Melbourne

• 08:00 — 0:900

  Conference Registation

  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

  Conference Welcome & Opening

  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

  The Australian Accommodation Outlook: What Will Drive Demand in 2027?

  Jacqueline Choo — Pacific STR

  Learn what the state of the Australian and broader accommodation market is currently and predictions for 2027 and beyond.

• 

  09:30 — 09:55

  THE OWNER'S TABLE: What Hotel Owners Want in 2027

  • Panellists

  • 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

• 

  09:55am — 10:10am

  Keynote: The Traveller Has Changed. Has Hospitality?

  Speaker to be advised shortly

• 

  10:10am — 10:25am

  The Wellness Economy: Where Hospitality Meets Health

  In this session we explore how the booming wellness sector is reshaping accommodation, with insights into new revenue opportunities, evolving guest expectations and innovative wellness offerings.

• 10:25 — 10:35

  Power-up Trend Talks

  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

  Morning Tea

  Break time! Enjoy a delicious morning tea and network with your fellow conference delegates.

• 

  11:00am — 11:25am

  What Keeps Hotel Managers Up Late at Night

  Listen to some of Australia's top hotel and accommodation managers and operators, and what keeps them up late at night.

  • Panellists

  • 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

• 

  11:25 — 11:50

  THE BATTLE FOR THE GUEST: Who Controls Travel Discovery Now?

• 

  11:50 — 12:15

  THE PRODUCTIVITY PROBLEM: Better Hospitality With Fewer People

• 12:15 — 12:40

  Staying Visible in a Changing Digital Landscape

  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

  Buying Diversification, Inheriting Tech Debt

  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

  Lunch

  Network with other attendees over a delicious buffet lunch.

• 

  2:00pm — 2:25pm

  Where will your next guest come from?

  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.?

  • Facilitators

  • Lisa Patroni
    Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) — CEO

  • Panellists

  • Adam Schwab
    Luxury Escapes — Co-Founder + CEO

  • More speakers to be announced soon

• 

  02:25pm — 02:50pm

  How to Win More Corporate Business in 2027

  This expert panel of TMCs, corporate buyers, and hotel sales leaders will share what’s driving today’s business travel decisions and what hotels can do now to stay front of mind - and on every preferred supplier list

• 

  02:50pm — 03:15pm

  FROM COST CENTRE TO PROFIT CENTRE: Can Hotel F&B Actually Make Money

• 

  03:15pm — 03;45pm

  Afternoon tea

• 

  03:45pm — 04:10pm

  What Industry Leaders See Coming Next

  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.

  • Facilitators

  • Dougall Hollis
    Accommodation Australia (Vic) — General Manager

  • Panellists

  • Sarah Derry
    The Star Entertainment Group — Chief People Officer

  • Paul Constantinou AM
    Extended STAY Australasia — Co-Founder and Non-Executive Chairman

  • More speakers to be announced soon

• 

  04:15pm — 04:30pm

  Building an Australian Accommodation Empire

  Speaker to be announced shortly

• 

  04:30pm — 04:55pm

  If You Were Running My Hotel Tomorrow, What Would You Change First?

  Give industry leaders an underperforming hotel and $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.

• 

  05:00pm — 05:25pm

  AI INSIDE THE HOTEL: What's Actually Working?

  • Panellists

  • 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

• 

  05:25pm — 05:40pm

  KEYNOTE

  Speaker to be announced shortly

• 

  05:40pm — 05:45pm

  Conference Close

• 

  05:45pm — 06:45pm

  Maximum Occupancy Networking Drinks

  Brought to you Pullman East Melbourne