From the hottest hospitality technology products to finding solutions to technology issues, the 2010 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) focuses on the latest in hospitality technology. The conference is June 21-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Attendees that register by May 14 can save $100 on the full conference registration fee.

HITEC, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers attendees a one-stop shop for essential education, access to experts and hospitality technology vendors, networking with top leaders in the industry and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines.

"Attending HITEC is the most efficient way hospitality professionals to get a quick 'download' of everything that is hot, new or emerging," said Cindy Estis Green, managing partner for The Estis Group, co-chair of the HITEC Advisory Council and 2009 inductee into the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame. "If you don't have time to read all the magazines, absorb all the online newsletters or attend many conferences, in a four-day window, anyone can get completely current on where the industry is now and where it is heading."

Education

HITEC 2010 includes an updated education program with new Super Sessions designed to cover broad themes of interest in hospitality technology. These themes are at the core of the HITEC education and include identity theft, SaaS, system integration, guest-centric service models and more. The schedule also includes a full day of education on Monday, featuring special Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA certification classes. The three general sessions include fraud prevention with the notorious "Catch Me If You Can" fraudster Frank Abagnale, Jr., social media trends with noted trendwatcher Michael Tchong and customer service with former Disney Executive Dennis Snow.

Trade Show

The HITEC exhibit hall offers hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest in hospitality technology. Attendees can receive support and advice from experts and vendors as they walk the show floor. HITEC's online Buyer's Guide allows attendees to plan their time on the show floor by viewing an up-to-the-minute floor plan and searching for exhibitors by product, location and special group. The exhibit hall features the latest version of GUESTROOM 20X, a model hotel room showcasing future technologies; and the Club Technology Pavilion, a special section of the exhibit hall dedicated to the latest in club-related technology.

An added bonus on the exhibit hall floor are the free education sessions in the exhibitor tutorial rooms. During each half-hour session, attendees learn basic information to make them more informed buyers. The sessions are offered by exhibitors and are presented in a non-sales environment.

Networking

Attendees can expand their network during HITEC 2010 by sharing ideas, making connections, job searching and more with fellow colleagues. Among the various opportunities to connect with peers at HITEC is the Welcome Reception at the Rosen Centre, immediately following the Opening Session Monday evening.

Industry events and organization meetings to be held in conjunction with HITEC include HFTP's Club and Hotel Controllers Conference, HSMAI's Revenue Management & Internet Marketing Strategy Conference, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, AH&LA, iHITA, the University of Delaware - IT Advisory Board and more.

Attendee registration and the Housing Bureau are now available online at www.hitec.org. Visit the web site for complete information about all conference and exhibition events, including the conference schedule, Buyer's Guide and the most current HITEC news. For more information, visit www.hitec.org or contact the HFTP Meetings & Special EventsDepartment at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues, and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC. In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com® and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.

Katy Walterscheidt
Communications Specialist
+1 (512) 249-5333 (Ext 27)
HFTP