AUSTIN, TEXAS (June 20, 2016) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITECSM), has added a multitude of new developments that will be featured at HITEC 2016 next week. HITEC 2016, showcasing the most current trends, services and products for hospitality technology, is expected to be one of the largest events in the conference’s history, with attendee pre-registration already nine percent higher than last year. Attendees will not want to miss out on this year’s newest installments, and are encouraged to download the HITEC 2016 mobile app for convenience.
Kicking off the event on Monday, June 20, will be the returning Entrepreneur 20X competition that will be bigger and better than before. New this year, attendees can vote for their favorite startup and participating companies will have access to industry mentors. This year’s CHTP of the Year award winner, Eduardo A. Garcia, CHTP, will be honored before the Monday keynote session. To wrap up the first day at the conference, HITEC badge holders are invited to the HITEC Opening Party at Generations Hall Monday evening—HITEC shuttles will be servicing all official HITEC hotels.
“HITEC 2016 is expected to be one of the best yet,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. “Each year we strive to create a better event than the last. We are excited for all of the additions that will be present at this year’s event.”
The 2016 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductees, Prakash Shukla and Michael Levie, CHTP will be honored immediately before the keynote session on Tuesday morning. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the exhibit hall will open showcasing the newest and trending technological advances from across the globe. Meanwhile, attendees, who have downloaded the HITEC mobile app to their phone or iPad, will have the opportunity to complete a scavenger hunt for a chance to win one of three prizes. Attendees will not want to miss this year’s exhibitor tutorial sessions, 15-minute Tech Talks and Technology Showcases.
YouVisit will present attendees with 4D virtual reality experiences, showcasing hospitality and travel applications, in the convention center boulevard lobby. Representatives from Toronto will be in attendance at HITEC 2016 to provide details about next year’s North American conference in Toronto, Ont. Canada. The HFTP Lounge will feature special membership offers that will be available at HITEC only. Additional information about next year’s new HITEC Amsterdam will be available at HFTP’s booth #151.
A special feature Wednesday educational session “Global China“, presented by China Hospitality Technology Alliance (CHTA), will discuss current hotel technology trends happening in China. HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe will be in attendance. All HITEC attendees are welcome to attend a memorial reception on Wednesday to honor friend and industry paragon John Cahill, CHA, CHTP. HFTP will donate 100 percent of donated funds toward the newly-established John Cahill Hospitality Technology Research Assistantship at the University of Houston, Conrad Hilton College.
Each year, HITEC holds a social responsibility project designed to enrich the communities that host HITEC. On Thursday during the conference, attendees and exhibitors will come together for HITEC Helps 2016, benefitting the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
HITEC 2016 is taking place next week from June 20–23, 2016 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. USA. For a full HITEC 2016 schedule of events, visit the HITEC website.
For more information on HFTP membership or offerings, contact Bryan Wood, director of membership development and services, at Bryan.Wood@hftp.org. For more information about HITEC, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org or +1 (512) 249-5333.
