With a final count of 319 attendees, the Here to Stay 2024 Conference, held at Sofitel Brisbane Central on October 28 and 29, brought the energy, innovation, and insights that travel and hospitality professionals were eager to experience.
This year’s event wasn’t just a gathering—it was a launchpad for transformative ideas, cutting-edge strategies, and industry connections that promise to shape the short term rental sector’s future.
As the official media partner, AccomNews was thrilled to be at the forefront, capturing the spirit and insights of this standout event.
ASTRA, Here to Stay 2024 ConferenceASTRA, Here to Stay 2024 Conference
The conference offered attendees a unique blend of powerful keynotes, thought-provoking panels, and hands-on workshops led by renowned industry figures from Australia and across the globe.
ASTRA, Here to Stay 2024 Conference
Highlights included fresh perspectives on sustainable tourism, the next wave in hospitality tech, and strategic workforce development, all with the goal of navigating the evolving needs of the modern traveller.
Networking opportunities allowed attendees to exchange ideas and build lasting partnerships, making it an invaluable experience for those looking to lead in the travel and hospitality industries.
Lifetime Achiever Award winner: Pete Smith
Most Unique Property: Linnaeus Farm
A major highlight was the conference’s award ceremony, celebrating remarkable achievements and dedication within the industry:
Most Unique Property: Linnaeus Farm
Sustainability Leader: Felicity Stevens
Host of the Year: Drew and Kerrie Mitchell
Social Media Butterfly: Monique Eyles
Lifetime Achiever Award: Pete Smith
With high praise from attendees and invaluable content delivered at every turn, the Here to Stay 2024 Conference set a new standard for short term rental industry gatherings.
Mandy Clarke has over two decades of experience writing about the accommodation and tourism industries and is an accomplished editor. She is the long-time former editor of AccomNews and the current editor of Resort News, two leading publications serving Australia and New Zealand's accommodation sector.
She previously spent almost 20 years as co-director of Multimedia Pty Ltd, helping shape the company into a trusted B2B content provider for the accommodation and education sectors in Australia and New Zealand. During this time, she oversaw high-quality print and digital content for key publications including AccomNews, Resort News, School News, and the property listing platform AccomProperties.
Her contributions to the industry have been recognised with the Female Leader Award at the Best of Tourism 2023 and the ARAMA Life Member Award in 2024.