HFTP's First Asian Hospitality Conference Begins in Singapore
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals' (HFTP®) first Asian conference — the Asian Hospitality Finance and Technology Conference — kicked off this week in Singapore. The boutique conference, co-located with FHA 2008 (Food&HotelAsia), hosted hospitality finance and technology professionals representing nine countries who gathered for the specially designed education conference.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA | Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals' (HFTP®) first Asian conference — the Asian Hospitality Finance and Technology Conference — kicked off this week in Singapore. The boutique conference, co-located with FHA 2008 (Food&HotelAsia), hosted hospitality finance and technology professionals representing nine countries who gathered for the specially designed education conference. As part of an arrangement with FHA 2008, delegates also participated in an exciting trade show of 3,300+ exhibitors. The conference, sponsored by Easy (Ez) Revenue Management Solutions, continues through 25 April 2008 at the Singapore Expo Center.
"With limited professional education on specific hospitality finance and technology topics available in Asia, the inaugural Asian Hospitality Finance and Technology Conference has been a success," said Anna McFarland, CPA, CFE, CHAE, CHTP, HFTP global president and vice president of finance and management reporting for Sofitel Luxury Hotels North America. "Attendees are eager to discuss hot industry topics with each other and come up with solutions to the issues."
With assistance from the HFTP Asia Chapter, HFTP organized the education conference, focusing on regional issues and hot topics that are fitted to Asian hospitality professionals. The conference consists of a financial and a technology track, with sessions like "The Future of the CFO - Will he be Lean?" with Keith Stephenson, partner at Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and "Changing Paradigms of Hotels" with Mark Kendall, real estate vertical lead at Cisco Systems USA Pte Ltd.
"In addition to the seminars offered by hospitality leaders, HFTP benefited tremendously from the conference," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. "We were able to provide an abundance of information to the industry about our certification programs and membership services. As a result of our participation, HFTP received a keen interest from the Asian press community and will be featured by TravelAsia.TV during a show on hotel technology. Our relationship with the FHA 2008 management team — Singapore Exposition Services — along with the Singapore Tourism Board and the HFTP-Asia Chapter has provided us with a very strong cornerstone for future boutique conferences."
For more information about the conference, visit
Food&HotelAsia 2008 (FHA 2008) is the largest international food and hospitality trade event in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1978, the biennial FHA encompasses six specialized events all under one roof: FoodAsia, Wine&SpiritsAsia, Bakery&Pastry, HotelAsia, HospitalityStyleAsia and Hospitality Technology. Each event has its own dedicated area within the exhibition halls that cater to the needs of each specific industry sector. In 2006, FHA features over 2,330 exhibiting companies from 69 countries and 26 group pavilions. It attracted over 36,000 international trade buyers and 50 buyer delegations from 15 countries.
HFTP, Austin, Texas, USA and Maastricht, The Netherlands, founded in 1952, is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses. HFTP provides first class educational opportunities, research and publications to more than 4,800 members globally, including the premiere hospitality technology conference HITEC, founded in 1972. HFTP also awards the only hospitality specific certifications for accounting and technology — the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in the USA as the National Association of Hotel Accountants. For more information, visit