HFTP Celebrates Record Breaking Conference Attendance at HITEC 2016
Over six thousand hospitality technology professionals representing 65 countries gathered for HITEC 2016 in New Orleans
Hospitality technology professionals from around the globe came together this month to explore the industry's best practices and latest innovations at the world's largest Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITECsm), hosted each year by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®). HITEC 2016 was held from June 20-23 in New Orleans, La. USA at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
HITEC 2016 was one of the highest attended conferences with 6,395 hospitality professionals representing 65 countries. The conference, which had over 106 speakers for its daily educational sessions, addressed important issues including robotics, disaster recovery, new operating/IT talent models, digital customer journey and more. The exhibit floor was home to 342 exhibitors and 867 exhibit booths showcasing the latest in hospitality technology products and services.
"The prominence of technology will only continue to grow in our everyday lives," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. "HITEC offers the world's largest event for hospitality technology professionals around the globe to intermix, share ideas and their latest technology innovations. Attendees can now stay up-to-date with the latest technology news year-round with HITEC Bytes."
The HITEC exhibit hall featured hundreds of companies announcing new products and showcasing their signature technologies. Details on participating exhibitors and their products and services are available via the online HITEC Buyers Guide. Attendees also have access to a number of presentations from the education sessions available on the HITEC website.
HITEC's education program officially began with the Opening Keynote from Jer Thorp, Co-Founder of The Office of Creative Research, who spoke on adding narrative meaning to huge amounts of data. Tuesday's Keynote Session featured Josh Linker, CEO of Hyper-Growth, who spoke on entrepreneurial mindset and why it is better to innovate and disrupt your organization before your competition does. To close HITEC on Thursday afternoon, Johnny Earle, CEO of Johnny Cupcakes, spoke on viral business and how to inspire customer loyalty through branding.
To recognize innovation leaders in the hospitality technology industry, HFTP inducted Michael Levie, CHTP, an executive at citizenM and a director on the HFTP Global board, and Prakash Shukla, managing partner at Solarex, into its International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame.
HITEC 2017 is slated for June 26–29, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario Canada. For the latest news, follow HFTP/HITEC on HITEC Bytes, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information about HITEC, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or +1 (512) 249-5333.
For more information about HITEC, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected] or +1 (512) 249-5333.
About HITEC
HITEC is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education, and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technology from over 375 companies to one place. HITEC 2016 will take place June 20-23 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. USA. The unparalleled expo offers 5,500 + 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.
About HFTP
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is a global nonprofit hospitality association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, that uniquely understands the industry's problems. HFTP has over 5,200 members and several thousand 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. For more information about HFTP, e-mail [email protected].
Jessica Blankenship
Public Relations Manager
HFTP
