Nikki is the CEO of BeyondCurious, an award-winning digital transformation consultancy that partners with large companies to unlock innovation and growth

She has been recognized as a top female entrepreneur and has been featured in national media including Fortune and Forbes.

Her company, BeyondCurious has recently completed a personalized guest experience for Caesars Entertainment across 50 US-based properties to include web, mobile, kiosk and digital signage for several lines of business:

• Hotel & Casino
• Retail Mall & Stores
• Food & Beverage
• Spa, Golf, Entertainment

Nikki is a fierce advocate for diversity as the fuel for innovation. She was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE in 2014, named as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman in 2015, recognized as LA Woman of Influence by The Business Journals in 2016 and Women of Entrepreneurship by LA Lakers and Comerica Bank in 2017.

Floor Bleeker holds a Bachelor degree in Hotel Administration from Hotelschool The Hague, Netherlands and an MBA from the University of Colorado, USA. 

Prior to joining Accor, Floor was the CIO of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. In this role he was responsible for IT strategy, program development and implementation across the Group. 

When Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts joined the Accor Group in November 2018, Floor was appointed CIO for the Middle East & Africa and strategic IT programs across the Group. 

Michael Blake is HTNG's Executive Vice President & CEO. He was previously the CIO of Commune Hotels & Resorts, encompassing Joie de Vivre, Thompson, Tommie and Alila Hotels. Michael provided strategic leadership and sound perspective to contribute to the management and evolution of Commune's global IT functions. He previously served as the CIO for Hyatt and set the global technology direction for their global footprint. Michael has over 20 years of experience in finance and technology in various roles. Prior to his CIO roles with Commune and Hyatt, Michael was Senior Vice President of IT for First Data, CFO of IT Finance at Kaiser Permanente and Director of IT Finance for Sears. In each of his roles, he was the highest ranking IT Finance resource and key internal consultant and advisor to international senior leadership teams. Prior to that, Michael held various financial roles within United Airlines including the controller of the IT organization. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Utah, received his MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and also his MS in Information Technology from Northwestern University. He also maintains several credentials and licenses: CPA, CMA, CISA and CITP. Michael served as a member of HTNG Board since 2009 and was Treasurer of the board for many of those years.

Wayne Taranto bears 24 years’ experience as a respected leader within the vibrant Australian hospitality industry, seasoned across a versatile portfolio of venues, restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment precincts. His undying passion for exemplary presentation, service and consistency will be pivotal to the success of Skye Hotel Suites.

Prior to his appointment to Crown Group, Wayne led the relaunch team as General Manager of Sofitel Sydney Wentworth through its $30M refurbishment to the iconic heritage listed building. Through strong leadership, exhaustive industry knowledge, innovative concepts and emotional intelligence Wayne was able to fulfil the demands as set out by the evolving industry.

Wayne is responsible for establishing Crown Group’s innovative hotel division, SKYE Hotel & Suites. From inception through to execution and beyond Wayne will build a contrasting team of Sydney’s premier service providers as they redefine the boundaries of the 5 star luxury hotel experience.

From playing an integral role in the establishment and strategic roll out of the brand, to overseeing the aesthetic evolution and execution along with leading the conceptual development of ancillary functions including culinary and beverage. Wayne’s ability to foster a thriving team environment with a focus on pride, consistency and attention to detail will cement the growth and success of the brand globally.

Currently the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Ovolo Hotels Australia, Dave brings with him over 15 years’ experience within the hospitality industry. An exemplary hospitality executive who creates strategic alliances with organisation leaders. With a proven experience in operations, strategic finance, corporate treasury, project management, distribution, IT, audit, financial analysis, sales and marketing within hospitality industry. Dave joined Ovolo Group’s Australian team with a goal of driving the Hong Kong-based brand’s further expansion into the Australian market.

Dave has been instrumental in leading design and development initiatives for all new Australian based Ovolo Hotels including spearheading recent design projects for Ovolo Inchcolm Brisbane, Ovolo Nishi and the new Emporium hotel to be re-branded shortly.

Dave is an effective communicator, and a member of CPA Australia. With a Masters in Professional Accounting and Masters in International Tourism and Hospitality from Griffith University in Gold Coast in addition to Bachelor in Hotel Management, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to lead the Ovolo Australia Team.

Nigel Oakey is the Managing Director of the Dome Café Group. Born and educated in south-east Asia, Nigel Oakey graduated from University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts. He has been employed at Dôme since May 2001 when he took the role of Chief Executive and undertook a turn-around of the business for its then founders and financial investors. Nigel became a significant shareholder of Dome when he led a management buy-out of the Dôme business with Navis Capital Partners in December 2003. At this time he assumed the position of Managing Director. Nigel is responsible for all aspects of strategic growth for the Group including its development of large community café footprints, expansion into regional areas and the forging of new business streams in the accommodation and hospitality space

Matthew is a graduate of the Blue Mountains International Hotel School, and Alumni of the Year in 2013.

He served as the VP Operations at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales for five years, and returned to Australia as General Manager of Shoal Bay Resort and Spa.

Matthew is well versed in hospitality technology, having served as the IT Manager of Rydges Hotels and Resorts and most recently as the Director, Information Systems at Carnival Australia.

Combining passions as a hotelier and technologist, Matthew now leads eHotelier, the Global Portal for Hospitality Professionals providing online education, insights and collaboration to over 200,000 industry leaders around the world.

Show Director

Ted Horner is Managing Director of E. Horner & Associates, a technology consulting practice specializing in the hospitality industry. Ted is widely regarded as Australia's leading consultant in this area.

Over the last 22 years he has consulted for a variety of clients from developers and international operators of large resorts, boutique hotels golf clubs, convention center‘s and licensed premises.

Ted has been involved in staging a number of conferences and exhibitions for the industry from as early as 1996.

In 2002 he was a founding member of HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation) a non-profit body which was established in the US to promote open systems integrations between vendors in the industry and today he is an Executive Advisor to HTNG. In 2004 he was the first non-US person to be elected to the HITEC Technology Hall of Fame for his contribution to the advancement of technology in the hospitality industry

Ted’s mission at the Summit is to raise the level of awareness of technology within the hospitality industry to ensure that it is seen and used properly as an important management tool.