Future focus for NZ Hospo Conference 2022
The New Zealand Hospitality Conference will return in July with a focus on recalibrating the industry for the future and with New York restaurateur Danny Meyer among the keynote speakers.
Hospitality NZ says the conference theme is "The Future of Hospitality" and it will feature presentations and workshops on multiple categories across the industry, including technology and sustainability, through to beer production and events.
It will be held on 26-27 July at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland and will finish with the Hospitality Awards for Excellence.
Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive Julie White says the conference will be the industry’s think tank for the future after the challenges of the past two years. “We have taken the approach we are not facing a reset, rather it will be recalibration. The future of the workforce is one the biggest issues for us as an industry, and it’s incredibly important we put a microscope on that.”
The conference will include a presentation from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association on their 2030 industry recovery plan, and feature keynote speakers from New York, Las Vegas, and New Zealand.
They include New York restaurateur and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group Danny Meyer, and Las Vegas business magnate Shane Green, who advises global Fortune 500 leaders on customer experience and organisational culture.
New Zealand mental health advocate Mike King will also speak about wellbeing and fatigue in the industry. More speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
The conference will also examine the future of beverage, with local alcohol settings due to come up for renewal later this year.
“This is such an important part of the overall hospitality experience, so this is the exact right time to have critical conversations around what local alcohol policies could look like moving forward,” says Julie White.
As part of the conference, the Accommodation Association, a Hospitality New Zealand brand, is partnering with Maximum Occupancy, New Zealand’s leading hotel and accommodation event, to hold the New Zealand Hotel Conference at nearby Aotea Centre.