NO VACANCY, A CONFERENCE WITH ANSWERS
A powerful program packed with industry leaders anchors the second No Vacancy conference in Sydney on April 15, which will attempt to answer the question: What’s Next?
But there’ll be no flowery vision statements, said Conference Director Martin Kelly. “The aim of No Vacancy is to tackle issues and give delegates real time information they can use in their business.â€
The program features a mix of presentations, panels, case studies, and debate. Topics include online distribution, consumer trends, channel management, star ratings, marketing strategies, social media and carbon offset business strategies.
Speakers are a diverse and influential bunch (see list below) from many of Australia’s leading accommodation and distribution companies, briefed to deliver relevant up-to-the-minute content.
In addition, there will also be a special consumer insights video session: ordinary people offering their views how they book rooms, where they are booking them, what they want from a website or reservations centre and how the industry can do it better.
Delegates will have exclusive access to this video, and also receive the latest Hitwise online industry report (value more than $700) plus drinks after the Allotz Great Debate at the end of the day. Confirmed speakers include:
Rachel Argaman, CEO Toga Hospitality
David Bayes, Managing Director, Choice Hotels Australasia
Darrin Bird, CEO, Carbonza.com
Bob East, CEO, Stella Hospitality Group
Russell Farr, Managing Director, Australian Online Travel
Paul Fisher, Marketing Director, TotalTravel.com
Jeff Floyd, CEO, AAA Tourism
Mike Ford, Managing Director, SiteMinder
Martin Kelly, Director, TravelTrends.biz
Gary Knowles, Global CEO, Roamfree Group
Shannon Knapp, Revenue and Distribution Mgr, Mirvac Hotels & Resorts
Chloe Lim, Managing Director, HotelClub
Andrew Maurer, Manager Forecasting and Analysis, TRA
Nick McCaw CEO Hotel SO
Martin McConnachie, Founder and President, Allotz.com
Michael Meade, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, Rendezvous Hotels
Terry Schwamberg-Kaljo, Owner, Contemporary Hotels
Grahame Tate, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Ideas
Michael Walmsley, General Manager, Hitwise Asia Pacific
Others will be announced over the next few weeks.
The first No Vacancy in 2007 attracted more than 150 delegates and bookings are tracking well above that for this year’s event.
Tickets cost $499 + gst – details through www.traveltrends.biz.
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive