HTNG Connect: Asia-Pacific

• David Sjolander, VP, HTNG Operations, AHLA
• Manish Nambiar, VP Operations, SE Asia, Kempinski Hotels
• Riko van Santen, CIO, Kempinski Hotels

• Liz Ortiguera, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific and Sr Advisor to the CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council

• Jing Zhu, Chairperson & CEO, China Hospitality Technology Alliance

Explore how hotels outside China can adapt their technology offerings to cater to the unique preferences of Chinese travelers. This session will cover key trends such as mobile payment integration, localized digital experiences, and leveraging social media platforms like WeChat and Xiaohongshu. Gain insights into tailoring tech strategies to enhance guest satisfaction and capture this growing market segment.

• Jack Taljaard, Buisness Development Manager, Membership & Industry Engagement, Wireless Broadband Alliance

Join us for an insightful session with a representative from the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) as we delve into the forefront of wireless technology advancements and their commercial impact on the hospitality industry. This session will provide a high-level overview of the Wi-Fi Roadmap and will be followed in the afternoon with a breakout session where those interested can dig into more detail and ask questions.

• David Sjolander, VP, HTNG Operations, AHLA (Moderator)
• Annet Steenbergen, Advisor/Owner, EU Digital Wallet Consortium/Circletree Ltd

This presentation will dive into the groundbreaking EU Digital Identity ecosystem that will be implemented across EU in 2026. We will explore its potential transformative impact on the digitalization of the hotel industry. The discussion will be about the implications for data privacy, efficiency, and customer experience.

• Sandy Angel, Senior Director of Technology & Information, AHLA

Following the presentation on the EU Digital Identity strategy, this workshop will discuss ways that this initiative can reduce friction on the guest arrival with a focus on payments and identity verification. Small groups will identify information that must be included and ideally shared from the guest wallet to to optimize the guest experience.

• Dayna Kully, Co-founder, 5thGenWireless

Following this morning's overview on the WBA Wi-Fi roadmap, this session will drill down on aspects that are most relevant to hospitality and allow the audience to engage in the conversation. Bring your questions and plans for Wi-Fi upgrades to get answers and advice from our experts.

• Martin Bookallil, Founder & Principal, Bookallil Advisory
• Andrew Chan, Founder & CEO, ACI HR Solutions
• David Sjolander, VP, HTNG Operations, AHLA

New technology promises to revolutionize hospitality, but success often depends on effectively managing the human side of change. This session looks into the common challenges hotels face when introducing new technology—from resistance to adoption and training difficulties to communication gaps. The discussion will share practical techniques to smooth the transition, foster team buy-in, and ultimately turn employees into advocates for innovation.

The hospitality industry faces a common challenge: fragmented and inconsistent property data across systems, platforms, and regions. Hospitality ID is a groundbreaking nonprofit initiative designed to address this issue by creating a global registry that assigns unique identifiers to every hotel and hospitality property worldwide. In this session, we’ll explore how Hospitality ID simplifies distribution, enhances data accuracy, and streamlines technical integration. Join us to learn how this initiative is setting the stage for greater efficiency and collaboration across the industry. Discover how you can leverage Hospitality ID to drive innovation and operational excellence in your organization.

• Martin Bookallil, Founder & Principal, Bookallil Advisory
• Andrew Chan, Founder & CEO, ACI HR Solutions

The hospitality industry's slower tech adoption presents a unique opportunity to rethink its approach to innovation and talent. While financial pressures and cautious decision-making have played a role, the real challenge lies in empowering internal IT teams to navigate areas like cybersecurity and digital transformation.

This session explores how a culture of continuous learning and collaboration can balance the fresh perspectives of external hires with the passion and institutional knowledge of internal leaders. Discover actionable strategies to close the technology gap, boost operational efficiency, and deliver next-level guest experiences in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

• Martin Bookallil, Founder & Principal, Bookallil Advisory (Moderator)

• Tristan Gadsby, CEO, Alliants
• Michael Garcia, CIO, Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels
• Ashish Kale, VP IT Operations - Asia-Pacific, Marriott International
• Sean Seah, SVP Strategy, Technology and Innovation, Langham Hospitality Group