HFTP Welcomes Robert Firpo-Cappiello as Director of Communications and Promotes Christina Van Allen to Managing Editor of Hospitality Upgrade

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is thrilled to announce two exciting leadership moves that will strengthen the organization's communications and publications teams. Robert Firpo-Cappiello joins HFTP as its new director of communications, and Christina Van Allen has been promoted to managing editor of Hospitality Upgrade.

These appointments reflect HFTP's commitment to delivering timely, high-quality content and deepening its impact across the global hospitality community.

Robert Firpo-Cappiello, Director of Communications

In his new role, Firpo-Cappiello will lead HFTP's communications strategy across its publications, digital platforms and industry events, including the organization's flagship HITEC®.

Firpo-Cappiello brings a distinguished record of editorial leadership, audience growth and digital innovation to HFTP. Most recently, he served as editor-in-chief for Hospitality Technology where he launched a sponsored podcast-style video series, expanded the brand's webinar platform and revamped a series of annual research studies that fueled sponsors' thought leadership and sales pipelines. This first-hand experience gives him deep and direct expertise in the industry HFTP serves.

Before that, he spent more than eight years at Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, rising from deputy editor to editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, the brand reached an all-time high of more than 1 million monthly unique visitors. Firpo-Cappiello is also recognized for his AI fluency as a practitioner—building agents and workflows, advising on optimizing content to be cited by AI, and helping teams integrate AI into editorial strategy. He has advised media brands, technology companies and foundations on editorial and publishing strategy for the AI era.

Christina Van Allen, Managing Editor, Hospitality Upgrade

HFTP is equally proud to announce the promotion of Christina Van Allen to managing editor of Hospitality Upgrade, HFTP's award-winning trade publication serving the global hospitality technology community. Van Allen's promotion recognizes her editorial contributions and her commitment to delivering compelling, industry-leading coverage to Hospitality Upgrade's readership.

Van Allen brings a rich and versatile communications background to her new role. Most recently serving as publications manager at HFTP, she has already demonstrated a strong command of the organization's editorial landscape and audience. Prior to joining HFTP, she was communications manager at Safe Routes, where she owned the full scope of communications, development and external engagement. At Safe Routes, she directed national events, drove sponsorship acquisition and grew it to a 50k+ digital audience with an impressive 861% increase in LinkedIn engagement.

Firpo-Cappiello and Van Allen join long-time industry veteran Amy Hellen, the managing editor for Hotel Online. Hellen’s editorial leadership brings over a decade of hospitality expertise and a sharp eye for the trends shaping the industry. Together, the expanded team strengthens HFTP's commitment to timely reporting, expert analysis and meaningful conversations across every corner of hospitality.

To support this talented team, HFTP has built an all-star, global editorial board consisting of some of the world's greatest technology minds. The board will advise on maintaining a modern and relevant news format and broadening the editorial content to a more global perspective.

In addition, this team will work with HFTP's AI Collective on reporting the latest AI information shaping the hospitality industry.

Media Contact

Eliza Selig

CMO [email protected] 15122204026