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5 April to
6 April
2022

Sheraton Grand
Sydney




SPEAKERS

Our conference speaker line-up always features the best in the industry from
around the globe matched perfectly to each agenda session and workshop.  

Check who is already confirmed to be speaking at the 2022 Maximum Occupancy
Australia conference.  


LEANNE STOCKS

Director of Sales and Marketing
BWH Hotel Group℠ Australasia

Leanne Stocks's website Leanne Stocks's LinkedIn profile


WAYNE TARANTO

Director of Operations - Australia
Ovolo Hotels

Wayne Taranto's website Wayne Taranto's LinkedIn profile


GADI HASSIN

Director - South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Selina

Gadi Hassin's LinkedIn profile


STEPHEN HOWARD

Group Director of Marketing
Ovolo Hotels

Stephen Howard's website Stephen Howard's LinkedIn profile


GEOFF YORK

Chief Executive Officer, Group Director, Hotels
Crystalbrook Collection

Geoff York's website


RICHARD MUNRO

Chief Executive Officer
Accommodation Association of Australia

Richard Munro's website


VIEW BIO MATT CAMERON-SMITH

Chief Executive Officer
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Matt Cameron-Smith's website Matt Cameron-Smith's LinkedIn profile

MATT CAMERON-SMITH'S BIOGRAPHY

Chief Executive Officer
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Matthew Cameron-Smith commenced as CEO of Voyages in August 2020. Matthew has an
extensive and highly successful background in national and international
tourism, joining Voyages from The Travel Corporation, where he spent almost 10
years leading the Trafalgar Guided Holidays brand as well as his most recent
position as Global CEO of AAT Kings. 

His prior experience has included roles with Tourism Australia - promoting the
country in the UK and Europe markets, global roles with Rydges Hotels & Resorts,
South Bank Parklands and Dreamworld.

Matthew is a director of Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia, the Anangu
Community Foundation and was recently appointed to the Torrens University of
Australia Hospitality Industry Advisory Board comprising both Blue Mountains
International Hotel Management School and William Blue College of Hospitality
Management.  He was previously a director of the Council of Australian Tour
Operators. 

Matthew holds an Associate Diploma in Human Resource Development and a Master’s
degree in Business Administration and Management.

 


PENNY SPENCER

Managing Director
Spencer Travel

Penny Spencer's website


NIGEL GREENWAY

Chief Financial Officer
Crystalbrook Collection

Nigel Greenway's website Nigel Greenway's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO CRAIG HOOLEY

Chief Operating Officer
Minor Hotels

Craig Hooley's website

CRAIG HOOLEY'S BIOGRAPHY

Chief Operating Officer
Minor Hotels

With over two decades of extensive industry experience working with some of the
globe’s most prestigious leading hotel and hospitality brands, Craig Hooley is
Minor Hotels’ Chief Operating Officer for Australia and New Zealand - where it
currently boasts a portfolio of over 50 properties under its Oaks Hotels,
Resorts & Suites and Avani Hotels & Resorts brands.

Since joining Minor Hotels in 2018, Mr Hooley has guided the brand’s strategic
direction, while delivering the day-to-day management of operations with
overseeing sales, marketing, all revenue focused strategies and activities, as
well as crafting bespoke forward growth plans for the hotelier, and providing
leadership across various corporate factions to convey continued business
excellence.

Prior to this, Craig Hooley held a number of key leadership positions with major
international industry front-runners including recently finishing a successful
three-year tenure at Shangri-La International Hotel in Australia and Hong Kong,
as well as spending seven and a half years at Mirvac Hotel & Resorts, and seven
and half years at the InterContinental Hotels Group both in Australia and United
Kingdom. As a recruit straight out of university studying an Engineering degree,
Craig started his career in the Royal Australian Navy’s food, beverage and
housekeeping operations for ten and a half years.

Mr Hooley is based in Minor Hotels’ head office in Maroochydore on Queensland’s
Sunshine Coast. He is a long-term member of Tourism Accommodation Australia
(TAA).


JUDE BOLGER

Co-Founder & Managing Director
NUVHO

Jude Bolger's website


VIEW BIO DEAN LONG

CEO
Australian Federation of Travel Agents

Dean Long's website Dean Long's LinkedIn profile

DEAN LONG'S BIOGRAPHY

CEO
Australian Federation of Travel Agents

Dean is a Public Policy professional with over a decade of experience providing
advice to Governments around Australia and the business sectors with a focus on
delivering advocacy outcomes that are mutually beneficial. Throughout his career
Dean has created and maintained strong and trusted relationships across the
political, private and public sectors.

Dean was appointed the CEO of the Accommodation Association of Australia in June
2019 following roles as a Senior Adviser in the NSW Government, Head of Public
Policy for the Australian Federation of Travel Agents and the National Manager
of Government Acquisition (merchant services) for American Express. Dean has
successfully led industry responses to regulatory changes across financial
services, taxation, consumer affairs, immigration and planning. Dean holds a
Bachelor of Applied Science, Environmental Management and Tourism from Western
Sydney University and Masters of Management from the University of Technology
Sydney.


AARON LEPOIDEVIN

Head of Online, ANZ
Uber Eats

Aaron LePoidevin 's website Aaron LePoidevin 's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO MICHAEL JOHNSON

CEO, TAA National & NSW
Tourism Accommodation Australia

Michael Johnson's website

MICHAEL JOHNSON'S BIOGRAPHY

CEO, TAA National & NSW
Tourism Accommodation Australia

As CEO of Tourism Accommodation Australia, National & NSW, Michael Johnson calls
on his experience within the hotel industry, spanning over three decades and
across Australia and New Zealand. Previously in the business of managing four
and five star business hotels, resorts and tourist attractions Michael shares
insight into all facets of the tourism accommodation industry, from operations
to senior management.

Most recently, after a successful tenure as General Manager of PARKROYAL
Melbourne Airport, Michael moved back to Sydney to take on the position of
General Manager at PARKROYAL Parramatta and managed the redevelopment extension
and 2016 relaunch. Since April 2019, Michael has lead the team at Tourism
Accommodation Australia - National & NSW, liaising with Governments to combat
hotel industry specific issues such as skilled migration, unregulated
accommodation and the skills shortages gap.

Michael is a natural ambassador of the hotel industry and is committed to
encouraging the next generations to try their hand at building a successful
career within the industry, an experience he has found extremely rewarding.

Originally from Sydney, Michael possesses valuable local and national insights
and exceptional industry knowledge and skills.


VIEW BIO GAVIN FAULL

Chairman and President
Swiss-Belhotel International

Gavin Faull's website Gavin Faull's LinkedIn profile

GAVIN FAULL'S BIOGRAPHY

Chairman and President
Swiss-Belhotel International

Gavin has over 35 years experience in hotel management and operations under his
belt. He started his career as an accountant for The Peninsula Group, Hong Kong.
In 1983, he was made chief executive of Kingsgate International Corporate
Limited, a publicly listed company that owned several hotels in Australia and
New Zealand.

He worked for a start-up hotel management company Swiss-Belhotel group in 1990,
before taking over the ownership of the company in 1999. Apart from his
illustrious career in the hospitality industry, he also runs a number of
agricultural companies in his native New Zealand. Gavin holds hold a Bachelor
Degree in Accounting from Victoria University of Wellington.


VIEW BIO MICHELLE ALLEN

Head of Travel
Google

Michelle Allen's website Michelle Allen's LinkedIn profile

MICHELLE ALLEN'S BIOGRAPHY

Head of Travel
Google

Michelle is Head of Travel for Google Australia. She joined Google in 2011 and
has 14 years experience in the travel industry in France, Spain and Australia
having previously worked for Amadeus. Michelle is passionate about understanding
consumer behaviour and how the travel path to purchase has been impacted by
digital transformation.


VIEW BIO TRENT FRASER

CEO
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac

Trent Fraser's website Trent Fraser's LinkedIn profile

TRENT FRASER'S BIOGRAPHY

CEO
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac

Trent Fraser began his career in 1990 and by 2002, had held several senior
management roles in a number of hotels across the Asia Pacific region. Mr.
Fraser joined Choice Hotels in 2002, heading up the development side of Choice
Hotels’ business and a short time later, was overseeing both Development and
Franchise Services. In 2012, Mr. Fraser was appointed CEO of Choice Hotels
Asia-Pac.

Mr. Fraser has been at the forefront of property growth for Choice Hotels
throughout his 15-year tenure and has developed and implemented strategic,
growth-focused business plans, leading to substantial increases in group RevPAR
and business delivery.

Mr. Fraser led the launch and implementation of the Econo Lodge brand in
Australia and New Zealand in 2009, and in 2013 he launched the upscale Ascend
Hotel Collection spanning unique/boutique properties across Australia.

Mr. Fraser lives in Melbourne with his wife Michelle and their three daughters.
When he’s not in the office or travelling he enjoys playing golf or getting out
to cheer on the mighty St Kilda Football Club. He also serves on the national
board of AAoA and is a passionate supporter of Choice Hotels Asia-Pac’s charity
partner, Kids Under Cover. 

 


VIEW BIO GRAHAM PERRY

Managing Director
BWH Hotel Group Australasia

Graham Perry's website

GRAHAM PERRY'S BIOGRAPHY

Managing Director
BWH Hotel Group Australasia

Graham is a seasoned executive leader with experience working across the global
travel, tourism, media and hospitality sectors.  The thread that flows through
his career is his passion for marketing and the ever-evolving travel
distribution and technology landscape.

From 2016 Graham has worked with a number of successful travel start-ups
including eRoam who are applying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine
learning to transform travel distribution. He was appointed Managing Director,
Australasia for Best Western Hotels & Resorts in May 2018.


VIEW BIO JURE DOMAZET

Managing Director
Doma Group

Jure Domazet's website

JURE DOMAZET'S BIOGRAPHY

Managing Director
Doma Group

Upon completing his professional qualifications, Jure worked in commercial
finance with a national bank and as a commercial lawyer with a national law
firm. He applies this experience in the financing and structuring of the Groups
investments and developments.

As Managing Director, Jure has responsibility for the Groups strategic decisions
and operations, ably assisted by his property, hotels and finance divisions.


VIEW BIO DAVE BASWAL

COO/CFO
Ovolo Hotels

Dave Baswal's website

DAVE BASWAL'S BIOGRAPHY

COO/CFO
Ovolo Hotels

Currently the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Ovolo
Hotels Australia, Dave brings with him over 15 years’ experience within the
hospitality industry. An exemplary hospitality executive who creates strategic
alliances with organisation leaders. With a proven experience in operations,
strategic finance, corporate treasury, project management, distribution, IT,
audit, financial analysis, sales and marketing within hospitality industry. Dave
joined Ovolo Group’s Australian team with a goal of driving the Hong Kong-based
brand’s further expansion into the Australian market.

Dave has been instrumental in leading design and development initiatives for all
new Australian based Ovolo Hotels including spearheading recent design projects
for Ovolo Inchcolm in Brisbane, Ovolo Nishi in Canberra, Ovolo The Valley in
Brisbane. Most recently, Dave has worked tirelessly on ZA ZA TA. Ovolo The
Valley’s Middle Eastern and Mediterranean kitchen and bar inspired by the Tel
Aviv bar scene, invigorating Fortitude Valley’s Emporium Precinct with soulful
cuisine.

Dave is an effective communicator, and a member of CPA Australia. With a Masters
in Professional Accounting and Masters in International Tourism and Hospitality
from Griffith University in Gold Coast in addition to Bachelor in Hotel
Management, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to lead the Ovolo
Australia Team.

 


CHANTELLE VENESS

Group Director of Sales & Marketing
The Lancemore Group

Chantelle Veness's website Chantelle Veness's LinkedIn profile


BRETT SALTER

National Accommodation Manager
ALH Group

Brett Salter's website Brett Salter's LinkedIn profile


GEORGINA WILLIAMS

Director of Development
BWH Hotel Group

Georgina Williams's website


VIEW BIO JULIAN CLARK

CEO
Lancemore Group

Julian Clark's website

JULIAN CLARK'S BIOGRAPHY

CEO
Lancemore Group

The Lancemore Group is one of Australia’s preeminent Boutique Hotel groups. 
They operate six iconic boutique hotels - Mansion Hotel & Spa at Werribee Park,
Lindenwarrah at Milawa, Larmont Sydney by Lancemore, Lindenderry at Red Hill,
Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore & Lancemore Hill at Macedon Ranges.  Never a
group to be boxed, the Lancemore Group also run a multi-award winning winery
(Lindenderry Wines) and have a white label hotel management division. 

Their properties regularly feature in best-of-the-best hotel lists and are the
iconic hotels of their respective regions. Indeed, most Lancemore hotels have
been regular finalists in the coveted Luxury Travel Gold List Awards, with the
Mansion Hotel and Spa being in the top 5 “Australian Hotels” for the past three
years.  With a core strength in Food & Beverage, many of the Lancemore Group’s
restaurants are critically acclaimed and are mainstay’s in the Good Food Guide,
whilst Lindenderry Wines is a multi-award winning Halliday 5* winery.


KRISTY EDWARDS

Director of Revenue Optimisation
BWH Hotel Group

Kristy Edwards's website Kristy Edwards's LinkedIn profile


ANDREW BOOCOCK

Sourcing Regional Manager - Pacific
Hotelbeds

Andrew Boocock's website


TIMO BURES

General Manager
The Old Clare Hotel

Timo Bures's website Timo Bures's LinkedIn profile


TARYN WILLIAMS

Founder & CEO
TheRight.Fit

Taryn Williams's website Taryn Williams's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO DREW BOWERING

Senior Director, Market Management - Oceania
Expedia

Drew Bowering's website

DREW BOWERING'S BIOGRAPHY

Senior Director, Market Management - Oceania
Expedia

Drew Bowering leads Expedia Lodging Partner Services in Oceania, responsible for
the strategic direction and execution of the company’s account management and
sales approach in the region.  He leads an organisation of 80 professionals
throughout the region to establish and develop hotel partner relationships and
help maximise their exposure to Expedia’s 200+ travel booking websites.   

Drew is a regular on the industry speaker-circuit, seen as a thought-leader who
specialises in delivering compelling presentation and discussion around
technology and booking trends.

Drew has worked for the Expedia group for more than eight years, holding a
variety of senior roles across the business from the Global Partner Group to
Market Management in the UK, USA, and Australia.

Drew holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Loughborough
University in the UK, where he grew up.  He currently resides in Sydney,
Australia where he is raising his young family.


ANDREW COLLINS

Business Development
OTA Insights

Andrew Collins's website Andrew Collins's LinkedIn profile


DANIEL XU

General Manager
Digital Crew

Daniel Xu's website Daniel Xu's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO ADELE LABINE-ROMAIN

National Travel, Hospitality and Leisure Sector Leader
Deloitte

Adele Labine-Romain's website Adele Labine-Romain's LinkedIn profile

ADELE LABINE-ROMAIN'S BIOGRAPHY

National Travel, Hospitality and Leisure Sector Leader
Deloitte

Adele is the Australian Tourism Sector Leader at Deloitte and a partner within
Deloitte Access Economics’ economic and policy advisory practice. With a deep
understanding of the tourism landscape and experience in strategy and policy
development including executive roles with Tourism Australia (Executive General
Manager, Strategy and Research) and peak industry body Tourism & Transport Forum
(Executive Director), Adele works with government and private sector clients
across tourism-related industries including aviation, transport and cruising,
hotels, business events, sports and major event and attractions.


TERRY OOMENS

Director of Sales & Marketing
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney

Terry Oomens's website Terry Oomens's LinkedIn profile


BLAIR WEIR

Commercial Director
Hilton Sydney

Blair Weir's website Blair Weir's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO MELISSA KALAN

Founder
ARMA

Melissa Kalan's website Melissa Kalan's LinkedIn profile

MELISSA KALAN'S BIOGRAPHY

Founder
ARMA

Melissa Kalan is the Founder of the Australian Revenue Management Association
(ARMA), providing revenue management education via the ARMA Academy to the
accommodation industry.

Her life philosophy is centred on the principle of “always learning”, and with
this she empowers organisations to lead a revenue management culture from the
top down that influences both profits and staff retention.

Melissa wrote the first Australian nationally accredited VET short course in
revenue management and the Graduate Certificate of Revenue Management – an
online globally recognised qualification, the first of its kind, in partnership
with Torrens University Australia. Melissa co-facilitates the university program
with Torrens University Australia and also founded the annual APAC Revenue
Management Summit.


VIEW BIO ADRIAN CARUSO

Founder, Managing Director
Fastrack Group

Adrian Caruso's website Adrian Caruso's LinkedIn profile

ADRIAN CARUSO'S BIOGRAPHY

Founder, Managing Director
Fastrack Group

Adrian is founder and CEO of Australasia's leading travel, tourism and
hospitality full-service marketing and communications firm, Fastrack Group.

Adrian is a highly experienced and respected travel, tourism and hospitality
digital marketing, media and communications expert with over 25 years in the
industry. He is also a management consultant and strategist. 


KARI HUNTER

General Manager - Marketing
Choice Hotels Asia-Pac

Kari Hunter's website Kari Hunter's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO ANDREW HUGHES

Managing Director (formerly Vice President Hotel Sourcing GTA)
HW Consulting

Andrew Hughes's LinkedIn profile

ANDREW HUGHES'S BIOGRAPHY

Managing Director (formerly Vice President Hotel Sourcing GTA)
HW Consulting

Andrew started his hospitality career with McDonalds back in 1989, including
Australia,
Germany and Tahiti, before tour guiding in Europe and time spent as a pilot
presenter with
an Australian Travel Show.

Andrew’s hotel career started with Best Western Australia before moving to IHG,
responsible for 43 Hotels in ANZ. In 2007, Andrew moved to Dubai to open
Atlantis, the
Palm Dubai, and two more openings for Moevenpick in the region.
After 11 years in the hotel game, Andrew crossed the floor to the distribution
space,
moving to GTA and relocating to Singapore and most recently managed the 3 way
integration for the Hotelbeds Group.

Seeking a tree-change, nowadays Andrew is more likely to be chatting to guests
around
the firepit at his recently acquired property in Margaret River, or helping
clients as part of
boutique tourism consultancy, HW Consulting.




FELICITY ARTHUR

General Manager
SKYE Hotels & Suites

Felicity Arthur's website Felicity Arthur's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO MATTHIAS DYBING

Co-Founder and Director
Nuvho

Matthias Dybing's website Matthias Dybing's LinkedIn profile

MATTHIAS DYBING'S BIOGRAPHY

Co-Founder and Director
Nuvho

Matthias (Matt) Dybing will be speaking at Maximum Occupancy on the panel of The
Great Debate – Is Direct Business Really Profitable?

Matt has more than 20 years' experience in the hospitality industry, working for
small to large accommodation providers located in Europe and Australia.

Matt co-founded various hospitality businesses including Nuvho Hotels, a new
breed of hotel services and hotel management company. Nuvho combines tech, hotel
services and expertise to deliver profitable outcomes to accommodation
providers. The company currently provides revenue management, property
management, marketing and sales services to 20+ properties across Australia.
Their direct booking and upsell platform is used by more than 50 accommodation
businesses.

Matt is a regular industry speaker and commentator on topics relating to revenue
management, distribution and digital marketing.


CASPAR SCHMIDT

Founder / Managing Director
QCC Collection Group Pty Ltd

Caspar Schmidt's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO MATTHEW BURKE

Regional Manager - Pacific
STR

Matthew Burke's website Matthew Burke's LinkedIn profile

MATTHEW BURKE'S BIOGRAPHY

Regional Manager - Pacific
STR

Matthew Burke is the Regional Manager Pacific at STR leading the growth in
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. He has over a dozen years of
experience in hospitality, with Hyatt and IHG in various roles including revenue
management.


VIEW BIO MATTHEW STEPHENS

President
eHotelier

Matthew Stephens's website

MATTHEW STEPHENS'S BIOGRAPHY

President
eHotelier

Matthew is a graduate of the Blue Mountains International Hotel School in
Australia, where he was named Alumni of the Year in 2013. He served as the VP
Operations at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales for five years, and came back to
Australia to be the General Manager of the Shoal Bay Resort and Spa in NSW.
Matthew is also well versed in the technology side of hospitality, having served
as the IT Manager of Rydges Hotels and Resorts and most recently as the
Director, Information Systems at Carnival Australia.


VIEW BIO MAURO RISCH

Hotel & Resort Photographer
The Hotel Photographer

Mauro Risch's website Mauro Risch's LinkedIn profile

MAURO RISCH'S BIOGRAPHY

Hotel & Resort Photographer
The Hotel Photographer

Over the last decade, Mauro Risch has become known simply as The Hotel
Photographer. He travels around the Asia Pacific region creating visual content
that brings brand awareness and most importantly, improves bookings. He is
trusted by PR and marketing teams, hotel managers and executive brand teams
right across the Asia Pacific region. Mauro is the preferred photographer for
some of the top operators across the industry, including IHG, Wyndham and
Meriton.


VIEW BIO LINA ANG

General Manager, SMB, APAC
Sojern

Lina Ang's website Lina Ang's LinkedIn profile

LINA ANG'S BIOGRAPHY

General Manager, SMB, APAC
Sojern

Lina has a wealth of experience in the travel and hospitality industry and has
constantly moved along with this evolving industry. As General Manager, APAC,
she leads Sojern’s SMB commercial team responsible for driving direct bookings
and building online brand awareness for accommodation providers.

With experience in a variety of progressive leadership roles, Lina spent over 8
years at Orbitz Worldwide (now part of Expedia Inc) as Regional Director,
Strategic Accounts APAC and held various roles at Shangri-La and Mandarin
Oriental.  She holds a MSc in Marketing from University College Dublin.


KIRSTY LUDBROOK

Creative Director
The Hotelery

Kirsty Ludbrook's website Kirsty Ludbrook's LinkedIn profile


VIEW BIO AJ SHANTIRATNAM

Principal Client Partner
Tripadvisor

AJ Shantiratnam's website

AJ SHANTIRATNAM'S BIOGRAPHY

Principal Client Partner
Tripadvisor

AJ Shantiratnam is Principal Client Partner for TripAdvisor in Australia. AJ
manages click-based advertising business for hotel chains and OTAs in
Australia.With a blend of experience working for large OTA and hotel chains, AJ
has over 10 years’ experience in the travel industry which he capitalises with
his passion for data and business analysis. AJ has previously worked for
Agoda.com and Frasers Hospitality leading account management and e-commerce
performance.


MORE SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED




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