The Aotearoa Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), the largest and most influential hotel investment and operations summit in the nation, returns to Christchurch on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 August 2026, as New Zealand’s hotel sector enters one of its most dynamic periods of growth, investment and development.

Hosted by HM and Wayfarer magazines and Hotel Council Aotearoa (HCA), AHICE Aotearoa 2026 will take place at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, drawing over 500 of Australasia’s leading hotel owners, operators, consultants, and suppliers for two days of networking, panel sessions, hotelier Q&As and keynote discussions shaping the future of New Zealand’s hotel industry.

In a show of major endorsement for the event, AHICE Aotearoa 2026 has the support of over 75 sponsors and supporters – headlined by Principal Partners Accor, Agilysys and EVT and Supporting Partner Tourism New Zealand – and the event has attracted sponsorship from leading global and local hotel chains and suppliers alike.

HCA Strategic Director, James Doolan, said the conference has earned its place as the essential gathering for New Zealand’s hotel sector.

“AHICE Aotearoa has become the most influential conference for the hotel sector, covering investment, operations and policy,” he said.

“The connections made here have real consequences for New Zealand’s hotel sector and the tourism industry as a whole.”

The conference will feature keynote addresses from distinguished leaders and experts, panel sessions covering topics such as investors and developers outlook, regional growth, white-label management, industry trends, design innovations, hotel technology and more.

“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,” said AHICE Global Conferences Group President, James Wilkinson.

“We have a fantastic speaker line-up led by global and local executives, with executives flying to Christchurch from Singapore, Auckland, Sydney, Wellington, Brisbane, Queenstown and more, and the event promises to provide the hotel industry with the latest data, trends, analysis and what to expect for 2026 and beyond.”

The fifth annual AHICE Aotearoa builds on the success of previous events, establishing itself as the premier gathering for the country’s hotel industry.

It is an extension of the Asia Pacific event held in Adelaide, which was attended by a record 1,600 delegates from over 50 countries, making it the largest accommodation industry event in the APAC region.

A limited number of tickets and sponsorships are still available for AHICE Aotearoa, however the event is already close to selling out.