HFTP Connect

Cloud computing, which has upended business models from music to movies to medicine, has now reached the hospitality industry in the form of hosted property management systems. These new cloud-based systems eliminate the need to purchase expensive hardware (including servers, networking equipment and data backups) and allow owners and managers to monitor their properties from any device with an Internet connection.

When hotel operators hear about this, one of their first questions is about security. How can they trust their sensitive data is secure when it’s somewhere “out there”? Read More »

HFTP Connect is featuring four guest bloggers throughout HITEC 2013. The bloggers will be providing you their insights on all things HITEC from their different viewpoints and experiences in the industry. Before we get to Minneapolis, read on to learn a little about each of our guest bloggers and don’t forget to say hello if you see them onsite.

In no particular order:

Patty O’Brien
Central Reservations Manager
Grand Casinos

As the call center manager for one of Minnesota’s favorite gaming destinations she is always on the lookout for technology and programs that will increase effectiveness and efficiency. At the Grand Casinos, they like to stay on the cutting edge of technology, but the day-to-day routine does not always offer the opportunities to learn what is the latest and greatest. While blogging for HITEC 2013, Patty seeks to find the next technology that will enhance guest services and will also bring a local perspective. Read More »

As we lead up to HITEC 2013 in June, HFTP Connect will be talking to our keynote speakers about their expertise and how it relates to thehospitality industry through the Ask the Experts column.

An Expert View on the Monetary Revolution

David Wolman is a contributing editor at Wired. He has also written for such publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Outside, Newsweek, Discover, Forbes, New Scientist and Salon, and his work appeared in Best American Science Writing 2009. A former Fulbright journalism fellow in Japan and graduate of Stanford University’s journalism program, he now lives in Portland, Ore. where he received a 2011 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. David has written three books since 2005 with the latest being The End of Money, published by Da Capo Press in February 2012. Read More »

Much has been said lately about hotel room security and the technology used to keep our guests safe and secure while under our care. The topic’s been on the news, posted online, argued about in court, and in at least one case, has the potential to become a national security issue. So, as my first in a regular monthly series column, I decided to do a bit of research and find out how hotel room security compares to typical security at a guest’s home?

I went online to find out that the average time it takes to pick a home lock is between 5 and 30 seconds which I thought was pretty fast! Anyone with a credit card that will work can buy a nice set of lock picks that vary from $5 to $300 USD. Although one website insisted that I agreed not to use them in an illegal manner. Further research uncovered  something called a “bump” key that you can either make (via YouTube Video with over 2 million views) or is easily purchased online that will allegedly open about 90 percent of home locks. With statistics like this, a home lock does not seem to be very useful. Read More »

As we lead up to HITEC 2013 in June, HFTP Connect will be talking to our keynote speakers about their expertise and how it relates to the hospitality industry through the Ask the Experts column.

An Expert View on Cybersecurity and the Hospitality Industry

Theresa Payton is one of America’s most respected authorities on Internet security, net crime, fraud mitigation and technology implementation. As White House Chief Information Officer from 2006 to 2008 — the first woman ever to hold that position — she administered the information technology enterprise for the President and 3,000 staff members. Prior to working in federal government, Payton held executive roles in banking technology at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. As founder of Fortalice, LLC, a security, risk, and fraud consulting company, she now lends her expertise to organizations large and small, helping them improve their information technology systems against emerging, amorphous cyber threats.

Q:  How is Internet security changing?

Consumers and business professionals alike should focus on the fact that Internet security will always be changing. Every new technology that we adopt becomes tomorrow’s targets for cybercriminals. Tools to block out the bad or only let in the good traffic are not enough. Combatting Internet threats requires a comprehensive approach, some of these components include: understanding your data architecture, knowing your vendors, sharing information within your peer group about cybercrime, developing relationships with law enforcement, implementing tools, updating processes to protect your digital assets and educating employees, contractors and suppliers on what you require them to do in order to safeguard your organization. Read More »

HFTP Past President Fred Beck at the 2011 Annual Convention

On Tuesday, April 30, 2013, the hospitality industry and HFTP shined a bit less brightly. Our 1998-1999 HFTP Global Past President, Fred Beck, CHAE after fighting a valiant fight, succumbed to cancer. For those lucky enough to know Fred personally, my guess is that your life was enhanced by being around him. For those of you who are active in HFTP and enjoy what we are today, your membership is enhanced because of his service.

Fred joined HFTP (then the National Association of Hospitality Accountants) as a very young man. During his 40 years of HFTP membership, he served on many committees, task forces, office moves, and even governed during the then contentious name change to our current HFTP. These were very turbulent times in our association history and as Global Past President Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE said, “Fred was always the voice of reason.”

Read More »

HITEC 2013 is just a couple of months away and there is already a ton of buzz surrounding this year’s show. If you have not registered, I suggest you do so before May 20th to save yourself or your employer some money.

If you are trying to justify your attendance and time away from the office, keep in mind the following reasons HITEC 2013 is not to be missed.

In no particular order:

1.High-profile Keynote Speakers

Once again, HFTP has managed to secure some pretty impressive keynote speakers for HITEC 2013. These speakers will knock your socks off with the level of expertise they have to share on the trending topics:

• Cyber-security Solutions — From the Firing Lines to a Fireside Chat: CIO to CIO with Theresa Payton, former Whitehouse CIO.
• The Monetary Revolution — The End of Money with author David Wolman and Wired magazine contributing editor.
• Hospitality IT — Meet the Techs: CIOs Discuss Today’s IT Challenges, moderated by Scot Campbell, vice president and CIO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Read More »

As the Digital Era continues to evolve, professionals face all kinds of new challenges. It doesn’t matter what their professional discipline is or what stage of their career they are in.

Although specific requirements will vary, all professionals are increasingly expected to develop their digital competencies and have a working knowledge of each of the four big technology trends: Social (social media and other social technologies), Mobile (smart phones and tablets), Analytics (including big data) and Cloud computing (both for proprietary systems and software as a service (SaaS)).

Read More »

Spoonbridge and Cherry, Minneapolis

Bookmark this post. Right now.

You’ll need it. With a visit to Minneapolis soon, you’ll need to know these five things about us.

1) You Like Technology? So Do We.

You’re a technology professional. We use technology.

Coincidence?

No, and that was a good ice breaker.

But, you should know this; we’re trend-setters in the tech game, and we are one of America’s techiest cities. The reason? We were one of the first cities to adopt WiFi AND the Geek Squad was founded here.

Even the grandparents here have Facebook accounts. Read More »

HFTP Connect is looking for hospitality professionals who would like to write original and educational posts about their HITEC experience for the blog.

HITEC 2013 is June 24 – 27 in Minneapolis, Minn.

See the information below for details on the opportunity and review posts from HITEC 2012 Guest Bloggers:

HITEC Official Blogger Benefits:

HITEC Official Blogger Requirements:

If you’re interested, please send a brief description on why you would be a good guest blogger to Sara Bailiff.

Deadline for submissions is Monday, May 6th.

Disclaimer: As an association, HFTP may not endorse or promote a product or vendor. HFTP Connect is educational in nature and blog posts must not be sales-oriented. Products or vendors may only be mentioned in an educational format.