🏆 Tiny Thoughts
Leaders know how to talk, but talkers are rarely the best leaders.
*Clarity matters more than volume.
Strong leaders communicate with intent, not noise. In hotels, the ones who drive results are not the loudest in the room, they are the clearest on priorities, expectations, and direction.
**Execution speaks louder than words.
It is easy to sound convincing in meetings. It is harder to deliver consistent results on the floor. The best operators let performance do the talking, through disciplined actions and follow through.
***Confidence is quiet, insecurity is loud.
When someone truly understands their business, they do not need to over explain or dominate conversations. They listen, observe, and step in when it matters most.
🏆 Insights This Week
🎧 Recommended Episode:
How hotels are reinventing F&B for profit and growth
The latest Hotel Business Hot Topics session, "Rethinking Hotel F&B: Smarter Strategies for Profit, Community and Stability," in partnership with Entegra, featured an insightful discussion between moderator Glenn Haussman, founder/host, No Vacancy Live podcast, and a panel of industry leaders on how hotels are controlling costs, optimizing procurement and transforming food and beverage into a core revenue driver while creating experiences that resonate with today's guests and local communities.
🗓️ Upcoming Industry Events
May 6 – 7 — AHICE — Adelaide
May 10 – 14 — Australian Tourism Exchange 2026 — Australia
May 13 – 14 — Travel Daze — Brisbane
May 19 — Melbourne Travel Connect 2026 — Melbourne
May 25 — Perth Airport WA Tourism Conference — Perth
May 25 – 27 — Food & Hospitality Week 2026 — Sydney
May 25 – 27 — Food & Hospitality Week 2026 — Sydney
June 29 – July 2 — ILTM Asia Pacific 2026 — APAC
June 30 – July 1 — AHA Hospitality Expo 2026 — Perth
July 21 — Corporate Travel Show Perth — Perth
July 28 — Corporate Travel Show Melbourne — Melbourne
July 30 — Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition — Australia
August 11 – 13 — Victorian Tourism Conference 2026 — Victoria
August 11 — Corporate Travel Show Adelaide — Adelaide
August 18 — Corporate Travel Show Sydney — Sydney
August 18 – 20 — TravelManagers National Conference 2026 — Australia
September 1 — Corporate Travel Show Brisbane — Brisbane
September 23 – 24 — No Vacancy Expo — Sydney
October 1 — TADA 26 — Australia
October 9 — Beyond Borders Travel Summit 2026 — Australia
November 25 – 26 — FACTS 2026 — Sydney
November 27 – 29 — Travellers Choice Conference 2026 — Australia
MAY MARKETING CALENDAR
As autumn settles across Australia and New Zealand, a strong mix of sport, music, and seasonal moments creates timely opportunities for travel and demand. Brisbane takes centre stage with the NRL Magic Round, where all Round 11 matches are hosted at Suncorp Stadium, drawing fans nationwide and driving significant accommodation demand.
Across New Zealand, Fat Freddy’s Drop launch their tour celebrating the multi-platinum album Based on a True Story, while honouring the legacy of DJ Mu, creating a wave of music-driven travel. At the same time, Mother’s Day presents a valuable moment for hotels to curate thoughtful packages, from pamper stays to family experiences, tapping into emotional, experience-led travel.
April and May are less about urgency and more about alignment, where events, seasonality, and sentiment come together to drive meaningful bookings.
Key dates in May
1 May to 3 May – Fat Freddy’s Drop (Wellington)
2 May – Mumford & Sons (Auckland)
4 May – May Day (Northern Territory)
4 May – Labour Day (Queensland)
4 May – Star Wars Day
9 May to 11 May – Fat Freddy’s Drop (Christchurch)
10 May – Mother's Day (Australia and New Zealand)
13 May – World Cocktail Day
13 May – Deftones (Auckland)
14 May – Women's State of Origin Game Two (Brisbane)
14 May to 17 May – NRL Magic Round (Brisbane)
15 May to 17 May – Fat Freddy’s Drop (Auckland)
16 May – six60 (Christchurch)
17 May – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
22 May to 13 June – Vivid Sydney
27 May – Ampol Men's State of Origin Game One (Sydney)
28 May – Women's State of Origin Game Three (Gold Coast)
29 May – Start of New Zealand ski season (varies per location)
Till next time,
Hotelier Roundup
Disclaimer: This content is carefully curated from publicly available sources and is provided for informational purposes only, while we try our best to verify all information presented, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy or completeness.
