More Than a Networking Night: Trilien Group's Reflections on AHA Socialite Hospitality Night 2026

On the evening of 22 May 2026, Nha Trang's coastal skyline provided the backdrop for something more meaningful than a typical industry gathering. The AHA Connection Day 2026: Socialite Hospitality Night, hosted by the Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam (AHA Vietnam), brought together professionals from hospitality, tourism, aviation, education, and events at the Socialite lounge of voco™ Scenia Bay Nha Trang by IHG.

For Trilien Group, attendance was not merely a matter of presence. It was a strategic opportunity to listen, learn, and observe our own work in action. Here is what we discovered.

The Setting: voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang by IHG

The event's venue deserves mention. voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang by IHG is one of Nha Trang's newly opened international hospitality destinations. Its modern design, prime bayfront location, and IHG-backed service standards position it as a flagship for the city's next generation of premium offerings.

Justin Malcolm, General Manager and an Australian hospitality professional working in Vietnam, shared his perspective: "As an Australian General Manager working in Vietnam, I am proud to support the growth and connection of the Australia–Vietnam hospitality community through initiatives like AHA Connection Day. I also see strong long-term potential for Nha Trang to continue growing as a dynamic commercial, tourism, and hospitality hub within Vietnam and the wider region."

For Trilien Group, voco represents exactly the kind of partner we seek: ambitious, forward-thinking, and committed to using technology to elevate guest experience. Their willingness to integrate EVEBOT — and to showcase it at a major industry event — demonstrates their confidence in our partnership.

Why This Matters for Vietnam's Hospitality Future

The AHA Connection Day in Nha Trang was a single evening. But it reflected several enduring trends.

Vietnamese talent is globally trained and locally committed. The Australian-educated professionals in the room are not passing through. They are building careers and businesses in Vietnam.

Secondary destinations are rising. Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Nang — these cities are no longer just leisure spots. They are becoming hubs for professional engagement, investment, and innovation.

Technology is becoming the invisible standard. EVEBOT's successful deployment at voco demonstrates that guests now expect personalization. The hotels and lounges that deliver it will win. Those that do not will be left behind.

The silent architect model works. Trilien Group does not seek the spotlight. We seek results. Seeing EVEBOT in action — and hearing the positive feedback from F&B Director, General Manager, and investors — validates our approach.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

Trilien Group extends its sincere thanks to AHA Vietnam, Camellia Dinh, Justin Malcolm, and the entire team at voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang by IHG for hosting such a well-organized and welcoming event. We also acknowledge the supporting partners — including Bittersweet Chocolatier, Koraï The Ocean Beer, Red Apron Fine Wines & Spirits, and Hotelier Vietnam — who contributed to the evening's success.

We look forward to continuing our engagement with the AHA Vietnam community, deepening our partnership with voco, and supporting the professionals who are shaping the future of hospitality across Vietnam.

As Camellia Dinh said, AHA Connection Day is ultimately about connection. At Trilien Group, we could not agree more. And we are proud to be the silent architects of the intricate touchpoints that make those connections unforgettable.

Trilien Group

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We serve luxury brands, F&B innovators, and investment partners who believe true value emerges not from silos - but from the intelligent links between them.

Observation One: Learning from Bittersweet Chocolatier Phu Quoc

Among the evening's supporting partners was Bittersweet Chocolatier — an artisanal chocolate brand originating from Phu Quoc. Through conversations with the Bittersweet team, our CEO, Benoît Daniel-Pham, gained valuable insight into how a premium local brand is navigating Vietnam's evolving F&B landscape.

Bittersweet represents a compelling archetype: a homegrown, quality-focused enterprise that has identified a niche — artisanal chocolate made with Vietnamese ingredients — and is executing it with precision. Their presence at an AHA networking event signals their ambition to connect with the broader hospitality ecosystem, from hotels to airlines to premium lounges.

For Trilien Group, this matters. The distinction between "local" and "international" brands is blurring. Vietnamese enterprises like Bittersweet are producing world-class products. And global brands entering Vietnam need partners who understand this terrain — who can identify, vet, and integrate local excellence into international-standard guest experiences. This is precisely the kind of intelligence we gather at events like this.

Observation Two: Nha Trang's Hospitality Landscape Through the Lens of Camellia Dinh and The Brand Promise

Few people understand Vietnam's hospitality talent landscape better than Camellia Dinh, Founder of AHA Vietnam and Founder & CEO of The Brand Promise. Through conversations with her, our team gained a deeper appreciation for Nha Trang's evolving role — not just as a leisure destination, but as a hub for professional engagement, investment, and hospitality innovation.

Camellia's vision for AHA Connection Day is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: connection. As she shared, "Through each destination we visit, we hope hospitality professionals who once studied, worked, or lived in Australia can come together again, reconnect through shared experiences, exchange their stories, and open new opportunities."

Nha Trang was chosen deliberately. The city is entering a new phase of development, shaped by renewed investment, stronger connectivity, and evolving traveler expectations. Properties like voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang by IHG are leading this charge. And professionals trained in Australia — who bring international standards and cultural fluency — are at the forefront.

For Trilien Group, understanding this landscape through Camellia's lens helps us better serve our hospitality partners. Nha Trang is not a secondary market. It is a strategic destination. And the professionals who operate there deserve the same level of support, technology, and partnership as those in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Phu Quoc or Hanoi.

Observation Three: EVEBOT in Action — The Silent Architect at Work

The most gratifying observation of the evening came from seeing our own flagship, EVEBOT, deployed in real-world operation at voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang.

As of recent weeks, voco has integrated EVEBOT into its F&B operations — using the technology to print branded designs, guest names, and personalized artwork onto coffee foam and cocktail presentations and so much more. At the AHA event, attendees witnessed this firsthand. And the feedback has been nothing short of fantastic.

From Nam Chung, Director of Food & Beverage: The technology is intuitive, fast, and reliable. It adds a "wow" factor without disrupting service flow. Baristas and bartenders have embraced it as a tool that elevates their craft rather than complicating it.

From Justin Malcolm, General Manager: EVEBOT has become a crucial element in elevating the guest experience. It differentiates voco from competitors, generates organic social media content, and gives guests a reason to return — and to bring friends.

From voco's investors: The deployment has been observed as a model for how technology can be integrated into hospitality operations seamlessly, cost-effectively, and with measurable impact on guest satisfaction and brand perception.

This is what Trilien Group means by being the silent architect. The guest sees the beautiful design on their coffee. They do not see the months of planning, the cross-border logistics, the training sessions, or the integration work that made that moment possible. They simply feel delighted.

And that delight is not accidental. It is engineered.