The hotel industry’s inspiring young leaders will gather in Adelaide on Tuesday May 6 at the Future Leaders Forum, which returns to AHICE for its fourth year.
Taking place at Hilton Adelaide for the first time, the 2025 AHICE Future Leaders Forum, presented by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, will run from 3pm-5.15pm on Tuesday afternoon.
The event will welcome a broad spectrum of under 35s – from real estate and hotel development to hotel operations and more – for insightful conferencing sessions and a chance to network with their peers and key industry leaders.
View the 2025 Future Leaders Forum program
Future Leaders will hear from industry stalwarts about their career journey and talk personal and professional development.
The Forum will open with an interactive session led by Accor Director of Feasibility and Retention – Pacific, Nick Lockyer, on The Keys to Success.
A panel of rising stars, hosted by Accor Development Manager Taylor O’Brien, will talk about their careers and where the opportunities for growth are in property and development.
Panellists will include: Chris Boyd, Associate – Investment Sales, Hotels & Hospitality Group, JLL; Josie Hungerford, Director of Growth and Corporate Affairs, Trilogy Hotels; Sam Abel, Executive – Hotels, Colliers; and Shaishav Mehta, Development Executive – Australasia, BWH Hotels.
There will be a presentation on the growth of the YHL (Young Hotel Leaders) group, introducing the Canberra and Melbourne Chapters.
A second interactive activity hosted by Professor SIMON PAWSON, Associate Dean – Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, will unpack opportunities and challenges faced by future industry leaders. With table captains, young executives will look at the opportunities and challenges faced by Future Industry Leaders. It will be a dynamic trivia challenge through Kahoot and participation will be by table rather than individual, to encourage discussion.
In a Leadership Q&A, La Vie Hotels Development Manager, Nicole Burg, will be in conversation with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Cameron-Smith.
The final panel session will be The Hoteliers’ Outlook, featuring several of Australasia’s leading owners, investors and operators.
Hosted by Nick Hill, Senior Negotiator – Capital Markets, Hotels, CBRE Asia Pacific, panellists will include Lucia Grambalova, Chief Investment Officer & Head of Asset Management, Hotel Capital Partners; Patrick Lonergan, Head of Hotel, Hospitality and Leisure, Mulpha Australia Limited; Scott Boyes, Chief Executive Officer, Trilogy Hotels; and Steven Skarott, Director ‑ Hotels, Salter Brothers
Delegates will then enjoy a Gala Networking Event at Hilton Adelaide, presented by Hilton, followed by The AHICE Asia-Pacific ‘After Dark’ Networking Lounge (more information available via the AHICE app)
The Future Leaders Forum is one of three events to take place as part of AHICE Asia Pacific. Design Inn Symposium runs from 9am-5.15pm at Hilton Adelaide on Tuesday May 6, while AHICE takes place at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday May 7 and Thursday May 8, 2025.
Last year AHICE Asia Pacific welcomed over 1,500 delegates and registrations are showing high attendance again this year.
AHICE has garnered support from over 100 sponsors including 1834 Hotels, Accor, Agilysys, EVT, Hilton, Hostplus, IHG Hotels and Resorts, JLL, Marriott International, Minor Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group and Travel and Leisure, as Principal partners.