Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (FHTA) says Austrade and Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) have been confirmed as Platinum Sponsors for the HOTEC Tradeshow 2026, highlighting the event’s growing role in strengthening trade, supplier linkages and hospitality industry development across Fiji and the wider Pacific.
FHTA Chief Executive Officer, Fantasha Lockington says Austrade’s return as Platinum Sponsor was a welcome endorsement of HOTEC’s continued value to the tourism and hospitality industry.
Lockington says they are delighted to welcome Austrade and TIQ back as Platinum Sponsors for HOTEC 2026.
She says their continued support reflects the confidence they have in this event as a practical and effective platform for connecting suppliers with the operators, owners and decision-makers who shape Fiji’s tourism product.
She says HOTEC is more than exhibition booths, but a platform for direct engagement between suppliers and tourism operators.
Lockington says it is where conversations begin, where operators discover new products and services, and where suppliers gain a better understanding of what Fiji’s tourism industry actually needs on the ground.
She says that direct engagement is what makes the event so valuable.
Lockington says the 2026 event comes at an important time for the industry as operators continue to balance rising costs, changing visitor expectations, sustainability demands and the need to keep improving service delivery.
She says tourism does not operate in isolation and that every hotel, resort, restaurant, activity provider and tourism business depends on reliable suppliers and strong partnerships to keep improving the visitor experience.
She adds that FHTA looks forward to working closely with Austrade and TIQ in the lead-up to HOTEC 2026, noting the value of connecting Fiji operators with reliable and high-quality suppliers.
HOTEC 2026 will be held from Thursday, 22 to Friday, 23 October, bringing together tourism operators, hoteliers, suppliers, service providers and industry partners for Fiji’s premier hospitality trade event.
The biennial tradeshow continues to provide a targeted platform for businesses to connect directly with the tourism sector, showcase products and services, and explore new opportunities across one of the Pacific’s most dynamic visitor economies.
This is Austrade’s third consecutive time as platinum sponsor for HOTEC, illustrating continued support of the strong commercial and regional links between Australia and Fiji, particularly across food and beverage, hospitality services, equipment, technology, training and other supplier categories that contribute directly to the quality and competitiveness of the tourism industry.
Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ) will also support the partnership through its ongoing work to connect Queensland businesses with opportunities across the Pacific. Together, this reflects the broader Team Australia approach to strengthening business-to-business engagement and opening practical pathways for suppliers.
Austrade’s Trade Commissioner to the Pacific, Tim Houghton says Fiji’s tourism industry is a powerhouse and HOTEC represents strong opportunities for Australian suppliers.
He says they have some wonderful companies in Australia that can support the industry in its next phase of growth, as more rooms come online and visitors look increasingly for healthy and niche food and beverage options.
He says HOTEC is a fantastic opportunity for them to support Fiji through profiling what Australia has to offer.
Houghton says many of the businesses are small, family-run and align well with Fiji’s tourism offering.
HOTEC 2026 is expected to attract hoteliers, resort operators, food and beverage managers, procurement teams, owners, general managers and tourism decision-makers from Fiji and the region.
The event will again provide a platform for exhibitors to showcase products and services across hospitality equipment, food and beverage, technology, design, operations, sustainability solutions, professional services and other tourism-related supplier categories.
In addition to Austrade and TIQ, HOTEC has confirmed its Silver Sponsors, Pacific Tourism Organisation and New Caledonia Trade & Invest.
