[Ask the Experts] HITEC 2013 Opening Keynote: Theresa Payton
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 »
Career Management in the Digital Era: Are You a Member of The Denovati?
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)).
Job Prospects and the Value of Graduate Education in the Hospitality Industry
As today’s students enter college and select a degree program, many employment outlook analysts are urging them to consider a career in hospitality management, citing both projected industry growth and a widespread lack of skilled job candidates. Read More »
HFTP Plans for Another Great Year of Education
One of the more important councils for HFTP is the Education Advisory Council, of which I had the pleasure of serving. Finding the right theme, keynote speakers and education topics for the HFTP Annual Convention and the Club and Hotel Controllers Conference are the most important tasks they face. This sets the tone for the events and what you take away from it. The council is currently planning for another fantastic year of education in 2013, so if you have any ideas for a session, please submit it to the council (submission guidelines)! You have a chance to share your knowledge and expertise with the attendees of the Club and Hotel Controllers Conference and/or the Annual Convention & Tradeshow. Read More »
My Trip to AHTEC 2.0@FHC China
This November, I had the honor to represent HFTP on my first official trip as HFTP president in Shanghai to attend and speak at AHTEC 2.0 @ FHC China. This was the second AHTEC (Asian Hospitality Technology Educational Conference), which was jointly organized by China International Exhibitions, Ltd.; Hong Kong Exhibition Services and HFTP. The conference program was expertly organized by Terence Ronson of Pertlink, Ltd.
The whole trip was an eye-opening experience for me, and any of my preconceived notions of what Shanghai and China were going to be like were quickly thrown out. Instead I discovered a clean and vibrant locale with a lot to offer.
A New Approach to Guest Room Noise
I do a lot of business travel, so I’m not surprised to see that noise regularly tops the list of guest complaints according to the J.D. Power North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. Not even luxury properties are resistant to this problem. The 2011 study delved even deeper, finding that only 43 percent of guests made their dissatisfaction known to staff and, of those, just 35 percent said the issue was fixed. That left 85 percent of noise problems unreported or unresolved.
And the financial impact of noise is substantial. Hotels offer guests rebates and other discounts as conciliatory measures. Properties suffer from reduced return business and can quickly acquire a poor reputation through word-of-mouth and online reviews. Read More »
It’s A Wrap: Memorable Words from the Annual Convention
It’s a Wrap!
The 60th anniversary HFTP Annual Convention & Tradeshow is now history. My IPad is loaded with my top 36 “words of wisdom.” These are the statements that left a lasting impression on me. I would like to share them with you (in no particular order). Feel free to add to the list!
Social Media, One voice with an echo, it is time to listen to it — Philip Newman and Robert Salmore
When people love you they give you more money — Ross Shafer Read More »
After the Convention, Keep Your Ideas Alive
Now comes the toughest part of any conference . . . keeping your new ideas alive.
I am proud to be a part of the HFTP community. In more than 20 years of attending professional conferences, I have witnessed the biggest commitment to learning at our Annual Conference. In other organizations and industries, the lightest attended sessions of any conference are the early morning sessions before the day’s main speaker. Yet, I consistently saw packed rooms for our 7:00 a.m. sessions. That’s no small feat judging from how many people networked deep into the previous night.
Since we have each committed so much time to attendance and note taking, it is time to summarize and keep things fresh. Schedule time to run through your notes. Make an action list of things to implement or try before your next chapter meeting. Read More »
Keynote Sessions Provide WOW! Moments
And now the final chapter for this year! The HFTP 2012 Annual Convention & Tradeshow is now history, but oh so rich. A new record in attendance, thanks again Orlando, a city that has been great for HFTP.
If you were there and missed the first Keynote, Shawn Achor’s “The Happiness Advantage,” or if you could not make the convention, check out his TED Talk on the same topic. It is not the same without the presenter and that is why we encourage members to make every effort to attend conventions, but it will be worth your while seeing it. We know these years are tough, but start planning for next year.
Topping the first Keynote session, in my view, was the second Keynote, “Nobody Moved Your Cheese,” presented by Ross Shafer. Unlike the book “Who Moved My Cheese,” the facts and delivery by the presenter was a “WOW!” Read More »
Catch the Convention Conversation via Twitter
How many times have you gone to a conference and had mariachis greet you at the door as you filed in for the morning’s keynote speaker? The photo above is how we were welcomed on day one.
I snapped a photo of the performers and posted it to Twitter before the first keynote, Shawn Achor, even made it to the stage to begin his presentation.
No one will dispute the value of our professional networks. One of the main reasons people attend conferences is to meet other like-minded people and interact with them face-to-face. With the prevalence of social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, the virtual contacts that we make are becoming more commonplace and more relevant.
Steven Stout, CAE (@stevenjs), HFTP’s Director of Meetings and Events, gave a brilliant presentation at the Leadership Summit about Twitter. I would campaign to have a video of his presentation on the HFTP web site as a resource to everyone. (Completely off topic, Steven used Prezi for his presentation. I stopped using PowerPoint earlier this year in favor of Prezi and love it. Check it out at www.prezi.com.) Read More »
