[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 »
HITEC 2013 Features You Don’t Want to Miss
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 »
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)).
5 Things You Need to Know When Visiting Minneapolis
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] Return of the Bloggers! Become an Official Blogger for HITEC 2013
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:
- A Complimentary Full Conference Registration.
- HITEC Press Access – Access to all the education sessions, an Opening Party pass and access to the exhibit hall.
- Internet access in the HITEC Press Room to write blog posts (blogger must have own laptop).
- Credit as the author of the blog post and links to blogger’s web site, social media accounts, etc.
HITEC Official Blogger Requirements:
- Five blog posts related to HITEC, see Guidelines for acceptable posts:
• One prior to HITEC
• Three during the week of HITEC
• One after HITEC
- Email blog posts, along with any pictures, to Sara Bailiff
- If Official Blogger fails to perform the blogger requirements, the blogger will be charged for the amount of the HITEC Full Conference Registration ($725 USD).
- HFTP will help bloggers in securing hotel reservations; however, bloggers are responsible for room, tax and incidentals.
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.
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.
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 »
