Wayfarer TV: Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE debuts in front of over 185 leading executives
The Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE, held last Wednesday (Aug 27) at Crown Perth, was the fourth global event to launch under the new AHICE ‘summit’ brand – alongside London, Los Angeles and Sydney – and looked at the Perth and greater Western Australia market from investment, operations, development and tourism standpoints.
The event was heavily supported by Tourism Western Australia and the Western Australian Government, with the Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE speaking program headlined by The Hon. Reece Whitby, Minister for Tourism, Police, Road Safety and Great Southern.
Forming part of the broader AHICE global events line-up, the Asia-Pacific’s region’s leading hotel investment and operations conference series, Whitby said the Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE plays a key role in elevating Western Australia’s profile as a premium tourism destination and attracting private capital investment.
He said hosting the event supports the Cook Government’s economic diversification strategy to focus on driving tourism investment attraction which aims to encourage development of new accommodation, attractions and experiences that enhance the State’s appeal to visitors.
“Hosting the AHICE Summit for the first time is a major win for Western Australia’s tourism industry,” Whitby said.
“This event puts Western Australia in front of some of the most influential investors and decision-makers in the region, giving us a unique opportunity to showcase our tourism potential and secure future investment for our State.
“These are the events that will one day deliver new accommodation for visitors, growing our tourism offering, creating jobs and boosting the State’s economy.”
The first ever Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE firmly exceeded expectations with over 40 local, national and global companies and associations sponsoring and supporting the event, including Tourism Western Australia, Crown Resorts, Squire Patton Boggs, Accommodation Australia, the Australian Hotels Association Western Australia, the IHG Owners Association, Accor, Ark Capital Partners, Choice Hotels Asia-Pac, EVT, Hilton, IHG Hotels and Resorts, La Vie Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, Mulpha, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Salter Brothers, TFE Hotels, Wyndham and more.
“We were thrilled to launch the first Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE in front of a packed house at Crown Perth,” said AHICE Global Conferences Group President, James Wilkinson.
“We had over 185 leading executives at the event, including investors from Fiveight, Prendiville Group, Ark Capital Partners, CapitaLand Australia, La Vie, Fini Group, HMC Group, Oriental Hotels, Vertara, Sirona Urban, Place Development, Belingbak and more.
“This was alongside major chains including Crown Resorts, Accor Hotels, EVT, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton, G’Day Group, Radisson, TFE Hotels, Pan Pacific, Choice Hotels, BWH, Ascott, Wyndham, Duxton and leading boutique hotels from across the state.
“We could not have had a more prominent Western Australian audience that heard the major trends within Western Australia and why investors were also targeting Western Australia for growth.
“We wanted the Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE to show why Western Australia is an exceptional state to do business in and I’m proud that’s what the event delivered.”
Perth right now is experiencing phenomenal operational performance and Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Adrian Williams, said Perth’s hotel sector is benefitting from a diverse mix of demand drivers.
“Perth is shaping up for one of its most dynamic years in over a decade, with the combination of international cricket, rugby, and growing corporate and leisure travel creating strong momentum,” he said.
“The Ashes is proving to be a major catalyst, not just for match-day bookings but for extended stays, with visitors looking to explore everything the city and surrounding regions have to offer.
“Similarly, the Bledisloe Cup is providing a strong springboard for October demand across both corporate and leisure markets,” Williams said.
Regional Western Australia is also seeing its strongest outlook in years, with occupancy running 11% above 2024 levels.
Growth is especially pronounced in the final quarter, with October up 34%, November up 77%, and December soaring 88% year-on-year as business groups, holidaymakers and leisure travellers converge on Western Australia’s regional hubs.
Williams said Accor sees significant opportunity for further growth in Western Australia’s accommodation landscape, particularly in extended stay and lifestyle hotels.
“Extended stay is an increasingly important segment, especially in a state with such a strong resources and project-based workforce,” he said.
“Our The Sebel and Mantra brands combine apartment-style living with hotel services, making them ideally suited to both corporate and leisure travellers.
“Lifestyle hotels are also reshaping expectations, adding even greater energy to a city already buzzing with cultural, sporting and business activity.
“Against the backdrop of cost-of-living pressures, the strength of demand across both Perth and regional Western Australia highlights the resilience of the State’s tourism and hospitality industry, and its growing global reputation as a must-visit destination,” Williams said.
According to STR data released at the Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE, the city is leading Australia from an occupancy standpoint, with Perth reaching a peak occupancy during July of 80.5%, the highest point over the past 12 months and on a scale that keeps rising, while also posting impressive ADR and RevPAR growth as well.
Forward growth, as Williams said, is also looking healthy according to the STR data exclusively released at the event.
“Over the next 45 days, occupancy is tracking ahead, which suggests the positive momentum will continue to come through,” said STR Sales Manager – Pacific, Jacqueline Choo.
“Perth centre RevPAR has also reached its highest level in the last five years, a clear sign that strong occupancy and rising rates are driving peak revenue.”
Across the afternoon, key speakers included Whitby, Williams and Choo, alongside some of Australia’s leading hotel industry executives, including:
• AARON DESANGE, Head of Capital Markets in Western Australia and Director of Institutional Investment Sales, CBRE
• ADRIAN FINI, Director, H-U Human Urban and Fini Group
• ANNEKE BROWN, Managing Director, Tourism Western Australia
• BRADLEY WOODS AHA Western Australia Chief Executive Officer
• BRIAN PEREIRA, Crown Perth Chief Executive Officer
• EMMA HYNES, Director of Operations, Australasia and Pacific, IHG Hotels and Resorts
• IVY CHENG, Director, Investment and Business Development, CapitaLand Australia
• JOHN SUTCLIFFE, Director of Development, TFE Hotels
• MARK PALERMO, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
• MITCH REYNOLDS, Director and Senior Lawyer, Squire Patton Boggs
• NATHAN FROST, Vice President Operations – Western Australia & Tasmania, Accor
• PAUL GORMAN, General Manager, Luxury Escapes
• PETER PRENDIVILLE, Owner, Prendiville Group
• RAHUL PARRAB, Chief Executive Officer, Ark Capital Partners
• RENS BREUR, General Manager, Pan Pacific Perth
• RICHARD CRAWFORD, Vice President – Hotel Development, Australia, NZ, and Pacific, Marriott International
• RODNEY HARREX, Chief Operating Officer, 1834 Hotels
• RUWANI WEERASINGHE, Director of Asset Management and Acquisition, La Vie Hotels
• STEVEN JAMES, State General Manager WA & SA – EVT & General Manager – QT Perth
• THOMAS JOHN, Vice President – Strategy & Development, Panache Hotel Group
Plans are underway for the 2026 Perth Hotel Summit by AHICE, with a full day experiential and conference event to be held in the fourth quarter of the year.
The next AHICE Summit series event for 2025 will be held in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, December 10 at The Regent Santa Monica.