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The Aotearoa Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition will return to Christchurch in August 2026, bringing together more than 500 hotel owners, operators, investors and suppliers as New Zealand’s accommodation sector continues to evolve.
Hosted by HM Magazine and Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA), the two-day event will be held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on August 11-12, 2026.
Industry gathering
AHICE Aotearoa is regarded as New Zealand’s largest hotel investment and operations conference, attracting senior decision-makers from across Australasia.
The programme will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions and industry forums covering investment, development, regional growth, hotel management models, technology, design and emerging industry trends.
Sector at a turning point
Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan says the conference has become a key event for the sector.
“AHICE Aotearoa has become the most influential conference for the hotel sector, covering investment, operations and policy.
“The connections made here have real consequences for New Zealand’s hotel sector and the tourism industry as a whole.”
AHICE group president and founder James Wilkinson says the industry is entering a significant period of change.
“New Zealand’s hotel sector is at an inflection point with new supply and renewed investor confidence and we look forward to bringing the industry together at Te Pae Christchurch to tackle the opportunities and challenges that will impact the next chapter for New Zealand tourism.”
International participation
The conference will feature speakers from New Zealand, Australia and Asia, with executives travelling from centres including Singapore, Auckland, Sydney, Wellington, Brisbane and Queenstown.
“We have a fantastic speaker line-up led by global and local executives, and the event promises to provide the hotel industry with the latest data, trends, analysis and what to expect for 2026 and beyond,” James says.
Growing profile
The 2026 event will be the fifth AHICE Aotearoa conference and builds on the success of previous editions.
AHICE Aotearoa is an extension of the broader Asia Pacific conference, which attracted a record 1,600 delegates from more than 50 countries in Adelaide this year.
