Star speakers for Hospitality NZ conference

Hospitality NZ has announced that ex-pat Kiwi chef Monica Galetti and Sydney’s 24-hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues are to join the line-up of speakers at the Hospitality New Zealand Conference in July.

The conference, themed "The Future of Hospitality", will be held 26-27 July at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland and will feature a wide range of industry presentations and workshops. It will finish with the Hospitality Awards for Excellence.

Monica Galetti is one of New Zealand’s most successful chefs. She has worked in London’s Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche, and for the past 13 years has been a judge on the TV series MasterChef: The Professionals.

Michael Rodrigues drives Sydney’s 24-hour Economy Strategy, which is designed to shape the city’s night-time economy. It includes a programme to establish a network of 24-hour economy hubs across Sydney, each offering a distinct experience, and well-connected by efficient transport options.

They join 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. I AM HOPE mental health ambassador Mike King will also address conference delegates.

The conference will also include a presentation from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association on their 2030 industry recovery plan as well as discussions focusing on the future of the workforce, the future of technology, and the future of sustainability with the Container Return Scheme, and legislation such as the Fair Pay agreement and the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act.

Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Julie White says the conference will be an opportunity for the industry to lead itself out of the challenges of the past two years. “This is not a reset, rather it will be a recalibration. Looking to the future is incredibly important for us, and the conference will reflect that.”

W: Tickets to the conference are available through hospitality.org.nz