The highly anticipated Australian hotel and accommodation conference, Maximum Occupancy, concluded on 23 July 2024, marking another successful year with over 350 industry professionals in attendance and 60+ speakers.

Held in the heart of Sydney, this year's conference brought together leaders, innovators, and experts from the hotel and accommodation sector for two days of insightful presentations, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.

The event featured a stellar line-up of keynote speakers who shared their expertise and insights on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the industry. Key speakers included:

• Declan Malone, Client Partner at TikTok, who captivated the audience with his insights on how TikTok has shaped the future of travel and how hoteliers can leverage this.
• Sam Egerton, General Manager - New Projects at Merivale, who discussed accommodations as a destination.
• Renae Trimble, CEO of Accor Plus, who provided valuable perspectives on membership programmes and customer loyalty in the accommodation industry.
• Bede Fennell, Executive General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Government and Industry at Tourism Australia, who shared insights and information on Australia’s international market.
• Kevin Lu, Head of Oceania at Trip.com, who provided insights on how to attract and get bookings from Chinese travellers.
• Liz Freeman, Industry Manager, Travel at Google, who shared trends they’re seeing from travellers on Google and how to connect with the considered traveller.

“We are still buzzing about the turnout and the level of engagement we saw at Maximum Occupancy Australia 2024 last week,” said Adrian Caruso, the Group Managing Director of Fastrack Digital, organisers of Maximum Occupancy.

“Our goal was to create a platform where industry professionals could come together to share knowledge, network, and explore new opportunities, and we are excited to see that we achieved this,” said Mr. Caruso.

“Feedback from delegates was the exceptional quality of the speakers we had, some who are not seen at other similar industry conferences and how invaluable this was for them. We are confident that delegates left with actionable strategies to implement and drive maximum occupancy and revenue in their own businesses.”

In addition to the keynote sessions, Maximum Occupancy 2024 featured a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, allowing attendees to delve deeper into specific topics and interact with industry leaders.

The event also provided ample networking opportunities, with dedicated sessions and social events designed to foster connections and collaborations among participants.

“The success of Maximum Occupancy 2024 would not have been possible without the generous support of our exhibitors and sponsors,” said Mr. Caruso.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the exhibitors who showcased their innovative products and services, and to our sponsors whose contributions were instrumental in making this event a success.”

As the event drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of excitement and optimism about the future of the industry.

Plans for Maximum Occupancy 2025 are already underway with conferences in Auckland early in 2024, Perth mid-year and Sydney towards the end of 2025 with the organisers aiming to build on this year's success and deliver an even more impactful and engaging conference next year.