The Inaugural Hospitality South Korea Conference 2026
EVENT AGENDA
Experience a full day of high-impact discussions focused on hotel investment and revenue growth. The HSKC2026 agenda brings together industry leaders and decision-makers to share actionable insights and strategies shaping the future of South Korea’s hospitality sector.
Plenary Session Theme: The Macro View – Money, Polarization & The Seoul Ceiling Venue: Grand Ballroom (A+B)
Time;Track Name;Session Type;Title
08:00 - 09:10;THE HORIZON (Macro & Data);Solo Keynote;Reimagining South Korea’s Hospitality Renaissance: Growth, Globalization, and Guest-Centric Futures
09:10 - 09:50;THE TITANS (Leadership & Strategy);Panel;The New Capital Flows — Redefining Hotel Investment Strategies in a High-Rate Environment
09:50 - 10:30;THE MARKET MAKERS (Macro Investment);Panel;The Connected Guest — Converging Design, Data, and Digitalization to Drive the Next Hospitality Era
#HISS (Hotel Investment & Development Summit) Venue: Ballroom A Theme: Build, Fix, or Reimagine – Maximizing Asset Value
Time;Session Type;Title;Description
11:10 – 11:50 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Capital Wars" – Global PE vs. Domestic Defenders;The Money. A high-level opening debate on the 2026 transaction landscape. With interest rates stabilizing, who is buying? We contrast Global Funds (seeking distressed value) against Domestic Giants and K-REITs (seeking stable yield). Includes a look at the shift from Office to Hospitality assets.
11:50 – 12:10 (20 mins);Solo Keynote;Asset Intelligence – Connectivity as a Value Multiplier;(Presented by TP-Link) The Infrastructure. Just as you plan for water and power, you must plan for data. This keynote argues that "Digital Plumbing" (Wi-Fi 7) is a critical asset value driver. Investing in the right network foundation during construction prevents costly retrofits and boosts property valuation.
12:10 – 12:50 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Conversion" Play – Office-to-Hotel & The "Silver" Rush;The Strategy. "Don't Build, Rebuild." With construction costs up 30%, the best ROI is in adaptive reuse. We discuss the roadmap for converting aging CBD offices into lifestyle hotels, and the booming financials of the Senior Living ($20B Silver Economy) asset class.
12:50 – 14:20 (80 mins);Networking Lunch
14:20 – 15:00 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Power Triangle" – Owners vs. Brands vs. Developers;The Deal. The ultimate negotiation session. Brands pitch why their fees are worth it (Distribution), Owners argue for control and flexibility, and Developers discuss the reality of "Key Money." We also touch on the "Soft Brand" trend as a middle ground.
15:00 – 15:20 (20 mins);Solo Keynote;The Digital Shield – Reducing Liability & OpEx;(Presented by Verkada) The Risk. Security is no longer just about cameras, it's about Asset Protection. How moving physical security to the cloud lowers insurance premiums, reduces guard staff costs (OpEx), and creates digital audit trails to fight liability claims.
15:20 – 16:00 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;Design ROI – Vertical Luxury vs. Horizontal Heritage;The Product. A debate on Density vs. Identity. Vertical: High-Rise Ultra-Luxury (Rosewood/Aman) in Seoul. Horizontal: Low-Rise Hanok Heritage hotels in the regions. Architects and Developers debate the construction cost-per-key vs. the ADR potential of these opposing designs.
16:00 – 16:30 (30 mins);Afternoon Tea Break
16:30 – 17:10 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The Mega-Investments – Integrated Resorts & The "Destination Economy";The Mega-Project. Beyond single hotels, billions of dollars are flowing into "Korean-style Integrated Resorts" (IRs) and massive mixed-use tourism clusters. With the success of Mohegan INSPIRE and the restructuring of the IR sector, is this the new engine of Korean tourism investment? This session discusses the "cluster effect," the shift from casino-centric to entertainment-centric revenue models, and the long-term ROI of building entire destinations from scratch.
17:10 – 17:50 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Franchise" Trap – Contract Risks & The New Disclosure Act;The Law. The 2025/26 Franchise Act is a minefield for new deals. We discuss the "1+1 Rule" (must operate 1 store before franchising), strict disclosure guidelines, and how to structure Management Agreements (HMA) to protect the owner.
17:50 – 18:20 (40 minutes);Fireside Chat;The Investment Verdict: Buy, Build, or Sell?;The Question: "If you had 100 Billion KRW today, where do you put it? (Luxury Seoul, Regional Resort, Senior Living, or K-REITs?
18:20 – 18:30 (10 minutes);Networking & Prize Draw;ALL DELEGATES
#HRSS – Hotel Revenue & Operations Summit Venue: Ballroom B Theme: Profit, People & The Algorithm
Time;Session Type;Title;Description
10:50 – 11:30 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Price" War – AI Forecasting vs. The Q4 2025 Shift;The Strategy. Pricing models broke last winter. While Luxury rebounded in Q4 2025, Resorts and Pensions slumped. This session covers AI-Driven Forecasting and Attribute-Based Pricing (selling by the view, not just room type). How to forecast for volatile inbound demand without crashing ADR.
11:35 – 11:55 (20 mins);Solo Keynote;The "Robotic" Workforce – ROI Beyond the Hype;(Presented by Robotics Vendor) Service robots are no longer gimmicks, they are OpEx savers. A hard look at the ROI of automating Room Service and Bussing. Reducing staff workload by 30% without killing the "Hospitality" vibe.
12:00 – 12:40 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;Beyond the Bed – TRevPAR & The "Ancillary" Goldmine;The Upsell. Rooms are just the start. The real profit growth in 2026 is in Total Revenue Management (TRevPAR). Optimizing revenue from MICE, Weddings, Spas, and F&B. How to revenue-manage a restaurant seat like an airline seat (dynamic pricing for dinner?).
12:40 – 14:00 (80 mins);Networking Lunch
14:00 – 14:40 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Zero-Touch" Hotel – AI, 5G & Energy Intelligence;The Efficiency. Operations are becoming invisible. Exploring how AI-driven Energy Systems cut HVAC costs by 25-30% (critical for new ESG laws) and how 5G Private Networks replace clunky walkie-talkies. Moving beyond "gadgets" to hard cost savings in housekeeping and utilities.
14:45 – 15:05 (20 mins);Solo Keynote;The "Super-App" – Driving Spend via Smart Rooms;Guests want to control curtains, lights, and room service from their mobile. Demonstrating how a "Smart Room" (IoT) increases in-room dining orders and Spa bookings by removing friction.
15:10 – 15:50 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Talent" Crisis – Managing the Multi-Cultural Workforce;The People. The labor shortage is permanent. Hotels are hiring foreign staff (E-7 Visas). HR Directors discuss Cross-Cultural Management, upskilling staff for "Hybrid Roles" (Check-in + Barista), and how to retain Gen-Z talent in a burnout industry.
15:50 – 16:20 (30 mins);Afternoon Tea Break
16:20 – 17:00 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Instagram" ROI – Short-Form Video & The Experience Economy;The Brand. SEO is dead. TikTok and Shorts are king. Guests are buying "Vibes" (Strawberry Buffets, Pool Parties). Marketing Directors share data on Influencer ROI and how to turn "Experience Consumption" into direct bookings.
17:05 – 17:25 (20 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Green" Wallet – Monetizing ESG;Reducing food waste by 39% using AI scanners. A pitch for solutions that solve two problems: Cost (Waste) and Brand (ESG). Marketing "Green" credentials to attract the high-spending eco-traveler.
17:30 – 18:10 (40 mins);Panel Discussion;The "Channel" War – OTA vs. Direct vs. Loyalty;The Sale. The Grand Finale. South Korea saw 616,000 medical tourists and a surge in Inbound. The debate: Trip.com vs. Agoda vs. Brand.com. How to capture the high-spending "Medical" and "Luxury" segments without giving away 20% commission.
18:10 – 18:20 (10 mins);Networking & Prize Draw
Registration for The Inaugural Hospitality South Korea Conference #HSKC2026 is now OPEN! Secure your spot as a delegate to gain valuable insights from top Thai hospitality experts. This exclusive Conference & exclusive Exhibition is tailored for pre-qualified and paying delegates, guaranteeing that you'll connect with the right industry professionals.
We are at the moment organizing the programs and seeking for seasoned speakers at the HSKC2026 from the local community to moderate or speak in panel discussions.
If you are interested in speaking opportunities, you may submit the requirements to gloria@hospitality-asia.com.