27 Jan 2026
Over 20 Industry Leaders Confirmed to Speak at Maximum Occupancy New Zealand 2026

Maximum Occupancy

Momentum continues to build for Maximum Occupancy New Zealand 2026, with more than 20 high-profile speakers now confirmed from every corner of the accommodation, tourism, travel, and events industry.

Taking place on Wednesday 4 March 2026 at the Grand Millennium Auckland, the one-day conference will bring together senior leaders from hotels, holiday parks, corporate travel, technology, events, ownership, and industry bodies for a practical, future-focused program.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Karl Luxon, CEO – Scenic Hotel Group
  • Raymond Faulkner, Vice President Operations AU/NZ – Swiss-Belhotel
  • David Ovendale, CEO – TOP10 Holiday Parks
  • Ronnie Ronalde – Hotel Council Aotearoa
  • Paul Wilson, Vice President APAC – Amadeus
  • Bruce Garrett, Managing Director – Brooke Serene
  • Prue Daly, General Manager – NZICC
  • Lisa Hopkins, CEO – BEIA
  • Clinton Farley, General Manager – The Hotel Britomart
  • Craig Bonner, Managing Director – Cordis Auckland
  • Debbie Summers - Deputy Chair - NZ Cruise Association
  • Danelle Ayres - Founder & Director - Studio Moda
  • Ginni Post - Founder - GP Communications

With speakers representing global hotel brands, independent operators, technology leaders, major venues, and industry associations, the 2026 program is shaping up to be one of the most comprehensive yet.

In addition to the conference sessions, Maximum Occupancy New Zealand 2026 will feature its largest-ever trade show, showcasing record number of leading global industry suppliers.  This is the first time this number of global industry suppliers have ever attended one individual conference in New Zealand showing their confidence in the NZ market and their support.  Global suppliers include Amadeus, Duetto, Shiji, Room Price Genie, RoomStay, TrustYou, Myma, Lighthouse and many more.

Super Early Bird tickets are almost sold out, with strong demand following the sell-out success of last year's event.

For the full agenda, speaker updates, and ticket information, visit: https://maximumoccupancy.com.au/auckland 

  About Maximum Occupancy

Maximum Occupancy is the leading accommodation industry conference series across Australia and New Zealand, delivering high-impact events focused on industry trends, innovation, marketing, distribution, people, technology, and profitability. Each event attracts hundreds of attendees and is known for its practical, actionable content and unmatched networking opportunities.