Left to Right: Dr. Ravi Mehrota; Keith Gruen; Hiroo Ichii. — Source: HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is proud to announce the honorees Keith Gruen, Hiroo Ichii and Dr. Ravi Mehrota as the 2017 Hospitality Technology Award of Merit recipients. The three individuals, chosen for his/her unique contribution to hospitality technology, will be recognized at the Opening Keynote of the 45th Annual Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) in Toronto, Ontario Canada this month.

The Technology Award of Merit is given every five years at HITEC, and was presented in 2002, 2007 and 2012. HFTP created the Technology Award of Merit to recognize hospitality technology pioneers who have made a significant innovation or breakthrough that established a path for others in hospitality technology. Recipients are selected by members of HFTP's International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, a group of industry professionals who have been recognized for their influence on the industry.

Keith Gruen was recognized for his work in developing the early, widely-adopted PMS system, Fidelio. He was a co-developer for the software that was initially written to manage opera company bookings in Munich, and which developed into a full-fledged PMS that they named Fidelio, the title of Beethoven's only opera. The system broke new ground by introducing color screens, PC networks, user-friendly menus, overlapping windows, easily configurable screens and reports, and a graphical room rack and floorplan. Fidelio was acquired by Micros in 1995, and became the defacto standard system for many major hotel chains. Gruen turned his focus to the venture capital sector with success, but inevitably made his way back to hospitality where he has been involved in next generation hotel systems. He is currently CEO at ysura, a life sciences CRM, as well as a board member at Hetras and advisor for Apaleo, two hospitality technology companies.

Hiroo Ichii was recognized for his work in developing ground-breaking communication networks for the hospitality environment. Ichii started as a software engineer and then moved to global network system sales support for enterprise communications and managed projects throughout Southeast Asia including Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Sri-Lanka and India. Working with numerous major hotel brands, Ichii oversaw the installation of next-generation IP phone systems for guest rooms and operations. After 36 years with NEC Corporation, Ichii recently announced his retirement, but still remains as an advisor for NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.

Dr. Ravi Mehrotra is currently president, founder and chief scientist at IDeaS Revenue Solutions, and was recognized for his leadership in the field of predictive analytics, forecasting and dynamic price optimization. Since founding IDeaS in 1989, Mehrotra has worked tirelessly to both strengthen and expand hotel revenue management as a science, and revenue management systems as a technology, to assist hotels in achieving their preferred mix of rate, occupancy and RevPAR. He has recognized and detailed concepts and techniques that are now fundamental to hotel revenue management.

Previous HFTP Award of Merit winners include: Roger Lane, CHAE (2002); Richard Maloney (2002); Dietmar Müller-Elmau (2002); John Pignataro (2002); Robert Sanford (2002); Joyce Christmas (2007); William (Bill) Duncan (2007); Ed Hollinshead (2007); Joseph Marko (2007); Bill Sullivan, CHTP (2007); The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie (2012); Warren Markwart (2012); Kemmons Wilson (2012).

This year's larger North American event HITEC Toronto, HFTP's second HITEC of 2017, will take place from June 26-29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. HITEC Dubai, the third and final HITEC of 2017, will take place from November 14-15 at the Conrad Dubai in Dubai, UAE in partnership with Naseba. In 2018, HFTP will bring back HITEC Amsterdam on April 11-14 in addition to HITEC Houston on June 26-29.

For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other global activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec/. Stay updated with HFTP and HITEC on social media for conference updates: HFTP Connect; HITEC Bytes; HFTP Club Bytes; HFTP Finance Bytes; HFTP News; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter; Instagram; YouTube; Flickr.

About HITEC

HITEC is the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education, and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place. The unparalleled event offers attendees essential education, access to top hospitality technology industry experts and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines. Combined with the intimate opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, HITEC has everything to enhance your career.

Historically hosted annually in a different city throughout the United States, HFTP decided to break tradition in 2017 by hosting three HITEC events all taking place outside of U.S. borders– in Toronto, Amsterdam and Dubai. This will be the first time the global association's largest HITEC event – featuring thousands of hospitality professionals from around the world – will take place outside of the U.S. In 2017, HFTP is producing its larger HITEC Toronto as well as two additional, inaugural HITEC events: HITEC Amsterdam and HITEC Dubai.

For more information about HITEC and HFTP's other global activities, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or visit www.hftp.org and www.hftp.org/hitec. Download the HFTP/HITEC media kit via the HFTP website.

About HFTP

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is an international, nonprofit hospitality association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, that uniquely understands the industry's problems. HFTP has members and stakeholders across the globe. HFTP assists its members in finding solutions to industry problems more efficiently than any organization via its expert networks, research, conferences such as HITEC and certification programs. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segment of the hospitality industry. For more information about HFTP, email [email protected] or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit via the HFTP website.

Jessica Blankenship
Public Relations Manager
HFTP