The past months have been a season of significant engagement for AppleOne Group across the Asia Pacific region, with our top executives sharing their insights and expertise at several of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious conferences.
From discussions on women in leadership and the evolution of luxury hospitality to investment fundamentals and market diversification, our executives were at the forefront, sharing strategic perspectives that resonated with industry leaders and stakeholders.
Read the full recap below.
IHIF Asia – Regent, Hong Kong (September 17, 2025)
Samantha Manigsaca, AppleOne Group VP for Hospitality, contributed her expertise at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) Asia in Hong Kong. Joining three other accomplished women leaders, Samantha served as a panelist for the compelling discussion, “Women in Hospitality: Breaking Barriers, Leading the Change.”
Their diverse perspectives and experiences highlighted the practical ways women are achieving success in the male-dominated hospitality industry, inspiring the next generation of women leaders.
When asked about her definition of success, Manigsaca responded, “Success to me means that the people around me can thrive and succeed on their own. As a woman, I’ve seen how challenging it is to navigate circumstances that hinder you from succeeding, which is why I value supporting others in their own journey.”
IHIF Asia is the premier hospitality investment conference for the Asia-Pacific region, gathering over 500 delegates and investors from 33 countries where inbound, outbound, and intraregional capital connect.
8th Hospitality Philippines Conference – Marriott Manila (September 17, 2025)
Leif Bajarias, AppleOne Group Chief Financial Officer, contributed his expertise during the discussion on “Diversifying Investment: How to Approach Mixed-Use Developments in the Philippine Hotel Market” at the 8th Hospitality Philippines Conference (HPC) in Manila.
The session highlights the growing trend and significant potential for investors in mixed-use developments within the Philippines. The discussion covered both the challenges and the abundant opportunities of investing in these properties, detailing how investors can drive higher returns by capitalizing on multiple revenue streams.
Leif emphasized how the AppleOne Group creates purposeful developments and services that harness diverse revenue streams and valuable synergies, thus creating resilient, capital-efficient projects that generate sustainable, long-term value for partners.
The Hospitality Philippines Conference brings together over 500 pre-qualified delegates and more than 100 esteemed speakers from across the Philippine hospitality and tourism industry.
ITB Asia – Marina Bay Sands, Singapore (October 15, 2025)
Following her successful engagement in Hong Kong, Samantha presented at the Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB) Asia in Singapore.
Samantha’s talk focused on “The Evolution of Luxury Hospitality: Trends, Transformation, and Emerging Markets.” She illustrated the fundamental shift in luxury hospitality, moving from opulence and exclusivity toward personalization, authenticity, sustainability, and cultural immersion. She further detailed the global trends actively shaping the luxury sector today.
Emphasizing the company’s active role in this evolution, Samantha shared, “For us at AppleOne, the vision has always been to create environments that honor both place and people, where global standards meet local soul, and where every development feels anchored in heritage and responsibility.”
ITB Asia is Asia’s leading B2B travel trade show and convention, gathering over 18,000 participants and thousands of exhibiting companies globally for the MICE, Corporate, Leisure, and Travel Technology sectors.
HICAP 2025 – Fairmont Singapore & Swissotel the Stamford (October 22-24, 2025)
In the recently concluded Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP), both Samantha Manigsaca and Leif Bajarias were influential contributors, sharing their expertise in their respective fields.
Samantha participated in the foundational panel, “Hotel Investments 101 – From Acronyms to Zoning,” together with four other distinguished leaders. The session outlined the key principles, structures, and strategies behind successful hotel investments, covering everything from financing and branding to development planning.
Leif engaged in the high-level discussion, “Views from the Boardroom – Round Two.” He and four other panel members discussed a comprehensive range of topics critical to executive leadership, including capital growth and strategic expansion, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), purpose & stakeholder value, and governance and leadership alignment.
Marking its 35th year, HICAP is the annual gathering place for the Asia-Pacific’s hotel investment community, attracting the most influential owners, developers, lenders, executives, and professional advisors from around the globe.
The extensive presence of AppleOne Group’s leadership at these notable gatherings of industry leaders highlights the diversity and depth of expertise that we offer to our partners and the wider industry.
We look forward to continuing this vital discourse, driving innovation, and reinforcing our commitment to building sustainable, purpose-driven value across the dynamic Asia Pacific landscape.
