HFTP Announces Pre-Conference Programs for Inaugural 2017 HITEC Amsterdam

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producer of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), will kick-off its inaugural HITEC Amsterdam with a pre-conference events program the day prior to the full conference. On 28 March 2017 are the CIO and CFO events, invitation-only round-tables that bring together high-level hospitality CIOs and CFOs from across Europe, for a face-to-face discussion on crucial issues their companies are encountering. Adding to the pre-conference program, HFTP is hosting its successful hospitality technology start-up pitch competition, Entrepreneur 20X (E20X). HITEC Amsterdam is the first of three HITEC events planned for 2017, and will be 28–30 March at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.

"We are looking to develop HITEC Amsterdam into a must-attend event by drawing professionals from all facets of the European hospitality industry – from the key decision-makers to the creative start-ups trying to break through," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. "These additional events build on the core education and expo program, and overall creates an environment for innovative discussion."

The CIO and CFO Events are designed to draw c-level executives to discuss the most important issues they are facing in their respective companies and the hospitality industry at large. Participants are invited to an interactive, half-day program, followed by lunch and additional networking events planned for that day.

In the afternoon is Entrepreneur 20X a pitch competition specifically for start-ups developing hospitality technology products or services. The participants present five-minute pitches to a panel of expert judges including hospitality CIOs and industry insiders. The winning competitor deemed "most innovative" receives a cash prize, and all participants get an opportunity to exhibit in the HITEC Amsterdam exposition. HFTP hosted the first E20X at HITEC 2015 in Austin, Texas USA. The program was well-received, and was run again at HITEC 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana USA; and Amsterdam will be the competition's third run.

"We loved the HITEC E20X competition," said David Temple of Hello Scout, winner of the Judges' Choice Award at HITEC 2016 in New Orleans. "It provided us with great exposure and let us get our story in front of lots of people that we wouldn't have otherwise been able to reach. That the judges chose us as the winner was the icing on the cake."

Following the pre-conference program is the full-on HITEC Amsterdam event, with two full days of education, an expo and networking party. The HITEC Amsterdam Advisory Council has developed a hot-topic program with the latest in hospitality technology, as well as secured two globally known, innovative thinkers for the keynotes. Opening the event is Aleks Krotoski, an award-winning international broadcaster, author and academic who is behind the BBC Radio 4 show The Digital Human and BBC World's The Virtual Revolution. Closing the program is Woody Wade, future scenario planning expert and author.

Co-located with HITEC Amsterdam are two additional events brought by HFTP industry allies. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Region Europe will locate its Revenue Optimization Conference (ROC) with HITEC Amsterdam. Also co-locating is the Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) Insight Summit Europe.

In addition to HITEC Amsterdam, in 2017 HFTP is producing the larger HITEC Toronto on 26–29 June and HITEC Dubai in Fall in partnership with Naseba. For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other global activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec.

Stay tuned to HFTP's main webpages: HFTP/HITEC; the world's first hospitality-specific search engine: PineappleSearch® – mobile app available via iTunes App Store and Google Play; HFTP's official blog: HFTP Connect; HFTP's industry-specific, informational news sites: HITEC Bytes(technology), HFTP Club Bytes (club), HFTP Finance Bytes(finance) and HFTP News (association); and HFTP's social media sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter(@HFTP), Instagram (HFTP_HITEC), YouTube and Flickr for the latest updates.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is a global nonprofit hospitality association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, that uniquely understands the industry's problems. HFTP has about 5,200 members and several thousand stakeholders across the globe. HFTP assists its members in finding solutions to industry problems more efficiently than any organization via its expert networks, research, conferences such as HITEC and certification programs. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segment of the hospitality industry. For more information about HFTP, e-mail [email protected].

Jessica Blankenship
Public Relations Manager
HFTP