Fastrack Digital — Group Managing Director

Adrian is the founder and Group Managing Director of Australasia's leading travel, tourism and lifestyle full-service digital marketing and media agency, Fastrack Digital in APAC. Adrian is considered a leader in direct booking strategy and digital growth. He has worked with some of Australia, New Zealand and Asia's leading hotel and travel brands on improving their direct bookings. He has been responsible in some cases of doubling their direct bookings and revenue.

Mews — Commercial Director - APAC

Hayden is the Commercial Director for APAC at Mews, a cloud-native, innovative hospitality management system. Hayden’s expertise in hospitality management, hotel technology, and corporate travel technology spans across the past 15 years, with a focus in commercial strategy and customer engagement. His passion for innovation has driven him to explore leading hotel technology solutions and partnerships, with an emphasis on AI and automation, to improve processes and enhance the customer journey. A passionate traveller, foodie and adventure seeker, searching for the world’s best hospitality experiences.

BWH Hotels — Managing Director Australasia

Swiss Belhotel International — Chairman and President at Swiss-Belhotel International

STR — Business Development Manager, Pacific

Paul Hammond is the Business Development Manager, Pacific at STR, a global company who collects performance data from accommodation properties all over the world and provides aggregated reports and insights on market performance for accommodation providers and custom groups, which enables them to make better business decisions.

Paul has over 30 years of experience in tourism & hospitality in a variety of management and sales & marketing roles with numerous Hotels and Hotel Chains nationally and internationally with independent hotels such as Palazzo Versace and global chains including Hyatt and Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG). Paul has also had extensive experience in the Online Travel (OTA) industry with global companies Orbitz, part of the Expedia Group, and Booking.com, as well as major sports projects including the Nagano Winter Olympics in Japan and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) organising committee.

TikTok — Client Partner

Lylo — Managing Director

Horwath HTL — Managing Director

Katalyma Hotels & Hospitality — Managing Director

Bachcare — Managing Director - NZ

Hospitality NZ — Chief Executive

Masters of Arts (Hons) in Political Science (University of Auckland).

Steve is of Ngāpuhi descent with strong familial connections to Whangārei and the Far North.

He has most recently been Managing Director at Daylight, a strategic consultancy specialising in major events, tourism and business events for the betterment of local communities, visitors and businesses.

He was previously General Manager Destination at Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (now Tataki Auckland Unlimited), the region's cultural and economic growth agency, where he had oversight of tourism marketing, destination management, major events, business events and international education.

Steve oversaw the development of Auckland’s major events portfolio, including the Cricket World Cup, 36th America’s Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and Rugby World Cup. He also led the Auckland Convention Bureau to grow Auckland as a premium destination for business events in domestic and international markets.

Steve has previously worked in the New Zealand Government as a strategist advising the government on a range of portfolios, including tourism.

He is also past-Chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa and current co-Chair of the Tourism Data Leadership Group.

Steve's vision is to lead a collaborative organisation which engages efficiently and effectively on behalf of the membership, delivers meaningful action through the insights of members, and continues to support, attract and develop capability for the sector.

Business Events Industry Aotearoa — Chief Executive

Scenic Hotel Group — CEO

Motive Group — CEO

Expedia — Director, Market Management

Brook Serene — Managing Director

Bruce caught the hotel bug while washing dishes at a local hotel as a part-time job while still at school. The other side of the pot-wash bench seemed so much more glamorous!
After studying hotel management he took on a trainee manager position with Hyatt, focussing on Food and Beverage services. Following this, a brief stint with IHG before embarking on his OE. Bruce travelled extensively through the USA before basing himself in England for seven years, working for Forte, Marriot, and Thistle hotels, ranging in size from 50 to 800 rooms. An opportunity to work at the world-renowned Huka Lodge brought him back to New Zealand. This was followed up with his first general manager stint at Wharekauhau Country Estate, another luxury lodge. An opening at The George took him back to city life, and nearly 20 years later he has steered the company to considerable success along with adding other hotels to the management company. In addition to his role with Brook Serene, Bruce was also regional chair of the Christchurch hotel sector from 2010 – 2015, President of Skål Christchurch from 2016 – 2019, and is currently on the Skål International Board, representing Oceania.

Terry Ngan & Associates Ltd — Director

Tourism New Zealand — GM - International

U Hotel Group — CEO & Founder

Suresh Subramaniam is the CEO/Founder of U Hotel Group, a boutique hotel company in New Zealand with 6 hotels, motels and sleeperies and manages 30 short term accommodation rentals in New Zealand. With extensive experience in hotel management across various countries, including Singapore, Switzerland, Scotland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, India, and Thailand, Suresh has built a respected brand in the small accommodation sector.

His passion for hospitality began at Les Roches Swiss Hotel Management School and continued with a Bachelor’s degree from the Scottish Hotel School at the University of Strathclyde. Suresh’s career started at Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida, where he gained expertise in revenue management, distribution, sales, and marketing.

Before 2018, he held General Manager positions with international brands like Grand Central Group and Accor, including managing the Novotel Bangkok Platinum in Thailand. He also served as Brand Manager for Novotel in multiple countries, which inspired him to establish the U Hotel Group in Wellington.

Now based in Wellington with his wife and business partner, Katrina, and their two children, Suresh focuses on development of his own brands + affiliate brands as well as empowering independent hotel and motel owners through his industry knowledge.

Google — Industry Manager, Travel at Google

Mia leads the Travel and Tourism portfolio at Google New Zealand. She is passionate about the interconnection of effective storytelling, consumer behaviour and technology. Specifically, how travel providers and tourism organisations can be more effective in connecting with the considered traveller through insights, creative, technology and a digital customer experience.

Hind Management & Sudima Hotels — Chief People Officer

Phillipa Gimmillaro brings over two decades of hospitality industry expertise to her role as Chief People Officer at Hind Management Group. Since 2017, she has led initiatives in people, culture, health, and safety for over 700 employees across nine locations.

In addition to championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Phillipa developed the group’s Code of Conduct, including a Modern Slavery Statement, to align with ethical and sustainable practices. She also established scholarship and internship programs for minority groups and people with disabilities to gain practical work experience in hospitality, with the most recent Māori and Pacific youth scholarship launching in February 2025. In 2024, Hind Management achieved a 93% retention rate for permanent employees under her leadership, far exceeding the hospitality industry’s average retention rate of 23%. Her leadership through the pandemic, including pivoting from hotel operations to managed quarantine facilities, earned her New Zealand HR Director of the Year (2023) and recognition on HRD Magazine’s 2024 HR Hot List.

Phillipa is a Chartered Member of HRNZ, holds Professional Accreditation in Workplace Inclusion (2024), and has an Advanced Diploma in Travel, Tourism, and Business. She also serves on an Industry Advisory Board and is pursuing an MBA through the Australian Institute of Business.

Phillipa’s vision is to build a sustainable, thriving workforce, reflected in her leadership of Hind Management’s celebrated mentoring and development programs

Tourism Talent — Senior Associate

Kelly is a Senior Associate at Tourism Talent, specializing in recruitment for hotels, resorts, and accommodation. With almost two decades in the hospitality industry, including leadership roles at Expedia Group and Starwood Hotels, she brings a wealth of experience in strategic revenue growth and data-driven consultancy. Originally from the USA, Kelly now calls New Zealand home and is passionate about enhancing both individuals and businesses in the sector. A strategic thinker and self-proclaimed "data nerd," she excels at driving results through deep industry insights and genuine connections. Outside work, Kelly enjoys exploring the world with her husband and two children.

The Hotel Britomart — Sustainability and Procurement Coordinator

Swiss-Belhotel International — Vice President - Operations & Development, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific

Degree qualified international hotelier with over 38 years experience in hotel management, including 27 years as General Manager. Experience across 5 hotel management companies, Sheraton 8 years, Millennium and Copthorne 5 years, Accor 9 years, IHG 14 Years and Swiss-BelHotel International, across 3 regional roles, 18 hotel locations, in 5 countries.

HP AI Consulting — Director | Founder

Howard Phung is an award-winning technology leader with over 20 years of experience in hospitality technology, specialising in virtual CIO services, digital transformation, AI adoption, and IT strategy. Recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 CIOs in 2024, he has led large-scale technology transformations across global hotel groups, driving innovation in cloud PMS, AI-powered analytics, and data-driven decision-making.
As the founder of HP AI Consulting, Howard advises hospitality organisations on leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies to enhance guest experiences, optimise operations, and scale effectively. His expertise spans multi-cloud strategies, PMS modernisation, and integrating AI to drive efficiency, having successfully launched AI initiatives that delivered double digit productivity gains in key roles.

Howard has worked with industry leaders such as EVT, Frasers Hospitality, and Pro-invest, overseeing IT strategies for high-growth hotel portfolios. He is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and business outcomes, helping hoteliers navigate the evolving digital landscape with practical, future-ready solutions.

IHG Hotels & Resorts — Country Manager New Zealand

Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa — General Manager

Jeremy has been passionately involved in the Hotel Industry since finishing school, starting in the industry as a porter in one of Sydney’s well-loved 5 star hotels. After completing his degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management with Southern Cross University, his career has taken him across Asia-Pacific working in a diverse range of hotels – from big cities to country towns, corporate hotels to leisure resorts and from islands to deserts. Over this time, he has learned the value and power of strong relationships – with guests, community, team, stakeholders and industry - and that together in partnership we can make some truly beautiful things happen.

After spending 20 years travelling the Pacific and abroad – his family has settled in Queenstown, a place they have called home for the past 7 years and have formed a very special bond with. Whilst the scenery and quality of life is outstanding there – it is the community and their passion for their town, the industry and the land that has inspired them to call this place home.

Sarin Hotels — Commercial Director

Rajeev Sharma is a hospitality leader with over 28 years of experience in hotel pre-openings, revenue management, market expansion, and destination promotion. As the Commercial Director at Sarin Hotels, he drives business growth, brand positioning, and operational efficiency across multiple properties.

Rajeev has successfully led hotel launches, revenue optimization strategies, and international tourism collaborations, working with global travel agencies, ITO’s, Tourism New Zealand and regional tourism boards. His expertise includes dynamic pricing, digital transformation, and AI-driven guest experiences, helping hotels adapt to evolving industry challenges.

A recognized industry innovator and mentor, Rajeev is passionate about developing future leaders, implementing data-driven strategies, and transforming hospitality operations. His insights into market trends, corporate partnerships, and technology adoption make him a leading voice on the current challenges and opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Amadeus — Director of Sales - New Zealand & South Pacific

Cordis Hotel Auckland — Assistant Director of Human Resources

With over a decade of operations experience, Carol leads the largest hotel in New Zealand’s people & culture, learning & development and sustainability initiatives. Her achievements in employee development, retention, and fostering a strong workplace culture led to her winning HRD’s HR Manager of the Year award in 2024.

LyLo Auckland — General Manager

Tataki Auckland Unlimited — Head of Auckland Convention Bureau

SkyCity Entertainment Group — Director of Hotel Operations

Australian Revenue Management Association — Advisory Board

Grand Millennium Auckland — General Manager

Hotel Council Aotearoa — Strategic Director

Duetto — Director of Hospitality Solutions, APAC

Jeong Pyon joined Duetto in April 2022 as Director of Hospitality Solutions. In this role within the Sales division, Jeong helps hotels leverage Duetto's suite of solutions to achieve their revenue objectives.
A graduate of the Glion Institute of Higher Education with a degree in Hospitality Finance and Revenue Management, Jeong has extensive experience in various revenue management roles across the hospitality industry. His career spans Marriott's corporate office in Bethesda, a boutique Relais & Châteaux property, airport hotels, resorts, casino hotels, convention hotels, hotel openings, and Forbes 5-star hotels across North America and APAC.
Jeong is also a seasoned speaker, sharing his expertise in revenue management, industry trends, and revenue optimization at Duetto Revenue Strategy Seminars and industry events like the Australia Revenue Management Summit.

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality (New Zealand) — Minister for Tourism and Hospitality (New Zealand)