The Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) has been re-scheduled to September 7-9 at Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

Event manager Interpoint Events has been monitoring the global COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak and the re-scheduling of the event is in line with advice from local and national authorities and WHO guidelines.

Our full conference program – which includes plenary sessions, the exhibition and networking events – will proceed as planned in September and we look forward to seeing you at the 2020 event.

AHICE is being held on September 8 and 9, with supporting events Design Inn and The Appetiser being held prior on September 7. All three have been generating significant interest and support from within the industry.

Major chains to throw their support behind the 2020 conference include Accor, Choice Hotels, Doma Group, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott International, Next Story Group, Onyx Hospitality Group, Ovolo Hotels, Quest Apartment Hotels, Swiss-Belhotel International and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

The two peak industry bodies in Australia – the Accommodation Association and Tourism Accommodation Australia – are also firmly behind this year’s event, while a list of sponsors is headlined by the two leading hospitality super funds in the nation, Hostplus and Intrust.

Other key partners include gold sponsors HTL Property, Lavazza and Pro-invest Group; silver sponsors AH Beard, AMICUS, SALTO, Johnson Fitness & Wellness, MYBOS, RMS, Tork, Nuvho, Vintech systems, Kohler and Mews; platinum supporters CBRE; and silver supporters AHS Hospitality and Assa Abloy.

The Program Planning Committee are currently working on an updated agenda and this will be available soon.

Additionally, host venue Grand Hyatt Melbourne will be taking extra precautionary measures at AHICE, including providing hand sanitiser stations, hand wipes and personal care products, as well as food safety and service additions. The hotel is also monitoring the health of staff on a daily basis.

If public health authorities change their guidance, we will communicate accordingly and in the meantime, refer to the guidelines and protocols as suggested by the WHO and local /national public health authorities to contain and mitigate against any further spread of the virus.

If you have any specific event questions, please contact the Interpoint Events team on 1300 789 845 (within Australia), +61 2 9660 2113 (from overseas) or email info@ahice.com.au

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management