HFTP 2011 Annual Convention & Tradeshow to Update Attendees on Latest Changes in the Hospitality Industry

With the hospitality world rapidly changing, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals' (HFTP®) 2011 Annual Convention & Tradeshow focuses on how hospitality professionals can excel in this new world. The convention is October 19–22 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Ga. The early registration deadline for the convention is Wednesday, September 14.

"What's great about the convention is that it surrounds attendees with the latest hospitality trends, vendors that can provide cost-effective solutions and colleagues that can brainstorm issues in the workplace," said Lori Richardson, CHAE, senior manager at Moss Adams, LLP and co-chair of the HFTP Education Advisory Council. "But that's not all. With the idea of change, the HFTP Education Advisory Council has worked hard to create an education program that shows attendees new ways to think and easy steps to take to move forward professionally and personally."

A highlight of the Annual Convention program is its inspiring and entertaining general session speakers. The following speakers are scheduled for the 2011 education program:

Thursday, October 20 - Judson Laipply, professional speaker and famous for his "The Evolution of Dance," opens the education program Thursday with his presentation, "Life is Change." This session combines laughter-induced stories with thought-provoking ideas to teach you how to let go of the things out of your control and focus energy on things you can change. Laipply ends his session with his famous "The Evolution of Dance," which is a popular video on YouTube with over 180 million views.

Friday, October 21 - Garrison Wynn, speaker, adviser, author, and entertainer, begins Friday discussing "Making the Most of Difficult Situation: Changing Markets, Changing Times." This funny, insightful presentation examines the challenges we face and teaches how to laugh at problems, while using them as catalysts for success.

Saturday, October 22 -Rounding out the convention, Mike Rayburn, CSP, guitarist and keynote artist, presents "What if...?" He will teach three simple, powerful tools you can use immediately and forever to access your gold mine of unrealized potential. Rayburn has performed eight times at Carnegie Hall and has his own show on the strip in Las Vegas, Nev.

Along with three general sessions, the Annual Convention's education program offers industry-specific, concurrent session tracks - club, hotel, general, technology and PCI compliance. The concurrent education sessions cover topics important to the industry like fraud trends, PCI compliance myth and rumors, risk management issues, club finance, the new healthcare reform and more.