AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (June 14, 2018) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) added a new general session – “Technology and the Power of the C-Suite” – to the HITEC Houston education program. The session features C-level hospitality executives from brands, ownership groups and technology companies who will debate the future of emerging technology trends, funding for IT development and the nature of competition in a digital marketplace. The general session will take place from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Immediately before the session, Tammy Farley and Jing Zhu will be inducted into the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame – HFTP’s highest level of recognition in the area of technology.
The session will be moderated by HFTP Global Treasurer Michael Levie, CHTP, COO at citizenM, and include the following c-level hospitality executives:
- Cindy Estis Green, co-founder and CEO, Kalibri Labs, LLC
- Barry Goldstein, EVP and chief commercial officer, Wyndham
- Ash Kapur, SVP, hotel asset management and chief revenue officer, Starwood Capital Group
“From guest experience to business infrastructure, will hoteliers move outside of their core businesses to transform traditional brand models? Or, will third parties in the travel sector evolve to dominate the booking and stay experience for hotel guests?” asks HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. “This new general session will explore the gap in the valuation multiples of public companies in travel, and discuss limits of loyalty, power of data, new economics in customer acquisition and how technology investments may play a role in establishing the winners in a dynamic new environment.”
In addition to HITEC Houston, HFTP has several other events upcoming in 2018. HFTP Annual Convention will October 24-26 at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky USA. HITEC Dubai will take place December 5-6 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE. For more information about HFTP’s international events, visit www.hftp.org and www.hitec.org or contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org.
