AUSTIN, TEXAS; Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is proud to announce that president and publisher of Hospitality Upgrade, Richard Siegel, has been selected as the 2003 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductee. Siegel was selected for influencing the progress of hospitality technology by providing a publishing forum for information on the industry. Siegel will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at this year's HITEC® (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference) - the world's largest hospitality technology conference. HITEC 2003 will be held June 24-26 at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans. He will be honored at the HITEC Opening Session on Tuesday, June 24.

"By successfully creating a truly informative, entertaining and accessible series of products; educating people at all levels on the details, uses, benefits and current status of technology; and encouraging discussion on all of these, Rich has done the industry a great service," said John Inge, CHTP, ISHC, president of John Inge and Associates.

Siegel has been involved in the hotel industry since 1974 from working as a bellhop and front desk clerk, to working as a trainer, installer and support specialist for hospitality technology systems, to selling computer systems. In 1992, he created the first-ever industry publication that was 100 percent dedicated to hospitality technology. Today his publication, Hospitality Upgrade, has more than 20,000 readers in 77 countries. His goal is to educate, inform and enlighten both the technology and non-technology enthusiasts. Through his magazine, web site and Hotel-Online, Siegel connects vendors and customers, and thereby increases their productivity and efficiency.

Since the inception of the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame in 1989, 23 individuals have been recognized at HITEC for their contributions to the hospitality industry. The Technology Hall of Fame is the hospitality industry's highest level of recognition in the area of technology. Hall of Fame members have been selected by their peers as representing the best in innovation and application of technology and as leaders in their profession. To be eligible for selection to the Technology Hall of Fame, an individual must have made significant and lasting contributions to hospitality technology in any or all areas of development, application, and promotion.

Technology Hall of Fame members include such industry pioneers as: Robert S. Bennett, Pegasus Solutions; David Berkus, Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC; Richard Brooks, CHA, Meristar Hotels & Resorts, Inc.; John Cahill, CHTP, CHA, Manhattan East Suite Hotels; Larry Chervenak, CHAE, Chervenak, Keane & Company; John Davis III, Pegasus Solutions; Raymond C. Ellis, Jr., CHTP, CHE, CLSD, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel Restaurant Management, University of Houston; Scott Heintzeman, Carlson Hospitality Worldwide Corp.; Robert Horgan, Newmarket International, Inc.; Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., CHTP, The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University; Carrol Lund, ECI Computer, Inc. (retired); Richard Moore, CDP, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University; Jack Morgan, Morgan Systems, Inc.; Richard Nauman, Perot Systems Corp.; William Oates, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Eric Orkin, Opus 2 Revenue Technologies, Inc.; Raymond Schultz, Promus Hotel Corp.; Penelope Sellers, ELTRAX Systems, Inc. (retired); Jules Sieburgh, CHTP, CHA, Host Marriott Corp.; Sal Spano, CHAE, CHA, Palm Beach Polo & Country Club; James Yoakum, Creative Telecom Solutions; and George Zugmier, Hospitality Solutions International.

Nominations were solicited in March from industry press, current Hall of Fame members, industry association executives and HFTP leaders.

Based in Austin, Texas, HFTP is the professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, resorts, clubs, casinos, restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses. The association provides continuing education and networking opportunities to more than 4,000 members around the world, and produces the premiere hospitality technology shows HITEC and ONHTEC. HFTP also administers the examination and awards the certification for the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in 1952 as the National Association of Hotel Accountants.

HFTP® , HITEC® and ONHTEC® are registered service marks of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals.

Eliza Selig
Staff VP, Marketing and Communications
+1 512 220 4026
HFTP

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