Members of the 2012 AHICE Advisory Panel

The region’s leading Hoteliers are helping take the Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) to new heights this year by deciding the content for the 3rd annual event.

A number of Australasia’s most senior Hoteliers – including Rachel Argaman (Toga Hospitality), Norman Arundel (Rydges), Jennifer Brown (Sydney Harbour Marriott), Ralf Bruegger (The Observatory Hotel), Paul Fischmann (8Hotels), Simon McGrath (Accor), Bruce McKenzie (IHG), Andrew Mensforth (Park Hyatt Sydney) and Jonathan Wooller (SilverNeedle) – met at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney on Tuesday (May 1) to form the first ever Advisory Panel for the leading industry event.

Chaired by event host Howard Kemball, the Advisory Panel has helped create an in-depth program that will cover a range of topics at AHICE, including sustainability, performance, operations, leadership and ownership matters amongst others.

“From the outset, AHICE has been an event for the industry planned by the industry and this year we wanted to ensure the content was taken one step further,” said HM magazine Managing Editor and Advisory Panel member, James Wilkinson.

“AHICE is a conference firmly focused on management and operations and ultimately, we wanted to know what Chief Executives and General Managers wanted their staff to take away from the day-long event.

“By inviting 22 outstanding industry leaders to help shape the program for AHICE this year, we believe the content will ensure the conference is a success from a knowledge and educational perspective – and that’s our number one goal,” he said.

Alongside the nine Hoteliers in attendance, a further 13 – including Craig Bond (PPHG), Michael Bourne (Hilton Sydney), Julian Clark (Lancemore Group), Paul Constantinou (Quest Serviced Apartments), Gavin Faull (Swiss-Belhotel), Trent Fraser (Choice Hotels Australasia), Michael Moret-Lalli (Mantra Group), Richard Munro (Accommodation Association of Australia), Ruwan Peiris (Mirvac), Rodger Powell (Tourism Accommodation Australia), Barry Robinson (Wyndham), Peter Savoff (Emporium Hotels Group) and Peter Tudehope (Carlson Rezidor) – joined the Advisory Panel ‘virtually’ and will also help determine the final program for the October 17 event at Swissotel Sydney.

Keynote speakers, panellists and sessions will be revealed in the coming months, while a limited number of tickets are now on sale at www.ahice.com.au

A small number of sponsorship opportunities are also available for AHICE. Contact Adam Daff on +61 (0)2 8586 6207 or adaff@intermedia.com.au for more information.

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management