Maximum Occupancy
Maximum Occupancy
08:00 — 0:900
Welcome to Maximum Occupancy Australia 2026. Pick up your lanyard and name tag at the registration desk and enjoy a coffee while networking with other conference delegates.
09:00am — 09:05am
A welcome introduction to Maximum Occupancy Australia 2026 by the conference MC and organiser, Adrian Caruso, Group Managing Director for Fastrack Digital.
09:05 — 09:25
Jacqueline Choo — Pacific STR
Learn what the state of the Australian and broader accommodation market is currently and predictions for 2027 and beyond.
09:30am — 09:45am
Nicholas Reece — Lord Mayor Of Melbourne
09:45 — 10:10
Ian Wilson
Title Hospitality
—
Director
Dean Minett
Gatehouse Hospitality
—
Managing Director
Robert Moore
Brady Group
—
General Manager Hotels & Hospitality
More speakers to be announced soon
10:05am — 10:25am
A full hotel doesn’t always mean a profitable one. This session gets behind the headline numbers to uncover what really drives hotel profitability - from pricing and distribution costs to labour, operating expenses and the true cost of every booking.
10:25 — 10:35
Listen to short sharp presentations from leading industry suppliers and event exhibtors and how you can boost revenue and occupancy using their products.
10:30 — 11:00
Break time! Enjoy a delicious morning tea and network with your fellow conference delegates.
11:00am — 11:25am
Listen to some of Australia's top hotel and accommodation managers and operators, and what keeps them up late at night.
Carl Forrest
Pan Pacific Melbourne
—
Hotel Manager
Rachel Harman
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne
—
General Manager
Peter Minatsis
Hannah St Hotel
—
General Manager
More speakers to be announced soon
11:25am — 11:45am
Jeff Baars
Urban Rest
—
Chief Commercial Officer
Ravinder Kalvakuntla
Prompt Hospitality Tech
—
Founder & Principal Consultant
Andrew Turner
EVT
—
Group General Manager Technology & Digital
More speakers to be announced soon
11:50 — 12:15
Sarah Derry
The Star Entertainment Group
—
Chief People Officer
More speakers to be announced soon
12:15 — 12:40
Adrian Caruso — Fastrack Digital
The way travellers search, discover and choose accommodation is changing fast. Adrian Caruso explores how AI, evolving search behaviour and new digital platforms are reshaping the guest journey - and what accommodation businesses need to do now to stay visible, relevant and drive more direct bookings.
12:45 — 01:00
Zach Sevelle — RMS
Every acquisition imports someone else's technology decisions, and the debt compounds as you expand from hotels into apartments, resorts, and motels. This session uncovers where M&A tech debt hides and shares a practical framework for future-proofing your organisation, with actions you can apply to your next deal.
01:00pm — 02:00pm
Network with other attendees over a delicious buffet lunch.
2:00pm — 2:25pm
Demand now comes from many directions - cruise, events, sports, corporate travel and high-value leisure. This panel explores how these segments behave, how they impact occupancy and rates, and how hotels can better align pricing, inventory and marketing to capture the right mix of demand year-round.?
Lisa Patroni
Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
—
CEO
Adam Schwab
Luxury Escapes
—
Co-Founder + CEO
More speakers to be announced soon
02:25pm — 02:50pm
orporate travel is back, but the way companies and travellers choose hotels is changing. Explore what’s driving corporate demand, what buyers are looking for and how hotels can win a bigger share of this valuable market.
02:50pm — 03:15pm
Hotel restaurants and bars can be costly to run - but can they become serious profit centres? This session explores what’s working, what isn’t, and how hotels can turn F&B into a stronger driver of revenue, guest experience and profitability.
03:15pm — 03;45pm
03:45pm — 04:10pm
Industry CEOs and senior leaders share a candid outlook on what’s ahead for the accommodation sector and how they’re preparing for the year ahead.
Dougall Hollis
Accommodation Australia (Vic)
—
General Manager
Lee Davey
EVT Hotels and Resorts
—
State General Manager
David Tonkin
Pan Pacific Hotels Group
—
Country General Manager, Oceania
More speakers to be announced soon
04:15pm — 04:30pm
Paul Constantinou AM — Extended STAY Australasia
In this one-on-one conversation, Paul shares the story behind growing Quest Apartment Hotels to more than 170 properties, the lessons learned through decades of leadership and change, and the decision to sell to The Ascott Limited. He also explores his next chapter with extended STAY australasia, the opportunities he sees for operators today, and what it takes to build an accommodation business that lasts.
04:30pm — 04:50pm
04:50pm — 05:20pm
Give industry leaders an underperforming hotel $100,000 to turn it around. Where would they invest first - marketing, technology, people, rooms, F&B or revenue? Our panellists make their choices and defend them.
05:30pm — 06:30pm
05:45pm — 06:45pm
