Over 650 delegates gathered at Pan Pacific Singapore last week for the return of the Asia Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) South East Asia.
Following a successful debut event last year, AHICE South East Asia drew an impressive delegate list including Asia’s top owners and investors including Blackstone, Starwood Capital, High Street Holdings, Ares Asia, Mulpha, Invictus, Ascott, Ark Capital Partners, UOL, Pro-Invest Group, GuocoLand Group, ALTA Capital, TCC Land, TriO Capital, EXS Capital, Royal Group of Companies, Lodgis Hospitality and more, many of which took to the stage over the course of the conference program.
Top operators in the speaker line up included executives at Nobu Hospitality, SH Hotels and Resorts (rebranding as Starwood), Six Senses, Travel + Leisure, Amara Hotels, Capella Hotel Group, Ennismore, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Marriott International, Artyzen, Far East Hospitality, BWH Hotels, Concorde Hotels, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Accor, Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton, Ascott, Aryaduta Hotels, Seibu Prince Hotels, Interval International, 1834 Hotels, La Vie Hotels, Trilogy Hotels, Hind Management, Shangri-La Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, EVT Hotels and Resorts, The Lux Collective, Cross Hotels and Resorts, Marina Bay Sands, HyperHotels, Tablet Hotels, Topotels Hotels & Resorts, Mad Monkey Hostels and more.
AHICE South East Asia drew support from over 60 sponsors in 2025, including Agilysys, Hilton, IHG, Marriott International, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Travel + Leisure Co. as Principal Partners.
Stellar exhibitors included Agilysys, Cendyn, Fever-Tree, FutureLog, Grab For Business, Hastens, HotelKey, Hub OS and IDEAS, Johnsonville Foods, King Koil, Nespresso and Shiji, who showcased their product and services to top executives over the course of the two-day conference.
There was ample opportunity to mingle with industry leaders with the day program featuring morning, lunch and afternoon breaks, and networking events each evening. On Monday evening, the AHICE ‘After Dark’ Networking Bar at Pan Pacific Singapore, presented by Global Hotel Alliance, Outrigger, Pan Pacific, Vanity Group, and Westward Whiskey, provided the first opportunity for delegates to come together in advance of the conference program.
On Tuesday, delegates enjoyed a Gala Networking event at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, presented by APRDO and Marriott International, to discuss the day’s events over top quality food and beverages. The conference closed with an evening of stellar food and beverages at Pan Pacific Singapore, presented by Global Hotel Alliance, Outrigger, Pan Pacific, Vanity Group, and Westward Whiskey.
Franchising, white-label and co-living among the hot topics
In an opening session led by STR Senior Director Asia Pacific, Jesper Palmqvist, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Head of Hotels Research – Asia Pacific, Marina Bracciani, and CBRE Hotels & Hospitality Asia, Director, Stella Blythe, a positive market outlook emerged, with opportunity in the upper and upper midscale segments, as well as co-living, talk of a resurgence in investment activity in Bali and Jakarta, and high rate growth.
Franchising was a hot topic, with many key operators including Accor, Hilton and Ascott embracing this option to expand in South East Asia and Asia Pacific more broadly. Hilton announced three hotel signings under its Hilton Garden Inn brand, adding over 560 rooms to its South East Asia portfolio.
“Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are experiencing record tourism arrivals as some of the most-visited destinations in South East Asia,” said Hilton Area Vice President and Regional Head of South East Asia, Alexandra Murray.
“We are growing our focused service presence to cater to rising intra-regional travel and an upwardly mobile middle class arriving from all over the region, looking to deliver everything our customers want where they want it.”
White label management was another widely discussed topic, with executives from Trilogy Hotels and La Vie Hotels and Resorts eager to tap into rising demand for white-label solutions in this region.
Panel discussions also highlighted the importance lifestyle brands in South East Asia, as well as traditional corporate hotel offerings. Asset management strategies were also discussed, stressing the importance of collaboration with partners, including General Managers.
Hoteliers such as Pan Pacific Hotels Group CEO Choe Peng Sum, Pro-invest Group, IHG Hotels and Resorts’ SVP & MD EAPAC, Rajit Sukumaran, Accor Chief Development Officer Asia, Andrew Langdon, and Outrigger Hospitality Group President & CEO, Jeff Wagoner, took to the stage to share their insights into the market as well as their strategies for growth.
In a keynote session, AllSaints Founder Stuart Trevor shared how he is turning his back on fast fashion with a clothing collection made from pre-loved clothes. Pan Pacific Singapore staff took to the stage to model some of the items in the sustainable collection.
Also flying in from London was health and wellness leader Harry Jameson. A former PT to the stars and powerful politicians – including former UK Prime Minister, Borris Johnson – Jameson revealed how he is taking his learnings from his 20+ years in the wellness world to create wellness offerings for luxury hotel brands such as Raffles to meet the evolving needs of health-conscious consumers.
Hotel technology and design in the spotlight
Day 2 saw the debut of the new INN Tech Hotel Technology Summit and first-ever South East Asia Design INN Symposium, which took place simultaneously in adjoining ballrooms, allowing delegates to take advantage of the opportunity to delve into important discussions on both technology and design over nearly three hours.
At INN Tech, leading experts from top technology companies including Agilysys, FutureLog, Mews and more discussed the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and ways that hotels can leverage its powers for greater results; procurement software, in-room entertainment, door locking tech, PMS and RMS systems, digital marketing, robots and more.
Agilysys Vice President & Managing Director of APAC, Tony Marshall, said the conference provided “an exceptional platform to connect with industry leaders and showcase solutions that can empower hotels to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations”.
“The introduction of the INN Tech Hotel Technology Summit was particularly insightful, highlighting the rapid evolution of technology within the hospitality sector,” said Marshall.
“The networking opportunities were outstanding, and we left with a renewed sense of the dynamic growth and innovation happening across the region.
“The insights gained and connections made at AHICE reinforce our commitment to supporting the dynamic growth of the hospitality sector in Southeast Asia.”
The first-ever South East Asia Design Inn Symposium saw a keynote presentation led by WOHA Design Co-Founding Director, Richard Hassell, which explored sustainable design strategies implemented at iconic properties such as Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore.
Leaders from the worlds of architecture, interior design, investment and operations discussed the creative ways design can improve guest experience, and how brands must evolve to stay relevant, while retaining their core values.
When the AHICE sessions returned in the main ballroom, discussions included the importance of attracting and retaining talent in the hospitality industry was emphasised, with strategies including flexibility, growth opportunities, and community involvement.
The final session focused on luxury and lifestyle outlooks, noting the resilience of luxury travellers and the potential for branded residences to finance luxury projects.
View the 2025 photo gallery here – more images and video content to come.