HFTP Warns of Housing Pirates Posing as Official Representatives for HITEC Orlando Hotel Reservations
HFTP has negotiated discounted hotel rates for HITEC attendees at five nearby hotels. To take advantage, HITEC attendees must make their reservations through Orchid Events.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is educating HITEC Orlando attendees about housing pirates in its efforts to prevent them from experiencing fraudulent actions. The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) will be held at the Orange County Convention Center on June 27-30, 2022 in Orlando, Florida USA. To assist with accommodations HFTP enlists the services of Orchid Events to help manage the thousands of hotel room nights necessary for the event.
A housing pirate is an unauthorized housing provider that may approach exhibitors and attendees with fraudulent offerings of hotel rooms, request credit card information for existing reservations and provides false information regarding extended show dates. Only the official HITEC Housing Bureau can guarantee room reservations. To ensure attendees have time to make hotel room reservations, the HITEC Housing Bureau deadline is May 27.
“Making a reservation through Orchid Event Solutions — the official HITEC Housing Bureau — is the only way to receive proper customer service from HITEC if you have a housing issue during booking or onsite," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. "Booking through an unofficial housing company puts you at risk for losing significant deposits, hotel reservations and discovering hidden costs."
HITEC also has a policy against pirate exhibitors (often known as outboarders or suitcasers). It is common for unaffiliated or non-exhibiting vendors to take advantage of the show's popularity by promoting their wares leading up to and near the show, or on the exhibit hall floor in an unofficial capacity.
“Pirate vendors ultimately damage the overall success of the show for all involved,” said Wolfe. “The official exhibitors and service providers spend thousands of dollars to be part of HITEC, and we feel it is our responsibility that they get the best experience possible at the show. Companies that attempt to circumvent the system should be on notice that HFTP will do everything it can to protect the integrity of HITEC.”
Attendees approached by a hotel company other than the HITEC housing bureau or non-exhibiting vendors with invitations to attend product demonstrations or similar events at HITEC are asked to notify HFTP.
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2022, HITEC North America will take place on June 27–30 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida USA. HITEC is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts, and an unparalleled trade show showcasing the latest hospitality technology products and services. Registration for HITEC Orlando is now open.
In addition, HFTP and dmg events are producing HITEC Dubai, co-located with The Hotel Show Dubai on May 24-26, 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, UAE.
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.
Eliza Selig
Staff VP, Marketing and Communications
+1 512 220 4026
HFTP
