NoVacancy 2026: Friendly faces, insightful conversations
Almost 8,000 people attended NoVacancy 2026 in Sydney, and 74 percent of the exhibition floor is already committed for 2027
If you wanted to find the accommodation industry on September 23 and 24, ICC Sydney was a good place to start. NoVacancy Hotel + Accommodation Industry Expo. brought suppliers, operators and industry professionals together for two busy days, and there was plenty happening wherever you turned.
Joining us at the AccomNews stand was Mandy Clarke and the Resort News team, flying the flag for management rights and ARAMA.
The latest print edition of AccomNews is out now. Read it HERE
This was my first time at NoVacancy, and the event did not disappoint. From discussions with industry leaders, to learning more about our partners plans for 2027 and beyond, to hearing from operators and professionals working in hotels, motels, and caravan parks around the country, there was so much to learn. Of course, fun was on the agenda as well, with vendors like Resly, RoomPriceGenie and Switch Solutions and Good to Book creating a terrific buzz in their part of the exhibition hall.
Resly Co-Founder Sam Steel spent two days exhibiting, reconnecting with customers, meeting prospective clients and hearing about the challenges facing accommodation operators. While he felt the expo floor was quieter this year, the spontaneous conversations and unexpected discoveries reinforced the value of attending in person. “Often, these spontaneous conversations turn out to be the most valuable,” Sam said.
AI was a prominent theme, although Sam believes hospitality is only beginning to explore its potential beyond chatbots, with greater opportunities in technology that completes tasks and resolves problems. For him, however, the lasting takeaway was about people: even as more business moves online, face-to-face experiences remain essential to building relationships, trust and fresh ideas. His message after another NoVacancy was simple: “Keep showing up.”
The start up area of the exhibition floor provided a hub for new businesses and start ups. We enjoyed catching up with Sam from WanderVend, a first time exhibitor at NoVacancy, who said the event was providing some valuable conversations and connections.
Human connections are important in the accommodation and hospitality sectors, and NoVacancy is the perfect forum for building relationships. It was fantastic to meet so many people in person who I’ve previously only corresponded with via email, or chatted to over the phone.
For Sarah Derry, exhibiting with WomenTHAT at NoVacancy was something of a full-circle moment. She said the idea began with a conversation at the expo two years ago. Since then, it has grown into an industry movement creating greater opportunities for women across hospitality, accommodation, tourism, travel and events.
WomenTHAT brings together women, senior leaders, allies and industry partners to build connections, amplify diverse voices and turn conversations into action. “At the heart of my role is being a connector, advocate and catalyst, opening doors for others,” Sarah said. From that first NoVacancy conversation, the idea has certainly come a long way.
Attendee Bart Sobies, founder of STRIVE, iBooked.Online and The Accommodation Show, enjoyed getting among it at NoVacancy, catching up with familiar faces, making new connections and checking out the latest tech. There was plenty to talk about, with operators and suppliers sharing ideas about what’s next for accommodation.
NoVacancy returns to ICC Sydney on 15 and 16 September 2027, bringing the accommodation industry together for another two days of ideas, connections and discovery. Next year will also see the launch of Hospitality Design Live, a new exhibition alongside NoVacancy focused on hotel and hospitality interiors, fit-outs and design. Time to put it in the diary.