HNZ26 AGENDA
Two days. Dozens of conversations worth having. HNZ26 brings together the people, ideas, and energy driving Aotearoa's hospitality and accommodation sector forward.
Below is your guide to everything happening across 23 and 24 June 2026 in Rotorua - from keynote sessions and expert panels to networking, the trade exhibition, and our two awards evenings.
We encourage you to bring along your own drink bottle and reusable cup. Water and hot beverages will be available, and our wonderful coffee supplier, ACR Coffee Roasters, will provide your caffeine fix.
Tuesday 23 June 2026
| Time | Session | Speaker | Location | Why it matters for you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM |
Coffee & Networking
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Conference Opening
|
Kristy Phillips, Hospitality New Zealand | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Hear directly from HNZ leadership on the issues and opportunities most affecting your sector right now.
🍽️ Get the big picture context that will frame everything you hear and take away over the next two days.
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Mayoral Opening
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Tania Tapsell, Mayor of Rotorua | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Hear from Rotorua's Mayor on what's driving visitation and what's coming next for one of NZ's most visited tourism destinations.
🍽️ Understanding the local visitor economy gives you valuable context on customer flow, seasonal trends and regional opportunity.
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State of the Nation
|
Darren Gibbs, Westpac | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Plan pricing, staffing levels and investment decisions with confidence.
🍽️ Knowing where consumer spending is heading gives you a critical edge when planning menus, margins and staffing costs.
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Keynote: Why Guest Retention Drives Profit
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Preston Lee, The 30% Rule | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Repeat bookings and loyalty all start with the experience you deliver,
this session shows you how to build both.
🍽️ If you're spending more on marketing than on keeping the guests you already have, this session will change how you think about profitability.
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Customer Experience
|
Doug Grant | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Every touchpoint from check-in to check-out is a customer experience moment, learn how to turn ordinary interactions into memorable ones.
🍽️ In a crowded market, experience is your biggest differentiator. Unpack what guests actually remember and why it matters for your bottom line.
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| 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM |
Morning Tea
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Leadership & Workforce: Attracting & Retaining Talent
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Kristen Enright, KE Consulting | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Staff turnover in accommodation is costly and disruptive, get a clear framework for building a team that actually stays.
🍽️ Walk away with practical tools you can use on Monday morning to find and keep good people.
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From Zero to Global: Building a Brand That Travels
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Lisa King, AF Drinks | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Whether you're a single motel or a small group, the principles of building a standout brand are the same.
🍽️ If you've ever wondered how some venues become destination experiences while others stay local, this session has the answers.
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Leveraging Tech in 2026 to Control Your Key Costs & Boost Profitability
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Rich McLeod, Loaded | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 From dynamic pricing to housekeeping efficiency, find out what technology is actually worth investing in.
🍽️ Labour and food costs are your two biggest expenses. See exactly how modern tech tools can help you get control of both.
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| 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM |
Lunch & Trade Exhibition
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Leadership & Workforce: Hospitality as a Career of Choice
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Louise Saviker, Student Job Search | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Having a reliable pipeline of motivated staff has never been more important, this session can show you how.
🍽️ The student workforce is one of your biggest untapped resources. Learn how to attract, engage and retain early-career talent.
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From Local to Global
Ways to Attract International Visitors
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Bjoern Spreitzer, Tourism NZ | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 International visitors stay longer and spend more, hear Tourism New Zealand's strategy and what it means for your bookings pipeline.
🍽️ International visitors are actively seeking authentic local dining experiences, hear how to position your venue to capture this high-value market.
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| 3:00 PM – 3:15 PM |
Afternoon Tea
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Wellbeing Hacks for Operators
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Claire Turnbull, Nutritionist | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Running a motel or accommodation property is a 24/7 operation, these practical tools are designed for operators who can't afford to burn out.
🍽️ Hospitality is one of the highest-burnout industries in the world. Simple, actionable tools to protect yourself and your team.
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Designing for Tomorrow
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Kristine Kilpatrick & Casey McDonald, Craggy Range | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 A masterclass in what intentional investment in guest experience looks like and what it delivers.
🍽️ Hear first-hand how one of NZ's most celebrated F&B operations evolved its offering and what lessons translate to your venue.
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Meet the Candidates (AGM Voting)
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Bay Trust Forum | |||
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Flavour is the Spirit
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Atilla Bús, Internationally Renowned Bartender and Author | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Guests increasingly expect a considered beverage offering, elevate your bar programme without major investment.
🍽️ The no and low category is the fastest growing segment in beverages globally. Get ahead of your customers' expectations now.
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| 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM |
People's Awards for Excellence, proudly sponsored by DB Breweries
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Black Label Barbecue |
Wednesday 24 June 2026
| Time | Session | Speaker | Location | Why it matters for you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM |
Coffee & Networking
|
Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Digital ID – How to Keep Up With and Get the Most From This Technology
|
Chris Goh, Valid8 Advisory | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Digital ID is set to transform how guests check in, verify age and access services, get ahead of the curve before it becomes an expectation.
🍽️ From age verification to loyalty programmes, digital identity is coming to your venue whether you're ready or not. This session makes sure you are.
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Accommodation in Action: Challenges, Change & Opportunity
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Amy Billaney, Rooms Online | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Built for you - practical tools to reduce OTA dependency, protect your margins and build a more sustainable bookings model.
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| 10:15 AM – 10:40 AM |
Morning Tea
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | ||
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Cultural Authenticity in Digital Storytelling
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Louis Davis, Social Media Creator | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Travellers increasingly choose experiences that feel real and connected to place. Learn how to tell your story in a way that converts browsers into bookers.
🍽️ Authentic storytelling is one of the most powerful and cost-effective marketing tools available to independent operators.
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AI & Digital Tools
Doing real work with AI: practical approaches to marketing, menus and hiring.
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John-Daniel (JD) Trask, Raygun | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 AI is already helping accommodation operators automate guest communications, optimise pricing and streamline hiring -find out what's practical and what's hype.
🍽️ From writing menu descriptions to screening job applicants, AI tools are saving operators hours every week.
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Annual General Meeting (Members only)
|
Bay Trust Forum | |||
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Lunch
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Trade Floor – Unison Arena | |||
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Leadership Under Pressure: How You Show Up When It Matters Most
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Cam Davies, The Fat Duck Gastropub | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 When disruption hits- and it will - how you lead determines whether your business survives or thrives. Hear from an operator who has done both.
🍽️ A practical leadership framework for navigating supply chain shocks, extreme weather and cost pressures - the new normal for hospo.
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Future of Hospitality
Circular Hospitality: Waste-to-value case studies.
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Colin McLean, EVT & Megan Williams, Hospitality New Zealand | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Sustainability is increasingly a booking decision factor - see how leading operators are turning waste reduction into a genuine competitive advantage.
🍽️ Food waste is one of your biggest hidden costs. Learn how operators are converting waste into value and what that means for your margins and brand.
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The Four Non-Negotiables That Drive Performance, Growth & Loyalty
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Preston Lee, The 30% Rule | Bay Trust Forum |
🏨 Whether you run one motel or a portfolio of properties, these four fundamentals are the difference between a business that survives and one that scales.
🍽️ A clear, practical framework for building a venue that is profitable, consistent and built to last -this session ties everything together.
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CEO Remarks & Whakamutunga
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Kristy Phillips, Hospitality New Zealand | Bay Trust Forum | ||
| 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM |
Business Awards for Excellence, proudly sponsored by LION
|
Bay Trust Forum |
For exact session timings, check the official EventsAir app, but use this page to get the lay of the land, plan your time, connect with purpose, and make the most of every moment