The Rise of Hospitality as Real Estate
From CBD super-pubs to regional destination venues, Australia’s pub and hospitality sector has firmly established itself as a high-performing real estate asset class.
Strong investor demand, resilient cashflows, and the underlying value of well-located land continue to drive interest, while operators are actively repositioning venues to unlock long-term performance.
The Hospitality Real Estate Summit brings together Australia’s leading pub owners, operators, investors, developers and advisors to examine where the market is today and where the next decade of growth will come from.
Across one powerful day, you’ll gain direct insight into capital flows, redevelopment strategies, regulatory shifts, and the operational innovations redefining the value of hospitality real estate.
1 DAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM
35+ speakers, case-studies, interactive panel discussions, innovation talks and more.
INNOVATION SHOWCASE
Exhibition showcasing the latest plan, design, construct, fit-out and related solutions for hospitality real estate.
NETWORKING EVENTS + MEET & GREETS
Participate in both informal and structured networking activities where you can find customers & partners.
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.
Meet Our Speakers
Paul Waterson
Craig Shearer
Harris Kospetas
Tom Francis
Jason Williams
Andrew Kemp
Stephen Hunt
Chris Cornforth
KEY THEMES
INVESTMENT, CAPITAL & VALUATION TRENDS
Understand where capital is flowing, what’s attracting investors, and how valuations are shifting across pub, hotel and mixed-use hospitality assets.
ASSET REPOSITIONING, REDEVELOPMENT & VALUE CREATION
Explore how operators and investors are unlocking value — from redevelopment and precinct strategy to improving utilisation and creating next-generation venues.
REGULATION, POLICY & PLANNING ENVIRONMENT
Examine how licensing reform, gaming regulation, planning controls and broader economic pressures are shaping investment decisions and asset performance.
CAPITAL STRUCTURING & TRANSACTIONS
Gain insight into how deals are being structured, what makes assets investable, and where acquisition and transaction activity is accelerating.
DESIGN, EXPERIENCE & NEXT-GEN HOSPITALITY ASSETS
See how leading operators are reimagining venue design, integrating technology, and creating multi-use destinations that drive revenue and customer engagement.
TECHNOLOGY, AI & SMART VENUE INFRASTRUCTURE
Learn how technology is being deployed to improve performance, reduce costs, optimise staffing, and enhance the guest experience.
FAMILY OWNERSHIP, GOVERNANCE & LONG-TERM STRATEGY
Understand how family-owned groups are approaching succession, structuring ownership, and building long-term, scalable hospitality portfolios
MARKET OUTLOOK & OPERATING LANDSCAPE
Hear from industry leaders on demographic shifts, tourism trends, operating pressures and the evolving outlook shaping Australia’s hospitality sector.
DEVELOPMENT, ASSET OPTIMISATION & PRECINCT STRATEGY
Dive into planning pathways, repositioning opportunities, ESG considerations and the role of mixed-use integration in driving long-term asset value.
CASE STUDIES FROM LEADING OWNERS & OPERATORS
Learn from real-world examples of high-performing portfolios, brand-building strategies and operational models delivering sustained growth.
EXHIBITION & CURATED BUYER CONNECTIONS
Connect with solution providers, investors and decision-makers through curated meetings designed to support refurbishment, expansion and acquisition strategies.
Our 2025 Partners
Agenda
9th September 2026 - Melbourne
Registration & welcome coffee
Welcome Remarks
SPECIAL ADDRESS: Examining the impact of economic and regulatory changes on the hospitality sector
This special address will explore how economic shifts and regulatory changes are reshaping the hospitality industry. Topics include the effects of rising interest rates, gaming laws, licensing changes, and increasing insurance and electricity costs on profitability and valuations. It will also touch on shrinking margins and immigration regulations impacting workforce availability, offering insights on how to navigate these challenges and stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.
OPENING PANEL: Pubs as institutional-grade assets: How to maximise long-term value
- Learn how leading operators are building high-performing hospitality portfolios by:
- Identifying and acquiring high-potential assets
- Transforming venues to increase revenue and utilisation
- Balancing operational performance with real estate value
- Managing regulatory and cost pressures
- Building scalable, resilient portfolios
Morning refreshments & networking break
INTERACTIVE ROUNDTABLES
In this session we bring together delegates for a series of 40 minute facilitated round table discussions with leading industry experts. Join the table that interests you most to discuss hot topics and share ideas for tackling some of the biggest challenges on the road to success in Pubs and Hospitality Real Estate.
Round Table 1: Repositioning underperforming venues
Led by: Tom Francis, Managing Director, Francis Venues
Round Table 2:
Led by: Stephen Hunt, Managing Director, Hunt Hospitality
Round Table 3: Venue redevelopment & repositioning
Led by: Guy Wells, Director, Good Vibes Hospo
Round Table 4:
Led by: Ben Williams, Group Director of Pubs, Clubs & Hotels, Oolio
Round Table 5: Spaces that Care: pubs, clubs and precincts that return an investment in wellbeing
Led by: Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Allara Learning and Allara Global,
Prof. Jane Burns, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Allara Learning and Allara Global, Chair, Night Time Industries Association
DESIGN PANEL: Reinventing the modern pub: Design, amenity, and experience for the future guests
- What great pub design looks like in 2026
- Creating flexible, multi-use hospitality environments
- Integrating venues into broader precincts
- Improving operational efficiency through design
- Balancing redevelopment versus new development
Unlocking hidden value: Strategic playbooks to increase the value of hospitality assets
Lunch & networking break
FIRESIDE CHAT: The Investment outlook: Where smart money is buying pubs today
- Why pubs remain highly attractive to investors
- The role of institutional versus private capital
- Which locations and asset types offer strongest growth
- Key risks investors are watching
- How consumer trends are influencing valuations
FAMILY ENTERPRISE PANEL: Protecting and growing family hospitality portfolios
This panel will explore the business of managing the $3 trillion wealth transfer and the strategies families are using to protect balance sheets while maintaining strong relationships and long-term unity.
Learn how leading hospitality families are:
- Understanding how family governance differs from commercial governance
- Creating harmony across generations and defining what makes it work
- Lessons learned from getting it right and avoiding unnecessary conflict
- Managing family dynamics and mitigating risk
INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT:
In this session, you’ll hear driving innovation across hospitality design, operations, and development – followed by a 20-minute panel discussion exploring how new ideas, tools, and partnerships can help venues improve efficiency, enhance guest experience, manage costs, and future-proof their assets.
Talk 1: Reimagine open space and boost turnover
Led by: Peter Casimaty, Director, FutureVillage
Talk 2: Smart Venues: Using Automation and IoT to Reduce Costs and Improve Operational Efficiency
Talk 3: The Connected Guest: Digital Experiences That Drive Repeat Visits and Increase Spend
Talk 4: Designing the Future Pub: Technology-Enabled Spaces That Maximise Utilisation and Revenue
Afternoon refreshments & networking break
The transformation journey: Kickon Group’s reinvention of the heritage venues
Learn how a major hospitality group successfully repositioned a venue, including:
- Acquisition strategy
- Redevelopment planning and execution
- Technology integration
- Operational improvements
- Financial performance outcomes
- Lessons learned
CLOSING PANEL: The future of hospitality real estate: What will define the next decade
Industry leaders will discuss:
- How hospitality assets will evolve
- The role of pubs in mixed-use communities
- Changing customer expectations
- The impact of technology and automation
- How to future-proof hospitality portfolios
Closing Remarks
Cocktail reception and networking
Close of summit
Why attend?
EVENT THEMES
Expect a curated mix of keynote insights, panel discussions, roundtables and networking opportunities, covering:
- Investment, Capital and Valuation Trends
- Asset Repositioning, Redevelopment and Value Creation
- Regulatory, Economic and Policy Impacts
- Capital Structuring, Acquisitions and Transactions
- Design, Experience and Next-Generation Hospitality Assets
- Technology, AI and Smart Venue Infrastructure
- Family Ownership, Governance and Long-Term Strategy
Who Attends
This Summit is designed for senior decision-makers across the full spectrum of hospitality real estate.
Owners & Operators
- Pub & Hotel Owners and Operators
- Venue & Asset Management Teams
Capital & Investment
- Investors & Asset Managers
- Capital Markets & Investment Professionals
- Developers
Property, Place & Delivery
- Leasing, Sales & Marketing Specialists
- Urban Planners, Placemakers & Local Councils
- Construction, Architecture & Design Professionals
Government, Legal & Advisory
- Government & Regulatory Bodies
- Legal & Compliance Experts
- Hospitality Consultants & Advisors
- Insurance & Risk Management Providers
Operations, Workforce & Innovation
- Technology & Innovation Providers
- Sustainability & Operations Leaders
- Workforce & Training Specialists in Hospitality
Experience & Commercial Growth
- Food & Beverage Suppliers & Distributors
- Entertainment & Events Professionals
- Brand & Partnership Executives
Registration is now open!
Limited Time Offer
Book and pay by Friday 8 May
Register- Access to all conference sessions
- Access to networking opportunities
- Session recordings and presentation slides
TESTIMONIALS AND PHOTOS
WHY BECOME A PARTNER?
The hospitality sector is entering a new era shaped by rising visitor demand, premiumisation, mixed-use precincts, operational innovation and accelerating capital flows. By partnering with the Hospitality Real Estate Summit, you align your brand with the owners, operators, investors and developers actively shaping the next generation of hotels, pubs, venues and experience-driven hospitality assets.
Generate qualified leads, deals and partnerships
Engage directly with senior decision-makers through curated meetings, structured networking, invitation-only roundtables and exhibition opportunities. Connect with asset owners, hotel and pub operators, precinct developers, capital providers and advisors who are actively seeking new solutions, partners and project capability.
Showcase your expertise where it matters
Take the stage or lead a roundtable conversation to demonstrate your thought leadership across development, design, operations, investment, sustainability or technology. Position your organisation as a trusted partner in improving asset performance, enhancing guest experience, reducing costs, unlocking new revenue and future-proofing hospitality portfolios.
Build long-term client relationships across the entire hospitality ecosystem
As part of FuturePlace’s broader Built World platform, your brand gains exposure to audiences across hotels, tourism infrastructure, mixed-use precincts, retail real estate, living sectors and placemaking - creating year-round engagement and multi-sector visibility.
WHO SHOULD PARTNER
The Hospitality Real Estate Summit offers premium annual opportunities for solution providers across the full hospitality asset lifecycle - from acquisition and development to operations, technology and transformation.
- Capital Markets & Real Estate Advisory
- Architecture, Design & Interiors
- Engineering, Project Management & Construction
- Hotel Refurbishment & Fit-Out Specialists
- Finance & Investment Management
- Legal, Planning & Regulatory Advisory
- Hospitality Technology & Digital Guest-Experience Platforms
- Property Management Systems, RMS & Operational Tools
- Energy, Sustainability & Efficiency Providers
- Security, Access Control & Smart Building Systems
- Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment (FF&E) & Procurement Specialists
- Amenity, Wellness & Experience-Enhancement Providers
- Brand Strategy, Marketing, and Customer Engagement Platforms
- Land Assembly, Valuation & Development Advisory
- Maintenance, Asset Management & Building Performance Solutions
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