Today I had the opportunity to attend the NoVacancy Hotel + Accommodation Industry Expo in Sydney, an event that brings together thought leaders, innovators, and industry professionals to share insights and shape the future of hospitality.
Key Highlights from the Day
• Innovation in Hospitality: Panels and sessions focused on how technology/Ai is driving personalised guest experiences, from booking through to check-out. Discussions highlighted how automation, data, and digital tools are reshaping the industry.
Using technology to increase QRI member satisfaction sounds good to me, the how still needs discovery.
My view is most of the Ai related discussions are still in their infancy, it will be interesting to have the same discussions in 12 months, one thing for sure is that the world we know is changing and quickly.
• Community Focus: One of the strongest takeaways was the importance of putting community at the heart of your brand and storytelling. Presenters emphasised the role of meaningful engagement in building loyalty. In one of the seminars I attended an American study was discussed and one of the key takeaways was “Make your community the star of your content”. This resonated with me, and I am making a commitment to involve our QRI Community, “our stars”!
• Live Engagement: The expo featured live podcasts, interactive workshops, and creative spaces, including a wall where delegates could “leave their mark,” showcasing the collaborative spirit of the industry (“apologies I am not terrible creative but I got QRI up there at the top”)!
Why It Matters for QRI Lifestyle
For QRI Lifestyle, attending NoVacancy was an invaluable opportunity to gather insights on:
• How emerging technology can improve member and guest experiences.
• Ways to tell our story by celebrating our community.
• New partnerships and networks that align with our mission of creating lifestyle value for our members.
A bonus was meeting up with Duanne Pinington from Transport, Life & Leisure NSW, we had a great catch up on how we can offer more to our members by collaboration – watch this space!
Final Thoughts
The energy of NoVacancy Expo was inspiring, with a strong focus on innovation, connection, and community. Bringing these learnings and industry benchmarks back to QRI Lifestyle ensures that we continue to adapt, grow, and provide experiences that matter.
A huge thanks to the QRI Team for “holding the fort” while I was in Sydney – You are the best!
