2025 Program Overview

Please see the 2025 Design Inn Symposium program overview below.

Tuesday 6 May 2025

8:00am-9:00am NETWORKING: REGISTRATION, COFFEE, TEA and EXHIBITION SHOWCASE 
8:20am-9:00am BREAKFAST MASTERCLASS TO BE ANNOUNCED
9:00am-9:05am WELCOME TO DESIGN INN SYMPOSIUM by emcee JESS ADAMSON, AHICE Group President JAMES WILKINSON and DESIGN INN Content Committee Chair, RUTH HOGAN.
9:05am-9:40am PANEL: ADAPTIVE REUSE
Mastering the art of office-to-hotel conversions – potential pitfalls, space optimisation strategies and innovative design solutions.

Moderated by RICHARD DALMAN, Managing Director & Principal, Dalman Architects
9:40am-10:05am DESIGN SHOWCASE: The EVE Hotel Sydney
CHARLOTTE WILSON, Senior Associate, Interior Design, SJB
10:05am-10:25am DESIGN Q&A: INTERCONTINENTAL BAROSSA RESORT AND SPA
10:30am-11:00am NETWORKING: MORNING TEA and EXHIBITION SHOWCASE 
11:00am-11:40am LIGHTING MASTERCLASS, presented by Studio All

This masterclass explores light as a spatial and psychological instrument—shaping perception, directing visual hierarchy, and constructing atmosphere in hospitality environments. Framed through design, science, and performative space-making, we examine how lighting curates experience and choreographs the theatre of hospitality.

  • ANDREW MINTY, Director – Asset Development, Gallagher Jeffs
  • CHRISTOPHER CARUANA, General Manager, Bluebottle
  • FAY GREENHALGH, Lighting Design Director, Studio All
  • HAYLEY MITCHELL, Principal, Mitchell & Eades

Moderated by Liam Petrie-Allbutt, Founder & Managing Director, Studio All
11:40am-12:10pm KEYNOTE: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
12:10pm-12:30pm DESIGN SHOWCASE: 1 Hotel Melbourne

  • FALK PEUSER, Principal, Fender Katsalidis (Lead Architect)
12:35pm-1:30pm NETWORKING: LUNCH and EXHIBITION SHOWCASE
1:35pm-2:15pm REFURBISHMENT MASTERCLASS presented by Shape
2:15pm-2:55pm DEBATE: “Can AI Revolutionise Hotel Design Without Sacrificing Human Creativity and Authenticity?”
With artificial intelligence advancing at breakneck speed, speakers will argue for and against its use in hotel design. This debate will explore whether AI can transform hotel design through innovation and efficiency, or whether it will undermine the human touch that makes hospitality so special.

Moderated by IVAN SUNDE, Chief Executive Officer, Onyx ASW
3:00pm-3:30pm NETWORKING: AFTERNOON TEA and EXHIBITION SHOWCASE
3:30pm-3:50pm DESIGN SHOWCASE: Mondrian Gold Coast

  • CALLUM FRASER, Founder, Fraser & Partners (Lead Architect)
3:50pm-4:30pm PANEL: DESIGN DECISION MAKERS: Creative control in an evolving hotel landscape
In the delicate dance between designer, brand, operator and owner, who gets the final say on design decisions? What makes for a successful outcome, and can too many cooks spoil the broth?

Moderated by Juliet Ashworth, Partner & Creative Director, CHADA
4:30pm-4:50pm DESIGN SHOWCASE: Adelaide Marriott
TRACEY WILES, Principal, Woods Bagot (Interior Design)
4:50pm-5:10pm THE 2025 AUSTRALASIA-PACIFIC HOTEL DESIGN AWARDS, presented by HM Magazine
5:10pm-5:15pm WRAP UP: Closing remarks on Design Inn Symposium 2025
5:15pm-7:15pm GALA NETWORKING EVENT AT HILTON ADELAIDE
(available for AHICE Speakers, Future Leaders Forum and Design Inn delegates only)
7:30pm-onwards NETWORKING: THE AHICE ASIA-PACIFIC ‘AFTER DARK’ NETWORKING LOUNGE
Venue details to be revealed via the AHICE Asia Pacific APP powered by Sudima
(complimentary drink on arrival and then pay as you go).
Presented by

            

Note: Program is subject to change

DESIGN INN House Rules

A note from the organisers: Due to a number of unofficial invite-only events taking place during the official event times in recent years, we would ask that businesses and individuals please do not host any events during the above times as a courtesy to other sponsors of AHICE and Design Inn. We all know that without sponsors, events like this cannot happen and we ask that our request is respected. If events do take place during the official times, the organisers and representatives of those companies will not be able to attend any AHICE sessions at the Adelaide Oval or Design Inn and are at the risk of passes being revoked.

We will also be requesting that supplier attendees that aren’t sponsors of the event to not canvas for business with sales materials and documents at the events at the Adelaide Oval or SkyCity. Those that do it will be at the risk of passes being revoked.

To find out how you can be involved in the program, please contact:

HOTEL OWNERS & CHAINS

James Wilkinson, AHICE Group President: jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au

SUPPLIERS & ADVISERS

Tara Ducrou, Group Commercial Manager: tducrou@intermedia.com.au