Austin, Texas USA | Over 50 hospitality professionals gathered at Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals' (HFTP®) Second Annual Asian Hospitality Finance and Technology Conference this week. During the conference, hospitality professionals discussed a range of pertinent financial and technology topics as they searched for solutions to industry challenges. The 2009 Asian conference was held May 11–12 at UNLV–Singapore in Singapore.

HFTP Global produced the conference, with assistance from the HFTP Asia Chapter and the HFTP Asia Student Chapter (UNLV Singapore). Topics included: Traditional vs. IP Telephone Systems, Innovative Strategic Cost Reduction, Monetizing the Hotel Room with New Technologies, The Evolution of the Property Management System, moderated discussion on challenges in hospitality finance and technology and more.

"We are extremely pleased with the participation at this year's conference. The diverse background of the participants provided a valuable experience, sharing industry expertise in technology trends, development and cost management," said James Lee, charter president of the HFTP Asia Chapter and director of finance for The Regent Hotel.

HFTP established a presence in Asia in November 2006 when it chartered The HFTP Asia Chapter and a year later the HFTP Student Asia Chapter based at UNLV Singapore. Since then, the association has used its reputable resources to build a hospitality finance and technology network in the region. To complement its online educational offerings, in 2008 the HFTP Global Board of Directors decided that face-to-face networking is an invaluable membership benefit and produced the Asian educational conference.

"The Asia conference was a great opportunity for hospitality professionals to gather together and share the latest industry trends with each other and our undergraduate students," said Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, dean of UNLV Singapore. "We look forward to continuing to develop ties between UNLV Singapore’s HFTP student chapter and the HFTP Asia Chapter. This dedication to the mentoring of future HFTP professionals will lead to the success, not only of our students, but also of HFTP Asia."

For more information about the conference, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], +1 (512) 249-5333 or (800) 646-4387.

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 .