. This model comes with numerous benefits for seasoned owners, enabling them to independently operate their hotels. It allows them to leverage the support, brand recognition, and global distribution network of the Group through proprietary systems and business intelligence tools.

Most importantly, the Club of Revenue Management by Radisson Hotel Group (The Club) will be provided to owners in the region, enabling hotels to revolutionise their revenue management with cost-effective, cutting-edge systems for maximum efficiency and rate optimisation. Moving forward, it is important to provide more opportunities to help streamline operations and maximise efficiencies for our owners. >>

Radisson recently announced a partnership with La Vie to add over 30 hotels across APAC

TFE HOTELS

John Sutcliffe, Director of Development

The challenges we are seeing in the current environment are likely to continue well into 2024. The reduced appetite and increased cost of lending; an increase in building costs; along with a nervousness around a potential softening in the market means that it remains more difficult for developers to stack up new hotel builds.

Pleasingly, this is not reducing the appetite to develop hotels. At TFE, we are continually approached by developers who are aware we can tailor commercial agreements to support their individual financing or valuation requirements and engage our Sydney-based technical services team to partner with them from the outset to ensure the optimal design for their hotels.

We are seeing an increase in hotels being considered as part of a mixed-use development that was originally designed with an alternate use in mind. Much of our current portfolio forms part of larger mixeduse precincts, and TFE’s demonstrable success in this area holds wide appeal for owners seeking complementary uses as part of their larger developments. Our recently opened Vibe Hotel Adelaide and Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne are examples of this in action. TFE is extremely proud to have partnered with these owners and the properties really are testament to the owners and their ability to develop outstanding hotels.

As hotel owners and developers ourselves, we are uniquely placed to fully appreciate the challenges currently faced and have the flexibility to find solutions that mitigate the current headwinds for our owners. This partnership approach is our commitment to support developers in ensuring their hotel builds are attractive, even during more challenging times.

WYNDHAM DESTINATIONS Dave Wray, SVP Acquisitions, Property Development, Procurement and Technical Services

With the appetite for leisure travel strong despite continued global uncertainty, in Q1 Wyndham Destinations saw high bookings at properties across Australia and the South Pacific, many of which reported occupancy rates exceeding those during the same period last year. Our vacation club, Club Wyndham, continues to grow as people see the value of investing in pre-paid vacations in today’s inflationary environment. A boom in family travel is adding to the Club’s appeal since it offers spacious apartments and villas.

These trends might indicate that Australasia’s travel and hospitality segments are making a comeback, even as cost pressures throughout the ecosystem – from the price of flights to front-line staff – remain a concern. To stay ahead of the curve, we are consciously if not cautiously expanding our portfolio in Asia Pacific by seeking unique places and powerful partnerships.

Beach and waterfront resorts as well as vineyards and foodie destinations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Fiji remain popular. We also are seeing a resurgence in visitors to capital cities as people seek immersive cultural experiences and entertainment.

When it comes to partnerships, mixed-use projects like Club Wyndham Airlie Beach with Club and hotel inventory at the same property are particularly attractive. This model not only enhances the end-to-end experience for guests but presents win-win-win opportunities to boost yield and reduce risk for developers, owners, and tenants alike.

By coming together, I believe we will come back stronger than ever.

WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS

Matt Holmes, Vice President of Business Development SEAPR

Persistent interest rate hikes have a knock-on effect on the construction of new hotels as cost of debt for hotel developers and would-be buyers has increased significantly. This higher cost of debt further compounds the existing challenges that the industry has been experiencing for the last few years – higher costs for construction, materials, labour, as well as labour shortage which also results in longer build times.

Thankfully, this can be partially offset by better valuations from a greatly improved trading environment; buoyed by strong corporate and leisure travel demand. The hotel industry is on a firmer footing as hotels remain to be a viable inflation hedge, with the ability to adjust room rates dynamically to accommodate an environment of higher operating costs and demand.

Despite these challenges, hotel development opportunities abound. According to hospitality analytics firm STR and discussed at the recent AHICE 2023, the Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) between new and incumbent hotels has never been smaller.

Recent trends reflect that travellers are more interested in experiencing stays at newer hotels, adopting them at a far quicker pace than previously. This means that the protracted stabilisation periods are either greatly retracting or becoming non-existent.

We warmly welcome the increasing interest in the franchise model – with more companies that were more heavily focused on direct management now moving into this space. Alongside this trend is also the emergence of white label management operators that we continue to engage with. In fact, some of our recent signings across Australasia and South East Asia have been in conjunction with these white label hotel management partners, and we will continue to leverage this model where it makes sense for the overall betterment of hotel owners. n

TFE recently opened a 123room Vibe hotel in Adelaide

Ripe for growth

NO

TOPIC

WAS OFF LIMITS AT THE 2023

ASIA PACIFIC HOTEL INDUSTRY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION (AHICE) WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERS TAKING TO THE STAGE IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE. RODERICK EIME REPORTS.

It was standing room only from the word go at the Adelaide Oval for the 2023 Asia-Pacific Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), which took place on May 3-4.

Addressing AHICE delegates, South Australian Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, Zoe Bettison, enthusiastically talked up the impressive growth of her state. “South Australia is the place to be,” she said.

On the back of over 90% hotel occupancy and AU$8.3 billion flowing into the state through a resurgence of interstate and international visitors, “We’ve seen the highest ever 12-month tourism spend,” she said, “This reinforces that SA really knows how to put on an event.”

It was also confirmed that AHICE 2024 will also be held in Adelaide.

In an Industry Outlook session, Matthew Burke of STR acknowledged that the surge, “could well be the unwinding of pent-up demand” he was still bullish about the outlook. “Now has never been a better time to open a hotel,” he concluded.

In conversation with James Wilkinson, IHG’s Kenneth Macpherson was keen to stress the importance of sporting event driving travel, noting “assets must complement the events.”

The slow return of the Chinese market and the prohibitive cost of

airfares was mentioned while greater optimism was held for Thailand which had demonstrated a greater rebound performance.

Howard Kemball of KCom moderated what was playfully dubbed the “Billionaires Panel” with party hats and colourful leis denoting a sense of cheerful optimism. Leading the festive theme, was Dr Jerry Schwarz reflecting his motto of flexibility and personalisation.

“Get ready for some reality plugs to be pulled.”

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, JLL

Pro-invest’s Ron Barrott discussed the group’s expansion plans

All conference imagery by Considered Image

The 14th edition of AHICE took place at the Adelaide Oval in May

Jeff Wagoner from Outrigger Hospitality Group discussed the prospect of returning to the Australian market, as well as a recent entertainment coup with Cirque du Soleil beginning a residency at the Beachcomber Resort at Waikiki next year.

Minor Hotels CEO, Dillip Rajakarier, revealed the business is quickly outgrowing its modest moniker.

“We don’t aim to be the biggest hotel group,” Rajakarier confided, “but the most profitable. Some of the big brands don’t care about owner returns, just planting flags.”

On the question of the Anantara brand coming to Australia, Rajakarier made his thoughts known. “Sydney would be ideal because it attracts the best rates. But we need to take our time and get the brand in the right place.”

Wyndham’s Joon Aun Ooi introduced developing brands: Echo Suites for the extended stay market and Alltra Resorts for the all-inclusive sector.

“What is also refreshing is that 20% to 30% of all our new deals are with repeat owners,” he said, underscoring his confidence in Wyndham’s ability to satisfy their clients in every respect.

Co-host Message

South Australian Senator Don Farrell, Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State, highlighted the importance of employment in the tourism sector citing the fact that “23% of all new jobs in the Australian economy were in tourism, up 14% from 2019”.

“The government will work to increase the occupancy rate, “he promised, noting “20,000 extra rooms are coming to SA.”

In another Q&A, Rajeev Menon of Marriott was proud to announce that his company would be opening two hotels a week in 2023 as part of “a decades-long growth story”, before Paul Salter elaborated on the AU$130 million Spicers acquisition from Flight Centre founder, Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner late last year.

Girish Jhunjhnuwala, the founder of Ovolo Hotels, eschewed the notion of loyalty programs. “We’re all about the enhanced customer experience. We own our assets and wish to grow cautiously.”

On the question of the Hong Kong market: “Hong Kong is always good at bouncing back.”

On Day 2, Pro-Invest’s Ron Barrott and Jan Smits discussed the dynamic group’s current plans and outlook.

THEY SAY GOOD things come in threes and that rings true for AHICE 2023. Three consecutive years in Adelaide, with the third year in our sensational city – and as we now know, not the final year – attracting a recordbreaking attendance.

More than 1,400 delegates from across the world came together in Adelaide for the 2023 event – an incredible show of confidence for the hotel sector and its strong future in our state.

Adelaide and South Australia are getting noticed. We’re hosting events that are Australian firsts and there’s been recordbreaking demand for our accommodation.

From the AFL Gather Round to LIV Golf Adelaide, these new events brought visitors to our state and helped fill our hotels –

driving a weekend’s revenue for Adelaide accommodation to an all-time high.

Our state’s tourism industry as a whole is going from strength to strength.

Visitor expenditure for South Australia has not only recovered its pre-pandemic value but surpassed it – now at a record-high $8.3 billion.

A strong pipeline of hotel investment in Adelaide in recent years is helping meet this strong demand, with a string of hotels having opened or commenced construction since 2020 worth nearly $1.2 billion – that’s a big vote of confidence in our sector.

Thank you to AHICE organisers, sponsors and delegates for supporting Adelaide as the host for 2023 and for their big vote of confidence – as we get set for AHICE 2024 in Adelaide, yet again.

JLL’s Gilda Perez-Alvarado flew in from Miami to participate in the conference

Panellists discussed the growth of fashionable boutique brands

Hon Zoe Bettison MP

Both were understandably pleased with the recent exquisite Art Deco Kimpton Margot opening in the Sydney CBD in conjunction with IHG. “Kimpton has all the benefits of 5-star without the formality,” said Barrott.

On the asset managers’ panel, moderated by Baker McKenzie’s Roy Melick, it was acknowledged that asset managers have had a hard time of it these last couple of years enacting Covid-driven efficiencies on top of their usual, arduous duties.

THSA’s Rodger Powell, never shy in his predictions, observed that “the market has no more tolerance for paying more for less” with regard to these Covid-driven practices.

Appearing by video link, BWH Hotel Group and World Hotels’ Ron Pohl observed that while recovery had been stronger than expected and producing record returns in some markets, “rates and occupancies will soon stabilise”.

He went on to say that mid-scale, extended stay brand “Home” has proven popular with Americans and that the emerging Gen Z market was pushing new development in brands like Aiden (part of BWH).

Gilda Perez-Alvarado of JLL came all the way from Miami for her Q&A and was quick to point out that “we’ve been in a synthetic environment for the last couple of years and to get ready for some reality plugs to be pulled”. This reality is likely to manifest in more sales as more players and more capital become active in the sector.

Antony Ritch, CEO of TFE Hotels, offered the perspective of a hotel owner and operator. Whether owning, leasing or partnering, the key is

always the return to owners and moving with shifts in the consumer profiles is key to both building and maintaining loyalty, he explained.

Michael Brown, CEO of Travel and Leisure Co. touched the company’s aim to “fill the white space outside the brand” by moving into new sectors beyond the traditional timeshare model of Wyndham and to allow unrelated brands to enjoy the benefits of the hospitality industry.

“We have hopes for South East Asia and Japan with lessons mastered in the Caribbean,” he said. And as for timeshare in cruising? “Stay tuned.”

Leanne Harwood of IHG engaged diversity advocate Christopher Schiavello from his namesake construction company. Under the tagline of “getting shit done”, Schiavello wants to “make change by bringing ideas and conversations together” and by “making sure you are not cutting off your talent pool by not talking to all the people”. And if you are going to celebrate diversity “do it authentically and positively,” he said.

Tim Kobe, the designer of the first Apple Store, encouraged delegates to avoid the risk of commoditising the offering and deliver the experience in ways that matter.

The key takeaway was the reverse of most common value-creation actions. Beginning with human outcomes and working backwards

JLL HOTELS AND Hospitality were delighted to be a Principal Partner at AHICE 2023, with our ANZ team this year joined by CEO of Global Hotels, Gilda Perez-Alvarado, and CEO of APAC Hotels, Nihat Ercan. It was a wonderful two days back in Adelaide catching up with, and hearing from, friends and clients following what has been a remarkable 12 months.

It was a privilege to kick off AHICE 2023 by hosting the day one Breakfast Masterclass on debt capital markets and its implications on hotel financing. This was followed by Gilda’s keynote discussion with James Wilkinson, which delved into a global perspective and outlook, discussing the current state of play

for the Americas and Europe which have historically been leading indicators for what to expect in Australasia.

Overall, in all the ‘on stage’ sessions it stood out that there was a resounding positive sentiment for our industry and its outlook, whilst acknowledging current and potential future headwinds.

We’d like to thank HM Magazine for the opportunity to once again support such an amazing event, and extend a big congratulations to all that were involved in its success. We eagerly await how the industry will grow and evolve throughout the remainder of the year and look forward to AHICE 2024.

“The market has no more tolerance for paying more for less.”

Rodger Powell, THSA

Delegates enjoyed drinks and entertainment at a networking event on the rooftop of the Adelaide Oval

to develop strategy and tactics, organisations can nurture and retain customers and employees using a similar template.

Marriott’s Sean Hunt lamented the absence of a strong MICE sector. “Enquiry is promising but we need to convert the leads.” And on the predicted headwinds? “It’s the availability of seats. We need more planes in the air.”

Luxury is a term never far from any hotelier’s lips and Robert Williams from Watson Farley and Williams, was keen to quiz his panel on their thoughts and aspirations.

An observation that arose early in the discussion was the apparent absence of luxury product on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Accor’s Lindsay Leeser was quick to counter with “our Mondrian Residences shows that the Gold Coast has every reason to be a luxury market”, and “a Sofitel of the right size is a great example of how a hotel can lift an entire market”.

Marriott’s Richard Crawford was understandably excited to talk on Sydney’s forthcoming W Hotel “which will be the largest W Hotel anywhere in the world” with almost 600 rooms. He also pointed out that the planned $500m Ritz-Carlton at Mariners Cove will also include a superyacht marina.

On the subject of luxury hotel rates, Crawford also noted that $300

was once an “eye-watering” room rate for Australians. “I’d say the AU$500 is the new AU$300 and AU$1000 Average Daily Rate (ADR) is not out of the question.”

With glasses of wine gracefully received by the delegates, investors took to the stage to comment on ‘The Essential Outlook’ as a fitting finale to two days of intense hotel talk.

JLL’s Peter Harper moderated the panel with Paul Salter “going against the tide” saying “it’s going to be tough in the next 12 months despite all the optimism”.

Dave Baswal of Ovolo thought the focus should be on attracting more domestic travel while Vicki Chow of Stonewood suggested “regional is the way to go”.

Referencing the new Moxy property at Mascot, Maria Verner of RF Corval added “experience is the key. Be brave”.

In terms of the next five years the panel summed up not only their individual outlooks, but that of the entire event by reinforcing the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in dictating the future for hospitality in all aspects of operation, not just construction and operation.

“We all must play the ESG game,” concluded Paul Salter. n

HOSTPLUS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED that it has passed $100 billion* in funds under management (FUM), marking a significant milestone and cementing Hostplus’ position as one of the largest and fastest-growing pension funds in Australia.

CEO David Elia says “This incredible figure of $100 billion represents the retirement savings of 1.7 million members who place their trust in Hostplus to manage their retirement futures.”

“We attribute this success to a combination of strong long-term investment returns driven by an active investment strategy, the loyalty and support of our long-term membership base, and the new members

who, on a daily basis, choose us to manage their retirement futures.”

Hostplus has an enviable investment track record over 3, 7, 10, 15, and 20 years in our MySuper Balanced option, the option where most of our members are invested.

With the Fund also being awarded the title of SuperRatings Fund of the Year, 2023 will go down as a landmark year for the Fund.

Hostplus looks forward to continuing to provide our valued members with an effective means of saving for their retirement.

*$100 billion in funds under management at 12 May 2023. Includes funds under management for the Hostplus Pooled Superannuation Trust.

Rajeev Menon discussed Marriott’s incredible growth in Asia Pacific

Jerry Schwartz joined owners with a colourful and cheerful outlook

Principal Partner Message

David Elia, Hostplus

AHICE exclusives

RUTH

REPORTS ON A FLURRY OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND KEY SIGNINGS AT AHICE 2023.

Principal Partner Message

Andrew Bullock, 1834 Hotels

AHICE 2023 PROVIDED a platform for industry professionals to delve into the future of the hotel industry, paving the way for success, with invaluable networking opportunities.

The buzz surrounding the white label hotel management offering was undeniable, with attendees expressing great enthusiasm about its role as a future trend.

The discussions centred around the opportunities and benefits this innovative approach brings to hotel owners and developers.

1834 Hotels, well aware of the emerging market dynamics, made the most of AHICE 2023.

Radisson and La Vie first began working together in 2022

Radisson Hotel Group and La Vie partner on over 30 hotels

Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has signed an agreement with La Vie Hotels and Resorts to add over 30 hotels to the group’s portfolio over the next decade.

The move will enable La Vie to develop, manage, and operate properties under the Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inn and Suites by Radisson brands, under a non-exclusive brand collaboration agreement.

“We’ve enjoyed a strong partnership with La Vie Hotels and Resorts with successful

property conversions in Sri Lanka to-date,” said Radisson Hotel Group Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer, Elie Younes.

“This latest news marks the next step on our journey together and the expansion of our partnership across key regional markets. Radisson Hotel Group is known for delivering the highest standards of hospitality, and the expansion of our portfolio will enable more guests to enjoy all that our brands have to offer.”

Our presence at the conference allowed us to position ourselves as frontrunners in capitalising on the potential of the white label hotel management offering. With industry expertise and innovative solutions, 1834 Hotels is poised to make a significant impact in this evolving landscape.

The conference acted as a catalyst for meaningful conversations and connections. Attendees were eager to explore opportunities with potential hotel owners and developers, recognising the value and versatility of partnering with white label management operators.

Looking ahead, 1834 Hotels looks forward to the opportunity to engage with potential hotel owners and developers, to discuss how our white label hotel management offering can unlock new possibilities for growth and success.

HOGAN

Wyndham announces key signings in Australasia

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is set to grow its operational Australasia portfolio to more than 50 hotels by the end of the year with the announcement of four key signings as well as two openings in the region.

The signings include a 117-key Ramada by Wyndham Kings Head, Adelaide which is slated to open by the end of 2024. The hotel will be built on the site of the former Kings Head hotel, which is one of the oldest historic pubs in Australia, datng back to 1848.

A 35-key Ramada Seafront Apartments on Fiji’s Coral Coast is set to open towards the end of this year. Located in Sigatoka, between the key cities of Suva and Nadi, the property will offer leisure guests access to the region’s great reefs, diving trips and water sport experiences.

Another Fiji property is on the way in late 2023 with the opening of a 90key beachfront property Wyndham Garden Wailoaloa Beach, Fiji. Across the Tasman, Wyndham will introduce a 60-key Wyndham Garden Suites property near the famous Lake Tekapo on the South Island of New Zealand in mid-2024.

AHICE 2023 WAS a showcase of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the industry, and attendees had the opportunity to network, share ideas, and learn from each other, providing insights for hotels and resorts looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Principal Partner Message

Sarah Derry, Accor Pacific

One of the key takeaways from the conference was the increasing importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. With speakers emphasising the need for hotels and resorts to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt more eco-friendly practices. This includes everything from using renewable energy sources to reducing food waste and promoting local sourcing.

Another important takeaway from the conference was the rise of technology in the industry.

From AI-powered chatbots to mobile check-in and keyless room access, hotels are embracing technology to improve the guest experience and streamline operations.

The conference also highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in our industry, and we must continue to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for guests and team members from all backgrounds. This includes everything from promoting diversity in hiring to offering culturally sensitive amenities and services.

Overall, the AHICE conference in Adelaide was a great opportunity for our industry to connect.

On behalf of the attendees of AHICE 2023, I would like to thank HM magazine for hosting this event.

Wyndham will surpass 50 Australasian hotels by the end of this year

Tryp by Wyndham Tory Street, Wellington opened earlier this year

Principal Partner Message

Matt Tripolone, IHG Hotels & Resorts

IT WAS A pleasure to be back in Adelaide for AHICE 2023 to catch up with colleagues, hear from key government and industry leaders and feel the buzz in the air.

Growth, talent trends and key industry outlooks were just some of the big topics on the agenda.

As IHG’s CEO, EMEAA, Kenneth Macpherson noted in AHICE’s first global keynote Q&A, despite various challenges facing the industry there is strong confidence in its resilience and the global recovery of travel and accommodation.

It was inspiring to hear IHG’s SVP Managing Director JAPAC, Leanne Harwood, in conversation with BuildingPride’s Chief Enabler of Change and Schiavello Construction Director, Christopher Schiavello, on a topic that we’re all extremely passionate about – making meaningful change in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.

For IHG Hotels & Resorts, AHICE 2023 was the perfect moment to celebrate some exciting milestones.

We were thrilled to announce a major Fiji signing with Wailoaloa Hotel Pte Ltd to open Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa in late 2023, and a significant franchise agreement with Pro-Invest Group to open new Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point.

Thank you, and congratulations to the HM team, for hosting such a stimulating event.

Accor opens BreakFree and Mantra hotels in Sydney

Accor has signed a deal with owner Sachin Sabharwal to introduce two new Sydney hotels, BreakFree on Broadway Sydney and Mantra Castle Hill Sydney.

BreakFree on Broadway Sydney features 47 refurbished guestrooms, an onsite café, a reading area on level three, and a boardroom for up to 10 delegates.

The 82-room Mantra Castle Hill Sydney will feature a gym, barbeque deck and continental breakfast offering.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Sachin Sabharwal and unveil two new hotels in Sydney,” said Accor Pacific CEO, Sarah Derry.

“These properties bring new opportunities for our communities and guests.”

Sachin Sabharwal is the Founder and CEO of microstay booking platform TimeFlyz and has worked in the hospitality industry for over 15 years. “I have always wanted to partner with a global brand like Accor,” he said.

BreakFree on Broadway Sydney features 47 refurbished rooms

The Mantra property is located within Castle Hill’s commercial and industrial precinct

La Vie launches upscale lifestyle brand NOOE

La Vie Hotels and Resorts is launching a new lifestyle brand with the opening of a new-build island resort in the Maldives.

NOOE – which stands for Never Odd Or Even – promises buzzy lobbies, locally-loved restaurants and sharply-designed work spaces.

“The NOOE brand brings together what it means to live a balanced lifestyle; blending work, play, relaxation, good food and drink, and adventure all into one, and we are excited to grow the brand in other resort and urban locations,” said La Vie Hotels and Resorts Managing Director, Craig Bond.

The first resort, NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi, features 72 bungalows and villas – 39 of which are over water. The two-storey overwater villas feature private plunge pools and a large deck area. The resort also includes six food and beverage outlets, a watersports centre, kids club, boutique store and spa.

IT’S SAFE TO say that attendees of AHICE 2023 departed another successful event with confidence that the hotel and hospitality industry is back in full swing, and with an overwhelming sense of optimism in its future.

Principal Partner Message

Craig Hooley, Minor Hotels

Our International Group CEO Dillip Rajakarier spoke with James Wilkinson during his Keynote Q&A of the strong future global growth plans for Minor Hotels, while the Regional Tourism Outlook panel that I joined featured discussion on the ongoing opportunity and growth in that space.

Proactive and performance-driven, Minor Hotels is one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality groups, with a diverse portfolio of brands and an international network of more than 530 hotels resorts and branded residences across six continents.

As owner-operators, we understand both the challenges and opportunities hotel owners face, and while we have enjoyed global expansion over the years, we have not forgotten our origins.

We are committed to the development of our Oaks, NH, NH Collection, Avani, Avani+ and Anantara brands in the region. It was fantastic to hold valuable meetings with hotel investors and lenders on the development of market beating performance projects.

Our owners and partners are seeking flexibility, creativity, and support, backed by expertise, which is why we offer a range of partnership models including HMA and Lease agreements, as well as Franchise Partnerships.

Many thanks to HM Magazine for hosting another successful event.

The first NOOE property is a 72-key resort in the Maldives

The Maldives property includes 72 bungalows and villas

Accommodation Australia unveils new brand

United industry body Accommodation Australia officially launched its new logo at AHICE 2023 with President Leanne Harwood and CEO Michael Johnson unveiling the design to delegates on stage.

Speaking ahead of the official amalgamation day, slated for July 1, 2023, Harwood talked

about the long road to create a united voice for the industry.

“There’s been a lot of blood sweat and tears to get us to this point,” she said. “There’s been a huge amount of effort from so many people across the board for many, many years.”

Johnson, CEO of Tourism Accommodation

Australia and interim CEO of Accommodation Association, spoke about the importance of being both authentic and approachable.

“We are here to work for the industry, one voice; we’re not competing with each other which is a very, very important and productive way to be operating,” he said.

THIS YEAR’S AHICE conference brought industry leaders together to forge connections, share ideas and drive progress. These moments are invaluable for us all to collaborate as investors, owners and partners in this ever-changing landscape.

After recent years, the continued resilience of hospitality is unmistakable; and with a growing global presence this strength has been mirrored by Pro-invest Group. 2022 was a record year of openings for the company and this year we will add Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point and Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders to our portfolio of over 30 hotels and nearly 6,000 keys.

In his panel session, our Founder and Chair, Ronald Barrott, emphasised the

growing recognition among institutional investors of the immense potential within the hospitality sector. Our integrated model stands as a testament to this, facilitating comprehensive in-house asset management from acquisition and development to operations, while concurrently offering thirdparty management services. This positions us as a singular solution, creating value across the entire lifecycle to yield sustainable and profitable investments.

As we reflect on the insights shared at AHICE, we’re more confident than ever in our industry, the APAC market, and Pro-invest Group’s ability to support investors, owners, and guests in this dynamic environment.

Leanne Harwood and Michael Johnson took to the stage at AHICE 2023

IHG to open first Crowne Plaza in Fiji at Nadi Bay in late 2023

IHG is set to bring its flagship Crowne Plaza brand to Fiji for the first time following a major signing with Wailoaloa Hotel Pte Ltd.

Opening in late 2023, following a multimillion-dollar conversion and extension of the Pullman Nadi Bay, the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa will give IHG a dominant presence in the airport town of Nadi and take the group’s portfolio in Fiji to five hotels.

“Fiji holds a very special place in the hearts and minds of travellers from around the world, and we’re thrilled to be expanding our presence in Fiji and to be adding our globally

recognised Crowne Plaza brand to the island,” said IHG’s Managing Director – Australasia & Pacific, Matt Tripolone.

Along with a refresh of the existing 324 rooms, there will be a further 66 new twobedroom family rooms and 16 ocean facing king suites added to the accommodation offering. The resort will also include a new day spa with six double treatment rooms, a new 600-seat convention centre, and seven dining outlets, including a lobby bar, whisky bar, all-day dining restaurant, Italian restaurant, beach club and a nightclub.

Principal Partner Message

David Mansfield, Ascott Australia

ASCOTT AUSTRALIA’S BALANCED stakeholder approach across our growing brand network — Ascott, Citadines, Somerset, Quest Apartment Hotels, lyf and Oakwood — has cemented our position as Australasia’s largest serviced apartment operator.

Whether working to elevate the guest experience or grow returns for our partners, every decision aims to add value to our internal and external stakeholders that have helped forged Ascott into the serviced apartment market leader it is today.

Ascott continues to gain market share by weaving our brands into a collaborative network that services the breadth of the Australian accommodation market. Whether it’s a luxurious Oakwood Premier delivering high-end services for corporate travellers in CBDs, a lyf tapping into local coworking appetites in corporate hubs to provide in-demand co-living spaces or a suburban Quest whose local business owners help guests connect with the local communities they operate in, only Ascott brings this range of serviced apartments to the market.

We understand ongoing trusting relationships across the board are crucial to our success. Having led the industry for over three decades, we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ll deliver 220 properties across the Ascott Australia network by the end of the decade as we evolve to meet changing market and partner needs.

IHG says the Nadi Crowne Plaza will be ‘world class’

The existing Pullman Nadi Bay will be converted into a Crowne Plaza resort

Principal Partner Message

Leanne Harwood, Accommodation Australia

BWH to launch new villa-style accommodation

in Queensland

QUITE APART FROM the opportunity to catch up with so many friends, one of the highlights of AHICE for me was the release of the new Accommodation Australia branding.

The branding, which includes a bold new logo, represents a united voice and the culmination of extensive consultation across many years and a huge effort from so many people to create the right vehicle to help move our industry forward with one united voice.

Throughout AHICE, the importance of diversity and inclusion in the hospitality industry echoed strongly. As a leader, I am deeply passionate about fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their unique perspectives and talents to the table.

The conference also served as a reminder of the vital role that the hospitality industry plays in our communities and economies. As hoteliers, we have the responsibility to continuously strive for excellence and push the boundaries of what is possible. AHICE provided a platform for collaboration and learning, where industry leaders came together to share insights, strategies, and best practices that will shape the future of our industry.

We have the responsibility to continuously strive for excellence and push the boundaries of what is possible.

BWH Hotel Group (BWH) is set to open a newbuild hotel in Hervey Bay, Queensland under its soft brand offering, BW Signature Collection.

“We are delighted to share our new openings with the audience at AHICE and this new signing is no exception,” said BWH Hotel Group’s Managing Director Australasia, Graham Perry,

“We’re excited to partner with Place Property Group to achieve a white label brand

that’ll stand out amongst BWH’s soft brand offerings. This new-build property will exude a unique design and provide an exceptional stay worthy of the destination its established in.”

South Harbour Hervey Bay, set to open in 2025, will be made up of four houses, 10 villa style homes, plus eight duplexes – all with modern architectural design and easy access to the beach. It is the third property under the BW Signature Collection in Australia.

South Harbour Hervey Bay is part of the BW Signature Collection

South Harbour Hervey Bay will include a mix of houses, villas and duplexes

Ascott to open Sydney lyf, Oakwood Epping

The Ascott Limited is set to open two new properties – in Sydney’s CBD and Melbourne’s outer north suburb of Epping – under the lyf and Oakwood brands respectively.

“As the Australian arm of Ascott, lyf Sussex Sydney and Oakwood Epping are part of our proven global strategy that is focused on delivering hospitality solutions that elevate the guest experience,” said

Principal Partner Message

Ascott Australia Managing Director, David Mansfield, at AHICE 2023.

“Every decision is grounded in meeting current market trends and future needs of our modern-day travellers.”

The 160-key lyf property on Sussex Street in Sydney, is the third Australian property for the co-living brand and is expected to open in mid-2025.

IN MAY, THE Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), brought together the most influential names in the global accommodation sector. With over 1,400 delegates from around the world, the event featured world-class speakers, panel sessions, and networking opportunities that explored a diverse range of topics from hotel development to technology and culture.

As the hotel event where deals get done, AHICE attracted some of the biggest investors and decision makers in the industry, from the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and across Australia.

As Michael Brown, President and CEO of Travel + Leisure Co., emphasised in his

Serviced apartment brand Oakwood will launch its third Australian property in Epping with a 94-key mixed-use development at the corner of Fullarton Drive and Cooper St. The hotel, which Ascott is aiming to open in early 2026, will offer a mix of studios, one- and twobedroom apartments, and twin key two- and three- bedroom apartments, a gym, conference facilities, cafe, and office space.

session, we are starting to see a resurgence of international travel, and this should gain even more momentum with countries like Japan and China having reopened their borders.

Adelaide has a busy calendar of events, and we were delighted to return for AHICE and to showcase our first hotel for South Australia – the brand-new TRYP Pulteney Street Adelaide.

We are proud to have sponsored AHICE and to have supported an event that plays such a vital role in shaping the future of the hotel industry. Congratulations to the organisers and all those who participated in making this year’s conference a resounding success.

lyf opened its first Australian property in Collingwood

Barry Robinson, Travel + Leisure Co.

Just sayyes!

RISING STARS AND ESTABLISHED HOTELIERS

The second iteration of the Future Leaders Forum took place at SkyCity Adelaide on May 2, kicking off the 2023 Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE).

The under-35s leadership event celebrated emerging talent in the industry and shared powerful career stories from those in established leadership positions.

The afternoon sessions included thought-provoking panel discussions including The Future of Real Estate and The Investors’ Outlook, as well as insightful interviews and presentations.

Hotel leaders from Accor, IHG, Choice, Marriott, Jucy Snooze and Ascott took to the stage to share their outlook and expectations on a range of issues.

The leaders spoke about the rise of AI technologies such as Chat GPT and how these can be embraced as a tool for hotels alongside the

personal touch delivered by team members. They also delved into ways that hotels can differentiate themselves to become attractive employers to young people in the industry.

“We’ve got to fight to attract you to our industry; we’ve got to do a better job,” Mansfield told the young leaders in the room.

“Everyone deserves a place to be themselves, we have to remove unconscious bias and provide a place that makes everyone feel welcome.”

Accor Pacific CEO Sarah Derry shared a piece of advice for young people in the industry, saying: “Don’t wait ‘til you’re ready. Make that career move or put your hand up for something when you’re not ready

UNITED TO TALK LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES AT THE FUTURE LEADERS FORUM IN ADELAIDE. RUTH HOGAN REPORTS.

Hilton Development Manager, Amelia Perez speaking at the Future Leaders Forum

The conference included thought-provoking panel discussions, interviews and presentations

because you will learn when you have the right mentors and the right people around you.”

Quest Orange Franchisee and General Manager Amy Van de Ven spoke about her journey to lead the business, becoming the youngest franchisee ever in the history of Quest at 27 years old.

“My parents have always had their own small business and watching them when I was younger, I always knew I wanted to work for myself,” she explained.

It was her open mindset and can-do attitude that helped open doors in her career, she explained.

“I said yes; I said yes to everything. I said yes to jumping in the kitchen to wash the dishes. I said yes, I want to learn reservations. Yes, I want to learn housekeeping. I just have always had a really big learning mindset and a really hands on approach to business and my learning and growth,” she said.

In a one-on-one interview with AHICE Chair and Convenor James Wilkinson, Travel and Leisure Co. President and Managing Director International Operations, Wyndham Vacation Clubs, Barry Robinson, spoke about his early career which saw him move from New Zealand to Indonesia, to Jakarta, and then to China, and beyond.

Robinson spoke of his first hospitality job behind a bar in New Zealand at the age of 13, as well as his time in China, saying it was “a really steep learning curve around culture and languages”.

Young Hotel Leaders (YHL) committee members Amelia Perez and Hannah Vale took to the stage to share how they are building a support network for young people on their career journey.

The discussions continued over drinks at a networking event held at Sol, atop Skycity Adelaide, to round out the day. n

Principal Partner Message

Leaders discussed the various ways hotels can become attractive employers to young people in the industry

WHAT AN EXCITING time to be part of this incredible industry as confidence in regional Australia tourism was reverberating.

This event is always an annual highlight for me. I am invigorated by the wisdom and camaraderie shared. I see so many BMIHMS alumni faces, long-time industry friends, and I meet amazing newcomers.

This year, I moderated the Australasia Pacific Hotel Leaders Outlook panel as well as the Human Resources Leaders panel, and in both conversations, panellists shared how important training is in our industry. Cultivating staff enables innovation that keeps hotels fresh, exciting and sought after. And hotel management vocational and higher education ensures thriving careers that keep the industry vibrant.

We all have a common interest in attracting young Australians to pursue careers in hotels. Unanimously, it was agreed that we are committed to sharing the amazing hospitality career opportunities available to young Australians, and the underpinnings of these incredible career adventures is higher education programs.

AHICE serves as a vital platform for us to connect with senior hoteliers, showcasing our commitment to industry partnerships and our position as Australia’s premier hotel school.

As we reflect on the massive success of this year’s AHICE, we eagerly anticipate the continuation of our valuable association with the industry, bolstering our efforts to shape the future of hospitality leadership.

Quest Orange Franchisee and General Manager Amy Van de Ven spoke about her career journey

“We’ve got to fight to attract you to our industry; we’ve got to do a better job.”

David Mansfield, Ascott Australia

Simon Pawson, Torrens University

Defying expectations

Karen Wales observed that while “sustainability can be hard to commercialise” it cannot be ignored due in no small part to rapidly adapting building codes, making newbuild projects more complex and, according to David Radford of Essence Project Management, leading developers to repurpose existing buildings rather than begin ‘greenfield’ projects.

The heavy hitters of the Australasian hotel and design community gathered at Skycity Adelaide on May 2 for the 2023 Design Inn Symposium.

Over 250 delegates were in attendance for the 2023 event, which was hosted by HM magazine, co-hosted by the South Australian Tourism Commission, with support from GROHE as the event’s Principal Partner.

The conference presented a deep dive into the world of hotel design and construction, from humble lead-free tap fittings to the ground-up construction of state-of-the-art environmentally efficient buildings.

To the seductive aromas of barista coffee and fresh pastries, proceedings began with a no-holds-barred panel discussion on ‘The Lay of The Land’ where the challenges and trends of hotel construction were tackled by an industry brains trust moderated by Marie Colangelo of Salter Brothers.

If 2022 was a prelude to sustainability, then 2023 confirmed the gnarly topic had reached maturity. Tim Sherlock from Pro-invest reinforced this by launching the discussion with “Sustainability has to be embedded in any project. It’s no longer just a tick box, clients (and regulations) are demanding it.”

While the term ‘Passive House’ may be familiar to those on the inside of the hotel industry, many of the more nuanced concepts are yet to be fully grasped in this volatile environment. Fortunately for the assembled delegates, Bruce Redman Becker, the owner, developer and architect of the groundbreaking hotel renovation and repurposing that became the Hotel Marcel in New Haven, Connecticut, was on hand to describe the challenges he faced which ultimately became his triumphs.

“The 50-year-old building had sat vacant since 1998,” Becker said via satellite link, “so we had some work to do, but retained a reuse imperative throughout to preserve this significant structure designed by the famous modernist architect Marcel Breuer.”

The outstanding result now serves as a benchmark for sustainable architecture in the true ‘Passive House’ mould.

Next, Chris Sanderson, co-founder of The Future Laboratory spoke with HM Magazine editor, Ruth Hogan, about ‘next gen’ hotels where he emphasised the blurring of business and leisure markets, referred to euphemistically as ‘bleisure’ travel, is moving away from the stereotypical ‘city stay’.

“Much of this is due to the growth of the so-called ‘digital nomads’ who are looking for a space that is neither bland co-working desk nor hotel room,” says Sanderson, “and here the onus is on the hospitality provider to create a distinct hotel experience – a reason for the guest to be there –

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DESIGN LEADERS INSPIRED CREATIVE THINKING AT THE 2023 DESIGN INN SYMPOSIUM. RODERICK EIME REPORTS.

Design Inn drew a crowd of over 250 delegates

and curate touchpoints that deliver a sense of place and community.”

The much-anticipated Design Showcase was revealed as Sydney’s soon-to-be-opened W Hotel in Darling Harbour. Presented by Director of Interior Design at Marriot International, Alicia Lynch, the design criteria of historical, physical and social held true to W’s fundamental tenet of ‘luxury, liberated’ and hotels that ‘defy expectations’.

Working in conjunction with UK-based interior design consultancy, Bowler James Brindley, the overarching ribbon motif was conceived to portray the sculptural, floral and surf emblems that define Sydney and its iconic harbour.

“The Living Room is modelled on the colourful jumble of the bowerbird,” says Lynch, “while The Great Room will ‘explode’ in fireworks designs.”

Slated to open in October 2023, the 585-room W Sydney will be one of the most high-profile hotel openings the harbour city has seen.

Several hotel brands are soon to debut in the Australian market including Interlude, Dorset, Ritz-Carlton and Moxy. The Moxy will open soon in the airport precinct at Mascot.

“It was not an easy journey,” said Corval director, Chris Boys, of the 300-room Moxy “but the big risk is paying off”.

Chada creative director, Juliet Ashworth, was more upbeat about her part in the recent billion-dollar redevelopment of the Pentridge Precinct in Melbourne.

“It was a challenge to honour the painful and tragic legacy without

being sad,” said Ashworth, “but we were able to adopt a transcendent, joyful and harmonious atmosphere in the public spaces with thoughtful design within permissible limits.”

You could hear a pin drop when acclaimed design leader and author, Tim Kobe, took to the stage for his keynote presentation, Return on Experience.

As the designer of the original Apple Store, Kobe recalled the doubt and derision cast his way when the first store opened in 2001. The rest, as they say, is history.

“Design helps define human progress,” Kobe reminded the silent room, “and solutions are just as easy to find as problems are created.”

There were so many golden takeaways, but the one that echoed long after his final words was “don’t do the right thing, do the brave thing” - a quote by art direction guru, Lee Clow.

The second design showcase featured the recently revealed Capella Hotel, built into the heritage-listed former Department of Education building in Sydney’s historic sandstone precinct.

Michelle Evans of Make Architects was clearly proud of her team’s contribution to this staggering AU$335 million, seven-year project that required considerable remodelling and reparation to a building protected by strict heritage provisions.

“The original sandstone structure was in remarkably good condition,” said Evans, “but we had to strip back the structure to the bones and rebuild every part of the building from its purely functional state to what we have today. For example, the interior directory boards were repurposed as art fixtures incorporating work by indigenous artist, Judy Watson.”

Modular hotel builds were a feature of the ‘Disruptor’ panel discussion moderated by Reece Ambassador, Loren Inglis.

“While they have been done elsewhere in the world, modular hotel builds have allowed us to really push the boundaries in the Australian space,” says Caspar Schmidt, founder and CEO of Motif/Wild Modular, “We’ve been able to overcome difficult site access and still deliver affordable guest experiences.”

Older assets nearing end-of-life were a consistent topic in many Design Inn discussions and it was again referenced in the ‘Operators’ panel discussion, moderated by Angela Biddle of Fender Katsalidis. Recent spiralling construction costs and the management of consultants also provoked reactions from our panel.

“You need to push for the desired outcome with consultants,” said Nic Dingle of Ascott Australia, “and make sure to achieve both design and operational outcomes”.

The final masterclass was delivered by Cliff Rip of Suede Interiors who detailed the considerable effort undertaken by Crystalbrook Kingsley in winning the 2022 Australasia Pacific Hotel Design Award.

Tim Kobe captivated delegates with his Return on Experience presentation

Rosie Morley from Fender Katsalidis delved into innovative new brands in the market

Make Architects’ Michelle Evans took delegates behind the curtain of the Capella Sydney project

The conference closed with the presentation of the 2023 Australasia Pacific Hotel Design Awards, which saw QT Newcastle recognised with a Highly Commended award for its creative design.

The Porterhouse Hotel, Sydney took home the award for New Build Hotel of the Year, as well as the overall 2023 Paul Davis Award for the Australasia-Pacific Hotel of the Year.

Judges said: “This hotel in Sydney is a wonderfully contrasting and layered design that bridges the contemporary and the historical without being disingenuous to either. The new-build architecture captures the spirit of the neighbourhood by effortlessly slotting this volume into the cityscape, comfortably creating a familiar architectonic that doesn’t scream for attention. Passing through the public spaces evokes delight in the discovery, with the considered layering of the design providing moments for each visitor that resonates with dexterity.”

The Hotel of the Year – Conversion award went to recently opened budget accommodation concept Lylo Auckland; and the Hotel of the Year – Refurbishment was awarded to Osborn House, locaated at Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands. n

Principal Partner Message

Steven Higgins, LIXIL

GROHE IS A leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings. Since 2014 GROHE has been part of the strong brand portfolio of LIXIL, a manufacturer of pioneering water and housing products.

In order to offer “Pure Freude an Wasser” or the pure enjoyment of water, every product is based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability. GROHE offers elegantly designed, water- and energy-saving products through tailored solutions for homes and businesses.

These include the award-winning GROHE Eurosmart line of taps and mixers using GROHE ZERO technology of isolated

inner water ways to deliver lead and nickelfree water.

Other innovations include our GROHE Eco-button shower feature to help save up to 40% water use and the GROHE SmartControl Thermostat that quickly gets the water to the perfect temperature and maintains that temperature for an enjoyable showering experience.

GROHE is committed to sustainability throughout our design and crafting of our products delivered through a resource-saving value chain: from CO2-neutral production, water- and energy-saving product technologies, the removal of unnecessary plastic in the product packaging, all the way to the launch of Cradle to Cradle Certified® products.

Loren Inglis moderated a discussion about enhancing the guest experience through design

Rachael Harman accepted the award for Hotel of the Year New Build and the overall 2023 Paul Davis Award on behalf of The Porter House Hotel Sydney, presented by 2022 winner Cliff Rip for Crystalbrook Kingsley

LEADERS OF TOMORROW

A generation of talented leaders are rising through the ranks of the accommodation industry and striving for better outcomes for employees and guests. M3 Property Senior Valuer – Specialised Assets, Hannah Vale, spoke to HM about her start in the hotels industry and the change she would like to see.

How did you get started in the industry and what led you to your current role?

I started in hotel operations and whilst working in London, I soon realised a desire to move into hotel investment and development. I came back to Australia and did a Masters of Property at the University of Melbourne, and through that degree discovered valuations. I started in retail valuations at JLL before eventually moving into hotel valuations with CBRE.

Now at M3 Property, I work on the valuation and consultancy of a range of specialised accommodation assets, particularly in the regional and metropolitan markets of NSW, VIC, QLD and ACT.

What is it about the accommodation industry that appeals to you?

Whilst travelling with my family growing up, it was the glamour and prestige of amazing hotels that planted this seed of a dream; to build and manage my own hotel/s. This dream drove my investigations into the industry and my eventual passions for and position in the industry today. The hotel industry is so large and has more facets to understand and thrive from than any other commercial property asset class. It’s an industry full of equally passionate and motivated people, incredible opportunities and its always changing and new, which is really exciting.

Do you have a career mentor or support network?

I believe mentors and a strong support network are absolutely invaluable to professional and personal development. They are there to empower you to push yourself harder, they use their experience to provide guidance and see your potential and can always provide an objective point of view. There is no doubt that at some point or another we will all hit road blocks, crossroads and opportunities, and it’s not about having the right answers but about having the courage to ask the right questions. I have a number of mentors that have guided me throughout my career, and I would highly encourage everyone who is looking to accelerate their learning and growth to go out there and find a mentor.

Who inspires you professionally?

I think as you move through your career you will be inspired by different people depending on what is in your focus at that time. Over the years I’ve been inspired by individuals who I’ve worked with who exemplify humanity with their dedication to helping others and social responsibility. I’ve also been inspired by individuals who defied gender-based challenges and became some of the most successful and accomplished women in the property investment industry. People that have built a reputation in the industry upon good values, passion and determination are always going to be the most inspiring to me.

What change would you like to see in the industry?

I would like to see each organisation making more sustainable and equitable choices – consistent gender equality, social diversity and inclusion and environmentally sustainable construction and operations. I would like to see more people inspired and encouraged to share their ideas and collaborate. I think the next generation has more potential than we realise and we need to harness that energy and excitement and come together across the generations to collectively shape the built environment of tomorrow. n

Hannah Vale from M3 Property spoke about the importance of peer support at the 2023 Future Leaders Forum

LEAD BY

Example

In a competitive recruitment environment, hotel companies are stepping up their employment policies to attract a diverse pool of talent and create a workplace that is family-friendly, supportive and inclusive to all team members.

The Ascott Limited Australia has introduced a number of policies to support employees and their families.

The business offers 24 weeks of paid parental leave inclusive of superannuation – something which he believes is an important inclusion.

“With our paid parental leave policy at Ascott, we are already finding balance in which parent is the primary caregiver at home; so women, who naturally often take on this role, are given the opportunity to return to work, minimising disruption to their careers and their earning capacity, which is a large contributing factor to the gender pay gap in Australia,” said Associate Director of Sales, Shae Anderson.

“By providing such comprehensive support for parents, we hope to do our part to reduce the social and economic factors that combine to reduce women’s earning capacity over their lifetime.”

The company also offers up to six days paid Fertility Treatment leave

in addition to paid personal leave, and in the event of pregnancy loss, team members have access to eight days of leave in addition to the two days of compassionate leave available.

Furthermore, six days of Menopause and Menstrual leave are available for those that need it.

Ascott also offers flexible hours with the ability for employees to work a four-day working week making it one of the few businesses in the country to offer this.

BREAKING THE STIGMA

The Star launched its revised parental leave policy and benefits in June 2021 to foster a family friendly, diverse and inclusive workplace. It includes 16 weeks paid parental leave for principal carers and four weeks company-paid parental leave for secondary carers. These leave entitlements can be taken up to two years after the birth or adoption of a child.

Team members also receive superannuation on all company-paid parental leave and principal carers receive an additional two weeks of superannuation (totalling 18 weeks)

The Star Entertainment Group Managing Director and CEO, Robbie Cooke, said the response so far has been “fantastic”.

“In the first year following the policy review, the number of team members taking parental leave was up 47% on the average across the three previous years,” Cooke said.

“Further, around 47% more men have chosen to take parental leave, representing an increase of around 35% against the prior three-year average.”

PROGRESSIVE EMPLOYMENT POLICIES ARE PROVING AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN NOT ONLY SECURING TOP TALENT BUT CREATING A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE. RUTH HOGAN REPORTS.

An increasing number of men are taking parental leave

Cooke said he is encouraged by that upward trend of men choosing to take paternal leave.

“It helps to reduce the workplace stigma of taking parental leave, while also allowing for more women to return to the workforce earlier and continue to develop their careers,” he said.

During parental leave, team members can choose to participate in up to 10 paid “Keeping in Touch” days to stay connected to the workplace and make the transition back to work easier.

When it comes to people policies, Cooke says the business recognises that everyone’s situation is unique and that they may require flexibility in various forms to prioritise what matters most to them and flourish in their roles.

“We offer a variety of flexible work arrangements for new parents and carers depending on each team member’s individual circumstances

including job sharing, preferred shifts, condensed hours, remote working and part-time,” he said.

GENDER AFFIRMATION

Accor Pacific also recently expanded its paid Parental Leave to up to 10 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child, plus the contribution of superannuation during this period, and updated its Family and Domestic Violence Leave policy to include up to 20 days of paid leave annually, flexible working arrangements, and emergency accommodation for up to 20 days per year.

In November 2022, the business introduced a gender transitioning policy to better support its transgender, nonbinary, takatāpui, and gender diverse employees through gender identity and affirmation at work.

The gender affirmation support plan includes up to 20 days’ paid leave and up to 12 months’ unpaid leave for full-time employees (prorata for part-time and casual), the ability for employees to choose the uniform that best represents them, change of names and pronouns in Accor systems, and additional training for managers and colleagues where required.

Accor Pacific CEO, Sarah Derry, said it’s about celebrating all gender identities and providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.

“Everybody has the right to be themselves at work and, most importantly, to feel safe in their workplace,” she said.

“Accor strives to support all team members so they can achieve their highest potential – this is why we are committed to constantly improving the workplace for our teams. n

“Around 47% more men have chosen to take parental leave, representing an increase of around 35% against the prior three-year average.”

Robbie Cooke, The Star Entertainment Group

Many workplaces are revamping their leave policies to better support women to return to their careers after having children

No experience

REQUIRED

BREAKING THE MOULD IN A CONSERVATIVE HOTEL MARKET IS MONDRIAN SINGAPORE DUXTON GENERAL MANAGER ROBERT C. HAUCK , WHO HAS ASSEMBLED AN ECLECTIC BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS TO LEAD THIS EXCITING LIFESTYLE HOTEL. RUTH HOGAN REPORTS.

Securing the right people to run a hotel is no mean feat, particularly in today’s competitive environment. But according to Mondrian Singapore Duxton General Manager Robert C. Hauck, there’s no “special formula”. And “the right people” aren’t always the most experienced.

“It’s not rocket science,” he told HM

“In Singapore, like everywhere, it’s difficult to get people because not many people want to work in the industry anymore.”

Nevertheless, the hotel, which is slated to open in June, has recruited a core team of over 70 people, from both within and outside the industry.

Hauck has taken a hands-on approach in his search for talent, from

scouring local hotspots and hangouts to scanning LinkedIn, and calling up old school friends.

Hauck first recruited a number of experienced hoteliers in areas like human resources and finance to establish a solid backbone for the hotel. And from there, he was on a mission to find the “characters”.

“In Singapore, there are great hotels, but it’s relatively conservative. And then a lot of people complain that there’s not a lot of creativity,” Hauck explained.

“When you go out in this neighborhood [Duxton], there is so much creativity. We have many tattoo studios and art galleries, local food joints, Michelin restaurants, and some of the best bars around. So, I thought, why not try to bring that in.”

By casting a wide net, he has established an eclectic mix of people that might not fit the mould of a conventional hotel. From young graduates to seniors, former athletes to fashionistas – no experience was required.

“They might be misfits in a sense, but they’ll fit in here,” he said.

His search for talent knows no bounds with one team member discovered on television.

“The first character I was looking for was Ah Seng – a gentleman that is tattooed from head to toe,” said Hauck.

“He is actually an ex-convict. He was in and out of prison for 30 years but has been fully rehabilitated.

“When I was back home in Germany, I saw him on television and

Mondrian Singapore Duxton has opted for creativity over experience when establishing its core team

was struck by his story. I was thinking, if I could make this guy the doorman, people will talk about it.”

After three months of trying to track him down, Hauck met with Seng and offered him the position, but much to his disappointment, Seng turned it down. However, through further conversation, Hauck discovered it was Seng’s dream to open his own restaurant one day. He offered him the position of managing the hotel’s staff restaurant, Bistro 126, which he accepted.

Then, Hauck discovered 64-year-old Raymond Leong. A former senior sales manager of an events and cruise company, Leong was laid off during the pandemic and reinvented himself as a Grab driver. He also entertains crowds as a drag queen in his spare time. He is passionate about training and Hauck hired him to do just that.

“You are made for the brand, or the brand is made for you,” Hauck said.

The General Manager believes a flat hierarchy and trust in team members to make their own decisions is key to success in hospitality, particularly in lifestyle hotels.

“I don’t decide anything, you decide, that’s why I hired you,” Hauck said of conversations with team members.

“Many companies want to do Lifestyle, but, what is Lifestyle? I don’t think many hoteliers really know what Lifestyle is. It’s not just taking off your tie.

“You can only achieve real lifestyle and hospitality if you work with flat hierarchies. When you have many reporting structures, it just kills the creativity.”

As part of Hauck’s recruitment tactics, his team can be seen handing out ‘We like your style’ cards to begin a conversation.

“My motto is chase talent, don’t wait,” he said. n

“They might be misfits in a sense, but they’ll fit in here.”

Robert C. Hauck, Mondrian Singapore Duxton

Robert C. Hauck, Mondrian Singapore Duxton

Mondrian Singapore Duxton is set to make its long-awaited debut in June 2023

ON THE

Move

YOUR ROUNDUP OF THE LATEST KEY APPOINTMENTS ACROSS THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

VISTA HOSPITALITY GROUP

Vista Hospitality Group has named Jordan Rodgers as Regional General Manager while Stuart Nielsen has been appointed to the position of Head of Growth and Development.

Rodgers will oversee Vista’s mid-market to luxury hotel operations including Next Melbourne, Ink Melbourne, Voco Brisbane, Hotel Indigo Brisbane and The Sebel Canberra, along with the collection of Sage and Country Comfort properties around Australia.

As Head of Growth and Development, Nielsen will draw on three decades of hotel sector experience – having worked at Accor, IHG, TFE Hotels and Condé Nast International – to help owners and investors optimise their assets.

SUDIMA HOTELS

Hind Management has made two key leadership appointments at Sudima Kaikōura and Sudima Rotorua.

EVT HOTELS AND RESORTS

EVT has appointed Shannon Craig General Manager at Rydges Wellington. Craig, who returns to New Zealand after two decades living and working in Australia and the UK, will also take on the role of Area General Manager for Rydges Rotorua and Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua.

“We are delighted to have lured Shannon back to Wellington as she is a highly regarded and extremely accomplished addition to our New Zealand operations,” said EVT Hotels and Resorts General Manager Operations New Zealand, Simon White.

Craig recently served as General Manager at Atura Adelaide Airport and, at the same time, as Area General Manager for South Australia and Tasmania she oversaw four GMs across six EVT properties. Prior to that, she spent three years as General Manager of QT Canberra.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Marriott International has appointed Tristan Cooper to the newly created position of Director of Hotel Development for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Based in Sydney, Cooper will report to Marriott’s Vice President of Hotel Development, Richard Crawford.

“Tristan has proven himself to be a highly respected and talented executive,” Crawford said.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Tristan to advance his career with this opportunity.”

Charmaine Carroll has been appointed to the role of Hotel Manager Kaiwhakahaere Matua at Sudima Kaikōura, effective June 12; while Sevyn Brown has been named Duty Manager at Sudima Rotorua.

Carroll has previously held a management position at the Scenic Matavai Resort and also previously spent 14 years specialising in food and beverage and conference management in the hotel industry.

Brown began working with Sudima in 2018 when she received the Ngati Whakaue Sudima Hotels Scholarship Programme, which supports passionate young Māori students to enter the hotel and hospitality industry.

TFE HOTELS

TFE Hotels has welcomed respected hotel industry veteran and former Accor Asia Pacific CEO and Chairman, Michael Issenberg, to its Board.

Issenberg brings more than 42 years of international travel and hospitality industry experience at executive and board member level.

“As TFE looks to 2024 and beyond, we are focused on growth, quality and innovation,” said TFE Hotels Chairman, Allan Vidor. “And in that respect, we are thrilled that Michael has joined the Board.”

Michael Issenberg, TFE Hotels

Shannon Craig, Rydges Wellington

Tristan Cooper, Marriott

Charmaine Carroll, Sudima Kaikōura

Jordan Rodgers, Vista Hospitality

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