No Vacancy Sydney - March 30, 2012

Accommodation industry conference No Vacancy returns to Sydney in late March with a fast-paced, issues-based program and excellent networking. Real Time is the theme this year while Distribution, Innovation, Internet are the guiding program principles. It will be great day. Book before February 16 to get the early bird discount.

• When: March 30, 2012
• Where: Amora Jamison Hotel Sydney
• Bookings: $499 + gst Early Bird

PROGRAM: NO VACANCY SYDNEY

Real Time – Prediction, Trends, Opportunities: Life is just getting faster. Consumers are making major decisions quickly and at the last minute. It’s having a big impact on the way we do business. Throw in the now standard dose of economic uncertainty and you have a volatile mix. A thought provoking session that will examine consumer trends, bookings patterns and platforms, marketing, mobile, online travel agents and global hotel markets.

• Julio Bruno, Global Vice President Sales, TripAdvisor

Aussie Accommodation Market Update: Performance snapshot of the key Australian markets, accommodation sectors and customer segments. This session examines trends in rate, occupancy and RevPAR.

• Bryon Merzeo, Analyst, STR Global

Domestic Dispute: Australia’s domestic leisure markets have been going through a prolonged slump. Is it cyclical or structural? Consider this an opinion piece from one of Australia’s industry analysts who examines whether or not flat demand for domestic leisure accommodation is the new normal.

• Dean Dransfield, Director, Dransfield Hotels and Resorts

Leader’s panel: Wrap of the big issues impacting Australia’s hotel industry. These include consolidation, the re-emergence of Asian owners as a major force in this market, evolving consumer trends, discounting in leisure markets, evolving role of the internet and OTAs, booking patterns, distribution, brand and product control. 

• Simon McGrath, CEO, Accor Australia
• Bob East, CEO, Mantra Resorts
• Brett Pointon, Founder, Oaks Hotels and Resorts

Googling The Future: Google is having an enormous impact on the hotel industry with most travel bookings starting with the familiar clean white page. How you play in this forum can make or break your business. This session look at accommodation search trends plus insights into the latest Google machinations.

• Nikolai Pitchforth, Head of Online Travel, Google

Online Case Study – Hamilton Island: North Queensland icon Hamilton Island has done a great job in revamping its website and online marketing strategy, improving web visibility, boosting visitation and increasing booking conversion. In doing so, the team at Hamilton has been able to dispel the myth that consumers don’t shop and – crucially – buy resort product online.

• Bernard O'Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island

Stealing Banksy – A Marketing Case Study: It was the hotel marketing heist of the decade: a competition to steal a $15,000 “masterpiece’ by the artist Banksy generated enormous PR through traditional and social media. A great idea well executed, and one that tied in perfectly with the Art Series Hotel brand. Find out more here.

• Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels

Soapbox – Deals, Discounts, Doubters, Distribution and Rate Parity: Our next speaker is one of Australia’s most respected hoteliers. She comes with an impressive CV and strong opinions, especially when the topic is marketing and distribution. Rachel he will 

• Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality

Marketing and Distribution Panel: Topics include the impact of daily deal sites on brands and marketing, evolving booking patterns, rate parity, the direct/indirect sales split for hoteliers, channel management, digital marketing, branding and how best to connect with today’s time poor consumers.

• Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels
• Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality
• Leah Lipman, Director Revenue Management Australiasia, IHG
• Janet Wilson, Managing Director, Nationwide Hospitality

It’s All Chinese To Me: Insight into the crucial China market, which is forecast to underpin the growth of Australia’s inbound tourism industry for at least the next decade or more. This session will look at marketing strategies that will enable hotels and also OTAs to win more Chinese business.

• Todd Parker, Founder, Parker Travel Collection 

Over The Ditch – Same, Same But Different: Takes a look at the online accommodation scene in NZ from the perspective of Trade Me, the country’s biggest website, which owns the Holidayhouses.co.nz and Travelbug.co.nz websites and the BookIt booking engine.

• Daniel Bridges, Head of Travel, Trade Me (NZ)

Twenty Minutes With Wotif.com: The past 12 months have been among the most challenging in the 10 year history of Wotif.com, Australia’s leading travel website, with growth slowing due to a diverse range of factors – everything from flooding to changing travel trends. An interview with Wotif.com CEO Robbie Cooke.

• Robbie Cooke, CEO, Wotif.com

Online Accommodation Overview: Up to the minute insight into online accommodation trends. This session will cover everything from search through to hotel websites and OTAs. The focus here is on the consumer – where they’re going and why.

• Dave Audley, Head of Consulting, Experian Hitwise

Holiday House Market Heats Up: It’s been a transitional year in the rapidly emerging online holiday homes market with global player HomeAway buying the Realholidays business from Realestate.com.au. That’s a big shift to the market dynamic and there’s further change on the horizon.

• James Cassidy, General Manager, Homeaway.com.au
• Anton Stanish, General Manager, The Stayz Group

OTA Panel - Trends, Issues, Opportunities:  Panel session featuring some of Australia’s and the world’s leading accommodation websites. Update on all key issues including market behavior, supply, demand, rates, commissions, consumer trends and – of course – opportunities.

Case Study - Club Med: One of the definitive tourism brands which over the past few years has been quietly reinventing itself with great success, although the move upmarket has required some tough decisions such as the closure of Lindeman Island. Case study and questions.

• Quentin Briard, GM Australia and NZ, Club Med