MAY 27: 8:20AM - 8:50AM
Arrival Coffee. Level 17
8:55AM - 9:05AM SUMMIT WELCOME
Melissa Kalan - Australian Revenue Management Association
9:05AM - 9:30AM TRAVEL DREAMS
Mike Evans - Director of Sales, Enterprise I Australia, Amadeus
Recent research presented from 6000 travellers on how to anticipate, meet and exceed traveller expectations.
9:30AM - 10:30AM: ANDREW GRIFFITHS
Someone Has to Be the Most Expensive - Why Not Make it YOU!
10:30AM - 11:00AM BREAK
Morning Tea.
Stamp your CONNECT card.
11:00AM - 11:30AM KEYNOTE
The Power of Distribution
Haley Purdon, Oceania Director of Market Management - Expedia Group
The digital landscape and travel industry are increasingly fragmented, online content consumption continues to rise, and the touchpoints for traveller engagement and booking seem endless. Join this session to better understand the power and scope of distribution in this digital landscape.
11:30AM - 12:15PM: ABBIE WHITE - The Perfect Storm
Turning the 2025 Inflection Point into a Competitive Advantage
2025 isn’t just another year - it’s an inflection point. A Perfect Storm is brewing, driven by three unstoppable forces: AI-driven transformation, shifting customer expectations, and generational change. For revenue and commercial leaders in the travel and tourism industry, this presents both a challenge and a rare opportunity...view the full session outline
12:15PM - 12:45PM Why 2025 stands as a turning point for hotel adaptability
Leah Rankin, Chief Product Officer, SiteMinder
The Australian hotel industry is evolving faster than ever, with 2025 shaping up to be a defining year for properties across the country.
Shifting traveller behaviours, new competitive pressures, and rapid technological developments are fundamentally reshaping operations nationwide.
For Leah Rankin, Chief Product Officer at SiteMinder - a platform that processes over 125 million reservations annually - this change isn’t something to fear, but an opportunity to embrace.
In this session, Leah will unpack the major forces driving transformation in the hotel sector and share practical strategies to help businesses not just navigate, but thrive, during times of change.
12:45PM - 1:45PM BREAK
Lunch.
Complete your CONNECT Card.
1:45PM - 2:30PM: RETHINK RETAIL
Retail Category and Consumer Trends Impacting Tomorrow’s Shopper!
Nicole Venter, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA).
Nicole was recently named one of RETHINK Retail's international Top Retail Experts for 2025.
Followed by a Fireside Chat with:
1. Haley Purdon - Oceania Director of Market Management - Expedia Group
2. James Troon - General Manager, ANZ & Indonesia, Sabre Hospitality
2:30PM - 3:00PM BUSINESS GROWTH LEADERS PANEL
Navigating Business Success: Insights from Top Growth Leaders
Moderator: Amit Peshawaria - Regional GM, Asia Pacific & Oceania - Lighthouse
1. Jarrod Crump - Vice President, Revenue Management, Pacific - Accor
2. Michelle Matthews - Managing Director, LSV Hotels
3. Jurgen Ortelee - Managing Director, APAC - IDeaS Revenue Solutions
3:00PM - 3:30PM: DR. ASHAN PONNUSAMY
Founder and Managing Director, P Cubed Consulting
Profit Reimagined: New Levers for Accelerated Growth
In today’s dynamic market landscape, commercial teams are under increasing pressure to uncover new and sustainable pathways for revenue growth and value creation. This session, offers a powerful, cross-industry perspective on how accommodation businesses can uncover measurable bottom-line value through fresh thinking and focused execution.
Drawing on proven "Value Extraction" methodologies, Dr. Ponnusamy will explore pragmatic and incremental strategies that drive fast, sustainable impact. At the heart of this approach is a reimagining of the profit equation - leveraging two often overlooked but high-impact levers: Human Capital and Execution Velocity.
Dr. Ponnusamy has over 25 years of consulting experience including 6 years at The Boston Consulting Group. His clients have been successful at capturing more than $2Bn of annual cash benefits across airlines, financial services, manufacturing and resources.
3:30PM - 3:50PM BREAK
Short Energy Boost Break.
Select a sweet treat and a cuppa to refresh yourself for the Grand Finale!
Make sure your completed CONNECT Card has been entered in the prize draw at the rego desk.
3:50PM - 4:30PM PROFIT BOOST Workshop
Eoin Loftus - Founder and CEO, Loftus Business Advisory and PROFIT BOOST
Every business wastes money. Every business can achieve more!
This session will focus on 8 practical tips that will strengthen your properties profitability.
Proven strategies developed over 30 years and proven in the 6 hotels that Eoin has built and operated, also as the former CEO.
Discover “profit-boosting” strategies that have generated over $16.5 million per annum in profit boosting recommendations for his clients over the past 2.5 years.
4:30PM - 5:00PM: LIZZIE WILLIAMSON - The Energy Advantage
How to Stay Energised, Resilient & Perform at Your Best
What does a cruise ship dancer know about thriving in high-pressure environments? A whole lot!
Dubbed by the US media as ‘the excuse-buster from Down-Under’, Lizzie Williamson is the author of The Active Workday Advantage, the founder and author of Two Minute Moves, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, fitness presenter and certified personal trainer.
She is a regular on morning television and in global news publications with her work featured on Good Morning America, Studio 10, Sunrise the Today Show, Women’s Health and Prevention Magazine. View the full session overview
5:00PM - 5:15PM SUMMIT PRIZE DRAW AND CLOSE
The Summit Prize draw concludes the epic 2-day event.
Enter your completed CONNECT card at the registration desk by the end of lunch on Day 2 for a chance to win some wonderful prizes generously donated by industry and our partners.
Prizes Include:
5 x Signed books by Andrew Griffiths
Travel Vouchers by Expedia Group
Sponsored Education Prizes - Revenue Management Short Course Qualification 10940NAT
Accommodation Vouchers
