On March 20, 2025, the international conference themed "Hospitality Trends 2025 & A.I Application Is The Key To Success" took place successfully at the International Convention Center (I.C.E) Hanoi. The event was co-organized by the Vietnam Executive Housekeepers Association (VEHA) and Informa Markets Vietnam, as part of the Food & Hospitality Hanoi 2025 exhibition.
The conference welcomed notable attendees including Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Bình – Deputy Manager of Hospitality Industry Management Division, Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Minh – Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, Ms. Đỗ Hồng Xoan – Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Hotel Association, Mr. Hariyadi – Chairman of the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHRA), Mr. Vũ Quốc Trí – Secretary General of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Mr. Maulana Yusran – Secretary General of the Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association, Mr. Nguyễn Quang – Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Hotel Association and Chairman of VEHA, Ms. Trần Mộng Tuyền – Project Head of Informa in Vietnam, Ms. Lê Thu Hà – Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Hotel Association, Ms. Dương Thị Thanh – Chairwoman of the Ninh Bình Tourism Association, Ms. Nguyễn Kiều Oanh – Vice Chairwoman and Secretary General of the Hanoi Tourism Association, Ms. Vũ Thị Hạnh – Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association and Chairwoman of the Quảng Ninh Hotel Association, Mr. Nguyễn Việt Lộc – Editor-in-Chief of Traveller Magazine, along with over 200 delegates including investors, hotel managers, and experts from Vietnam and the ASEAN region.
The Conference
Mr. Nguyễn Quang – Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Hotel delivers the opening remarks
Vietnam’s Hotel Industry 2025: Opportunities and Challenges
The conference opened with a presentation by Ms. Velancia, Senior Regional Manager at STR Southeast Asia, on the hotel business landscape in Vietnam, ASEAN, and globally in 2024. The report highlighted a strong recovery in the hotel industry, with international arrivals to Vietnam in 2024 increasing by 39% over 2023 and reaching 98% of the 2019 peak. However, due to the increase in accommodation supply, occupancy rates and average room rates in several areas remain lower than those in 2019.
Looking ahead, Vietnam’s hospitality sector will continue to face several challenges including shifts in traveler behavior, the rise of sustainable tourism, and increasing competition. Forecasts indicate that 2025 will see the emergence of high-tech hotel models focusing on personalized guest experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainable solutions to boost business performance.
Ms. Velancia - STR's Senior Manager of Southeast Asia shared
Future of ASEAN Hospitality: Collaborating for Sustainable Growth
The panel discussion “The Future of ASEAN Hospitality: Opportunities for Regional Cooperation and Development” featured insights from Mr. Hariyadi (AHRA), Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Bình (VNAT), Ms. Đỗ Hồng Xoan (Vietnam Tourism Association), and Mr. Nguyễn Quang (Vietnam Hotel Association). Experts shared that despite the overall recovery, the number of ASEAN tourists visiting Vietnam in 2024 remained modest. For instance, Indonesian arrivals to Vietnam were only around 200,000 — 7% of those traveling to Singapore. Malaysian tourists to Vietnam totaled approximately 500,000 — 10% compared to Thailand. Singaporean tourists to Vietnam accounted for only 4% compared to their trips to Malaysia.
Vietnam’s commitment to green and sustainable tourism, coupled with initiatives to improve service quality and cater to Muslim travelers, presents major opportunities. By joining AHRA and enhancing regional cooperation, Vietnam’s hospitality and tourism sectors can expect to grow significantly alongside ASEAN peers in the coming years.
From left to right: Mr. Nguyen Quang, Ms. Do Hong Xoan, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Binh and Mr. Hariyadi
AI – A Powerful Ally for Hotels in the Digital Age
A highlight of the conference was the session on “AI Applications – The Key to Successful Hotel Operations in 2025.” Mr. Wilson Liêu, Chairman of the Vietnam AI Competency Development Alliance (AICA), gave an insightful talk on the rapid development of AI and its potential in the hospitality industry. AI enables optimization across various hotel operations – from booking management and personalized guest services to demand forecasting and labor productivity. Moreover, AI can enhance marketing efforts and drive revenue growth.
Mr. Wilson Lieu - President of Vietnam AI Capacity Development Alliance shared
Introducing Innovative Technologies to Support Hospitality
As the hospitality industry evolves to meet increasing customer expectations, various innovative solutions and technologies were showcased at the conference, offering hoteliers tools to reduce costs, increase revenue, and enhance guest satisfaction while maintaining competitive advantages.
Ms. Quỳnh Anh – Deputy Director of EcoLife introduced aroma solutions to elevate guest experience
Mr. Trần Xuân Giang – Sales Director of Hoàn Mỹ Hotel Equipment Company presented a multi-functional cleaning robot aimed at improving labor productivity
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thành – Director of TMC Vietnam introduced an eco-friendly laundry solution to support green and sustainable hotel development
Mr. Đinh Thái Hà – CEO of ViHat Group showcased tech-based customer service and event management solutions
Mr. Lương Thanh Nam – CEO of Vietsolutions Group presented technology platforms for optimizing hotel business operations.
Closing Remarks
In her closing speech, Ms. Trần Mộng Tuyền, Project Head of Informa Vietnam, emphasized that the success of the conference went beyond delivering insights into hotel business trends. It also introduced advanced products and sustainable technologies, while creating valuable networking opportunities for businesses, investors, and industry experts to exchange experiences and explore long-term collaboration for future development
Ms. Trần Mộng Tuyền, Project Head of Informa Vietnam deliver closing speech
