AHICE Aotearoa 2025: Where Insights Meet and Connections Spark Opportunity

At OmniHyper, we believe showing up is only half the job. The other half? Turning what we hear into actions that help our clients win. Over two packed days at AHICE Aotearoa in Christchurch, we connected with industry leaders, listened to on-stage conversations, and dug into the real trends shaping New Zealand’s hospitality sector.
 
This wasn’t about sitting politely in conference chairs; it was about making every conversation count.

Christchurch was the perfect backdrop for AHICE NZ. Matthew Burke’s market analysis was a standout. His data on supply, demand, and recovery showed a clear story: the New Zealand market is bouncing back, but unevenly. Christchurch is trending upward, fuelled by domestic travel and targeted international recovery.
 
The mayor, Phil Mauger, brought it home with a dose of personality and a significant announcement: a new Sheraton is opening in Christchurch. Combined with the city’s upcoming stadium, this development will change the accommodation landscape. For hoteliers, this means planning for surges in event-driven demand, not just the standard seasonal peaks.

White label hotel models were one of the most compelling undercurrents across both days. Josie from Trilogy spoke powerfully about the value these arrangements bring, especially in a market where unbranded inventory still commands a substantial share.
 
White labels can unlock flexibility for owners and investors while still delivering a distinctive guest experience. The right marketing and positioning can ensure these properties compete head-to-head with branded operators without the same level of restrictions.
 
With the right brand story and digital strategy, white label hotels can move from “hidden” to “high-performing” in record time.

Jonathan from Hilton made a point that hit home: venues need to think hyperlocal. His focus was on food and beverage outlets, hotel restaurants and bars that win locally build long-term resilience.
 
This is more than a buzzword for us. OmniHyper already delivers targeted digital strategies that connect hotel restaurant and bars with their immediate community, through SEO and AI-driven local search visibility.
 
In a competitive market, becoming a go-to destination for locals can be as powerful as attracting travellers. Hyperlocal isn’t an add-on, it’s a revenue engine.

If there was one recurring topic in every panel, it was AI. But here’s the catch: despite all the mentions, very few speakers offered concrete, practical applications.
 
Our view is different. AI can generate visibility earlier in the booking funnel, AI is already reshaping the hotel industry. The opportunity is in adopting it with strategy, not fear.
 
“If I had five minutes on stage, I’d skip the hype and show people how AI can make hotels more money without making them less human.”
 
Nick Hollows, Partnership Director on the ground at AHICE NZ.
 
This is where we see the gap and the opportunity. Hoteliers don’t just need another trend forecast; they need a clear plan to apply it to their property, their market, and their team. That might mean mapping AI tools into the booking journey without losing the “hospitality” in hospitality.

We didn’t just sit in the audience; we got out there and talked to people.
 
We caught up with familiar faces like Daniel Oh and Rachael Nicholson from Accor, swapping ideas about how their properties, from Wairakei Resort Taupo to Pullman Auckland Airport and BreakFree on Cashel Christchurch, could tap into the trends coming out of the conference.
 
We met the team behind Pearson Hotels, who are bringing a fresh management company into the New Zealand market, and it was exciting to hear their plans firsthand.
 
Rajeev Sharma from Sarin Hotels shared what’s happening across his portfolio, and we had a great chat. With Norman Arundel from EVT Hotels & Resorts, the conversation turned to AI search, where it’s heading, how it’s changing guest behaviour, and what hotels can do now to get ahead of it.
 
Then there was Anmole Gulati from Abstract Hotel Auckland, a young, forward-thinking GM who’s already making waves in the Auckland scene. We left that chat inspired by his energy and vision.

AHICE NZ 2025 wasn’t just another date in the industry calendar, it was a clear snapshot of where the New Zealand hospitality sector is heading, and a reminder that momentum doesn’t wait for anyone. We saw the conversations that matter right now: white label growth that’s redefining flexibility, hyperlocal strategies that build loyalty and revenue in equal measure, and the smart, intentional use of AI that enhances guest experience rather than stripping it away.
 
For OmniHyper, being on the ground means turning these insights into action, not next year, not “when we get to it,” but now.
Because the hotels that move first are the ones that will be leading the conversation at AHICE next year.
 
Of course, a final thought from Nick with a grin: “Why is it held in Christchurch? It’s too bloody cold.”

If your F&B strategy had the same digital firepower as your room sales—what could that unlock?

With 20+ years in hospitality of all facets, including F&B, hotels, to a refined focus on hospitality digital marketing.