Second Hospitality Summit held at Parliament

Hospitality industry leaders and Government representatives gathered at Parliament this week for the 2026 Hospitality Summit to work on solutions aimed at strengthening the future of the sector.

More than 70 industry stakeholders and government officials attended the Summit, hosted by Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Hon Louise Upston, in conjunction with Hospitality New Zealand and the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

The Summit was the second of its kind and followed the inaugural event in December 2024, at which priority areas for the hospitality industry were discussed and a comprehensive list of recommendations were developed. These included data, immigration, licensing and compliance, alcohol policy, employment, skills and training and the interaction between hospitality and tourism.

This year’s focus was to refresh and refine those recommendations and add any new priority areas for improvement. Some of those identified included licensing and compliance, hospitality data, and employment issues.

Speaking at the Summit, Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Hon. Louise Upston, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of those in the industry and thanked them for their collaboration.

Hospitality NZ Chief Executive, Kristy Phillips says the Hospitality Summit provides a significant opportunity for the hospitality industry. “The Summit provides a platform for open dialogue between government officials and industry stakeholders to address challenges our sector is facing and discuss ways in which change can be made so hospitality can thrive, not just now, but in generations to come.

“It’s been great to problem-solve together and create actionable steps that will strengthen the future of the sector.”

A recommendations report will be released in coming months, reflecting the discussions at Summit and providing some clear next steps for supporting the industry.