June is fast approaching and TRAVHOTECH will join the Hospitality Technology industry assembling in Minneapolis for the 47th HITEC (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Convention) tradeshow presented by Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals (HFTP).
TRAVHOTECH and Testbed.Vegas attend each year and this year we are looking forward to making a contribution to HITEC directly as well as supporting the overall quality of the event through some of our own initiatives.
Leading in to HITEC, TRAVHOTECH is participating in a focused pre-HITEC dialogue on some of the key topics attendees will be focused on in 2019. You can read the Worldpanel here from HospitalityNET.
Here’s what we are up to at HITEC;
Hi Society – Interesting people, company’s and experiences
TRAVHOTECH is gathering with a group of like minded partners to present Hi Society on Tuesday afternoon, 18th of June. Hi Society is an after trade show event providing a high quality networking environment. The event brings together interesting people, company’s and experiences in an exclusive wind down after a busy day on the trade show floor.
Hi Society will feature a themed experience with a cause, fundraising to support the Sala Bai Hotel School in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The school supports underprivileged children lifting them out of child poverty and trafficking by developing young hoteliers. The school has a particular focus on girls.
The event is presented by Charlotte Somers and is supported by Bose Professional, Cloud 5 Communications, eHotelier, EXP360, FirstData, Focal Revenue, IDEM Hospitality, McLaren Technologies, Optii Solutions, PaymentLOCK, SpriteGuard, Testbed Vegas & TRAVHOTECH.
You can also meet the E20X contestants bringing innovation and new capabilities to the industry. Along with Hi Society partners, Hotelway, Saba Hospitality and Koridor will also be guests at Hi Society.
12 Midnight
HITEC does not end when the trade show floor closes each afternoon. Corporate hospitality kicks in during the afternoon and evening including our own Hi Society event on Tuesday afternoon.
Once corporate hospitality has ended 12 Midnight starts. 12 Midnight is the opportunity for industry colleagues to gather after official duties are over to talk about the day, HITEC and generally let down the hair like only Hoteliers can do.
Cheyne Cole and Mark Fancourt from TRAVHOTECH are joining with Tim Kinsella from Amadeus to gather a group at midnight. Venue to be determined.
Get on the 12 Midnight list to be updated on location and plans. 12 Midnight will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights of HITEC.
hiGuard.io – InfoSec for Hospitality
This week we have launched a new program in partnership with our friends at insighti.
hiGuard.io is a new approach to information security leveraging TRAVHOTECH’s travel and hospitality technology background with insighti’s leading edge information security practices for a targeted approach to information security and processes for hospitality operators.
We will be introducing the program throughout the week at HITEC.
E20X – Young company’s aim to revolutionize the industry
E20X (Entrepreneur 20X) is the HITEC platform for exposing young company’s that are bringing new technology products into the Hospitality industry. E20X has been running for a number of years now and each year the quality of the entrants improves.
TRAVHOTECH has been directly involved in the last three E20X events with Mark Fancourt judging in Europe and North America in 2018 and this year Mark mentored the contestants at HITEC Europe in Majorca. Our entrant, Oaky won the People’s Choice award.
TRAVHOTECH is directly involved in the Minneapolis competition as mentors to Focal Revenue with Mike Medsker, as well as encouraging the entrance of IDEM Hospitality from Singapore with Matthew Howden and Steven Hopkinson. They will also be at Hi Society.
We will also continue our association with the E20X program where TRAVHOTECH will provide pre-competition mentoring to the entrants on Monday.
We think both company’s are strong contenders to win the event. Be there to see what is in store and vote for the contestants on Monday afternoon, 17th of June at 2.30pm at HITEC.
HITEC – Technology Investment Discussion
Return on Investment (ROI) for technology is always a hot topic and a genuine industry challenge for technologists in the Hospitality industry. TRAVHOTECH’s Mark Fancourt will join a panel to discuss modern approaches to building a case for an ROI.
Based upon discussions to date amongst the panelists, John Burns, James Lingle and moderator, Prakash Shukla this will not be the standard discussion on what can be a dry topic. Expect to be presented with differing views on how to achieve the desired outcome and will challenge the audience members to think outside the box on what really goes into building a case for investment.
Catch the session on Monday the 17th at 9.45am during the education sessions.
TECHconvo on Monday
HITEC is an international event and we have created a habit of using Monday to catch up and talk innovation with an international crowd that is trying to change the way our industry approaches technology.
The crowd represents an interesting cross section of the industry including vendors. industry media and consultants. It’s a great networking session and generates food for thought before commencing with the HITEC program.
We really enjoy the discussion and association with young company’s that experience the similar challenges of entrepreneurship. We’re looking forward to bringing along our posse to join this dialogue.
HFTP Young Professionals
HFTP launched an initiative a couple of years ago to establish a mentor program for young industry professional in the finance and technology disciplines that are entering the industry. TRAVHOTECH and Testbed Vegas have been actively involved at HITEC and the Annual Convention with the program. Mike Medsker and Focal Revenue solutions are part of that connection as well as Ben Woytowich who is currently undertaking an internship with MGM Resorts and will be present at upcoming Testbed Vegas events.
We will join the networking and social event that brings the group together at HITEC.
HFTP Global Board Meeting
TRAVHOTECH’s Mark Fancourt sits on the Global Board of HFTP. Once the convention is over the global board of Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals gathers for the Annual Board meeting. Here we discuss the strategic future of the organization on behalf of the 5000+ members of HFTP. HFTP has taken on a number of significant growth initiatives in the last 12 months and we will be discussing these opportunities when we meet.
It’s going to be a busy week and we look forward to seeing our industry colleagues in Minneapolis.
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About TRAVHOTECH – Knowledge | Experience | Execution | Realization –Utilizing 30 years of global current and practical experience. TRAVHOTECH is the next generation travel technology & hospitality technology consultancy for the modern travel and hospitality world. TRAVHOTECH provides consulting services globally to travel and hospitality operators and technology vendors.