Over 650 delegates gathered at Pan Pacific Singapore this week for the return of the Asia Lodge Trade Convention and Exhibition (AHICE) South East Asia.
Following a profitable debut occasion final 12 months, AHICE South East Asia drew a powerful delegate checklist together with Asia’s prime house owners and buyers together with Blackstone, Starwood Capital, Excessive Road Holdings, Ares Asia, Mulpha, Invictus, Ascott, Ark Capital Companions, UOL, Professional-Make investments Group, GuocoLand Group, ALTA Capital, TCC Land, TriO Capital, EXS Capital, Royal Group of Firms, Lodgis Hospitality and extra, lots of which took to the stage over the course of the convention program.
Prime operators within the speaker line up included executives at Nobu Hospitality, SH Inns and Resorts (rebranding as Starwood), Six Senses, Journey + Leisure, Amara Inns, Capella Lodge Group, Ennismore, IHG Inns and Resorts, Pan Pacific Inns Group, Marriott Worldwide, Artyzen, Far East Hospitality, BWH Inns, Concorde Inns, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Accor, Radisson Lodge Group, Hilton, Ascott, Aryaduta Inns, Seibu Prince Inns, Interval Worldwide, 1834 Inns, La Vie Inns, Trilogy Inns, Hind Administration, Shangri-La Inns, Wyndham Inns and Resorts, EVT Inns and Resorts, The Lux Collective, Cross Inns and Resorts, Marina Bay Sands, HyperHotels, Pill Inns, Topotels Inns & Resorts, Mad Monkey Hostels and extra.
AHICE South East Asia drew assist from over 60 sponsors in 2025, together with Agilysys, Hilton, IHG, Marriott Worldwide, Pan Pacific Inns Group and Journey + Leisure Co. as Principal Companions.
Stellar exhibitors included Agilysis, Cendyn, Fever-Tree, FutureLog, Seize For Enterprise, Hastens, HotelKey, Hub OS and IDEAS, Johnsonville Meals, King Koil, Nespresso and Shiji, who showcased their product and providers to prime executives over the course of the two-day convention.
There was ample alternative to mingle with business leaders with the day program that includes morning, lunch and afternoon breaks, and networking occasions every night. On Monday night, the AHICE ‘After Darkish’ Networking Bar at Pan Pacific Singapore, offered by World Lodge Alliance, Outrigger, Pan Pacific, Vainness Group, and Westward Whiskey, supplied the primary alternative for delegates to return collectively upfront of the convention program.
On Tuesday, delegates loved a Gala Networking occasion at JW Marriott Singapore South Seashore, offered by APRDO and Marriott Worldwide, to debate the day’s occasions over high quality meals and drinks. The convention closed with a night of stellar meals and drinks at Pan Pacific Singapore, offered by World Lodge Alliance, Outrigger, Pan Pacific, Vainness Group, and Westward Whiskey.
Franchising, white-label and co-living among the many sizzling matters
In a gap session led by STR Senior Director Asia Pacific, Jesper Palmqvist, JLL Inns & Hospitality Group Head of Inns Analysis – Asia Pacific, Marina Bracciani, and CBRE Inns & Hospitality Asia, Director, Stella Blythe, a optimistic market outlook emerged, with alternative within the higher and higher midscale segments, in addition to co-living, speak of a resurgence in funding exercise in Bali and Jakarta, and excessive charge progress.
Franchising was a sizzling matter, with many key operators together with Accor, Hilton and Ascott embracing this selection to develop in South East Asia and Asia Pacific extra broadly. Hilton introduced three lodge signings below its Hilton Backyard Inn model, including over 560 rooms to its South East Asia portfolio.
“Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are experiencing document tourism arrivals as a number of the most-visited locations in South East Asia,” mentioned Hilton Space Vice President and Regional Head of South East Asia, Alexandra Murray.
“We’re rising our targeted service presence to cater to rising intra-regional journey and an upwardly cellular center class arriving from all around the area, seeking to ship every part our prospects need the place they need it.”
White label administration was one other extensively mentioned matter, with executives from Trilogy Inns and La Vie Inns and Resorts wanting to faucet into rising demand for white-label options on this area.
Panel discussions additionally highlighted the significance way of life manufacturers in South East Asia, in addition to conventional company lodge choices. Asset administration methods have been additionally mentioned, stressing the significance of collaboration with companions, together with Normal Managers.
Hoteliers comparable to Pan Pacific Inns Group CEO Choe Peng Sum, Professional-invest Group, IHG Inns and Resorts’ SVP & MD EAPAC, Rajit Sukumaran, Accor Chief Growth Officer Asia,Andrew Langdon, and Outrigger Hospitality Group President & CEO, Jeff Wagoner, took to the stage to share their insights into the market in addition to their methods for progress.
In a keynote session, AllSaints Founder Stuart Trevor shared how he’s turning his again on quick vogue with a clothes assortment produced from pre-loved garments. Pan Pacific Singapore workers took to the stage to mannequin a number of the gadgets within the sustainable assortment.
Additionally flying in from London was well being and wellness chief Harry Jameson. A former PT to the celebrities and highly effective politicians, together with former UK Prime Minister, Borris Johnson, Jameson revealed how he takes his learnings from his 20+ years within the wellness world to create wellness choices for luxurious lodge manufacturers comparable to Raffles to fulfill the evolving wants of health-conscious customers.
Lodge expertise and design within the highlight
Day 2 noticed the debut of the brand new INN Tech Lodge Expertise Summit and first-ever South East Asia Design INN Symposium, which befell concurrently in adjoining ballrooms, permitting delegates to make the most of the chance to delve into essential discussions on each expertise and design over practically three hours.
At INN Tech, main consultants from prime expertise corporations together with Agilysys, FutureLog, Mews and extra mentioned the rise of synthetic intelligence (AI) and ways in which motels can leverage its powers for larger outcomes; procurement software program, in-room leisure, door locking tech, PMS and RMS techniques, digital advertising and marketing, robots and extra.
The primary-ever South East Asia Design Inn Symposium noticed a keynote presentation led by WOHA Design Co-Founding Director, Richard Hassell, which explored sustainable design methods carried out at iconic properties comparable to Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore. Leaders from the worlds of structure, inside design, funding and operations mentioned the artistic methods design can enhance visitor expertise, and the way manufacturers should evolve to remain related, whereas retaining their core values.
When the AHICE classes returned in the primary ballroom, discussions included the significance of attracting and retaining expertise within the hospitality business was emphasised, with methods together with flexibility, progress alternatives, and group involvement.
The ultimate session targeted on luxurious and way of life outlooks, noting the resilience of luxurious travellers and the potential for branded residences to finance luxurious initiatives.
View the 2025 picture gallery right here – extra pictures and video content material to return.
