Source: SHA
Source: SHA

Singapore – Organised by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) as well as Workforce Singapore (WSG), the inaugural Hospitality Exchange held on 3 October 2024 at Hilton Singapore Orchard was a resounding success. The Guest of Honour for the event was Mr Olivier Lim, Chairman of STB.

Attended by some 270 industry stakeholders comprising owners, general managers, senior hotel management and representatives from government agencies, the Hospitality Exchange delivered a power-packed programme that resonated well with the attendees.

Mr Kenneth Li, President of SHA, shared that the goal is to establish Hospitality Exchange as an annual must-attend blockbuster, where hotel leaders converge to exchange views on advancing our industry, while addressing key challenges through real-life case studies.

Centred on SHA’s three key pillars[1] of Innovation, Sustainability and Human Capital, the Hospitality Exchange featured an esteemed lineup of local and international experts, who provided thought leadership on hospitality today and beyond.

Mr Michael Vaz, a global leadership and culture coach for luxury hospitality brands, MVP Leadership, energized the attendees with his keynote presentation on The Only Way to Win, which underscored the importance of cultivating leadership excellence and driving engagement to elevate the hospitality experience.

In wrapping up the conference, Mr Adam Mogelonsky, Partner at Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited, enlightened his attendees on how the growing wellness trend is shaping guest expectations and redefining the future of hospitality offerings.

It was also thumbs up for the other renowned speakers, namely, Ahmed Disokey, Group Vice President of Hotel Technology, AccorInvest, Michael Levie, Co-Founder, CitizenM and Eric Ricaurte, CEO, Greenview, for their insightful presentations.

To promote the exchange of views, attendees gained first-hand perspectives and participated in thought-provoking panel discussions such as People + Tech – A New Workplace Paradigm, Leading Innovation and Tech Disruption, Co-Creating the Regenerative Hospitality Experience as well as Views from the Next G Hoteliers which provided a fresh lens to the industry landscape.

Ms Joyce Chua, Senior Hotel Manager at AMOY and The Clan Hotel, found the entire flow of the event programme to be exciting and beneficial. She concurred that future-proofing the industry is the way forward and a big takeaway for her was the sharing of experiences by speakers on how to manoeuvre and collaborate with the different stakeholders to drive initiatives.

Complementing the conference was a niche marketplace where exhibitors, in a vibrant setting, showcased a range of innovative solutions to enhance operations and improve guest experiences.

Mr Lee Jun Keong, B2B ID Sales Manager from LG Electronics Singapore, was thrilled that the Marketplace generated good contacts for them. He shared that the platform offered an excellent opportunity for them to network with potential partners and that they are already looking forward to returning to the Marketplace next year.

In collaboration with sponsors, the Hospitality Exchange concluded on a high note with a lively cocktail and networking session where conversations continued to foster the building of relationships.

Veteran hotelier, Mr Tan Kim Seng, General Manager at Aloft Singapore Novena, remarked that one of the noteworthy achievements was the ability of Hospitality Exchange to connect members with key industry partners on a large scale. He applauded SHA for its laudable efforts in putting together an outstanding event for the industry.

[1] The SHA has three committees, namely, Hotel Innovation Committee, Hotel Sustainability Committee and Hotel Human Capital Advisory Committee to oversee the roll out of initiatives to support the industry’s transformation map or ITM 2025.