The Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) will return to Adelaide for a third consecutive year in 2023, organisers announced on Thursday as the 2022 event comes to a close.

“Adelaide is an exciting destination for AHICE as the city’s accommodation sector has expanded rapidly, with so many new hotels opening in recent years and even more to come,” said AHICE Founder, Chair and Convenor, James Wilkinson.

“AHICE has grown into the largest and most significant hotel industry conference in the world outside the United States, and it’s been terrific to be back in Adelaide and have South Australia firmly in the spotlight for the global industry.

“We’re thrilled to announce that AHICE will return to this incredible city in 2023 and bring the event back bigger and better.”

AHICE 2022 hosted more than 1,200 delegates from over 40 countries around the world. Hotel investors, owners, operators, consultants and suppliers enjoyed networking, panel sessions and guest speakers discussing the direction of the hotel sector in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and across the world.

The 2023 event will be held in May next year and will once again include the Design Inn Symposium and Future Leaders Forum, which will be held at hotels cross the city.

The South Australian Government described it as a “hat trick coup” for the recovery of South Australia’s $2 billion conference sector.

“It is a huge coup for our state and a real sign of confidence in Adelaide’s hotel sector to be selected as the host city of this major business event for the third year running,” said South Australian Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison.

“Despite the disruption of the pandemic, South Australia has seen strong investment in hotels and occupancy rates that are among the highest in the nation and reaching record highs.

“We’ve seen new hotels open including the Crowne Plaza, Eos by SkyCity, Majestic M Suites, Hotel Indigo and Sofitel, adding a combined nearly 1,000 rooms to our CBD.”

It is a fabulous sign of recognition and endorsement of the strength of tourism in our state that the Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition keeps choosing Adelaide – bringing leading hoteliers and industry experts to be inspired by our city’s bright future and creating an immediate economic impact for SA.