It’s a Wrap!
There was a Google Glass demo booth at HITEC this year; Dr. Ajay Aluri from West Virginia University was doing the demos. This was my first time using Glass.
Glass has come a long way. The current “Explorer” version ($1,500) feels weightless and can record video for one hour. Of course the price and performance will continue to improve.
Glass makes it easy to take video and pictures and share them. This isn’t different than a phone really, but Glass makes it virtually friction-less to do this: no phone to pull out, no app to open. When recording video you don’t need to look away from what you are recording. Read More »
Balancing Act
I have to admit that as a product of the 80’s I really liked all those 80′s movies. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Risky Business, Star Wars sequels, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters and The Terminator were among the favorites. Not that I am opposed to John Hughes movies – that just tends to be more my wife’s style. One of the best parts about all of these movies were the great one liners:
“I am your father,” “I’ll be back” and “…when this baby hits eighty-eight miles an hour…” have all become classics. As I have worked my way through the last couple of days, I have had to balance a lot of time in the office with HITEC. So naturally – another 80’s quote came to mind – “balance is key Daniel-san.”
One of the challenges I think we all face coming to HITEC is how to manage our “day jobs” while we are here. For vendors, I wonder sometimes if it is a bit easier – after all we’re all here (name that movie paraphrase!). While not everyone of their customers is onsite, a large number of them are. Do their mailboxes slow down, or like many an attendee, do they continue to pile up? Read More »
HITEC Tuesday — The Secret is Out
I know the HITEC Advisory Council’s secret formula. (drum roll)… The keynote speakers are all there to scare you.
That was funny, right? At this time, please visualize Monday’s keynote Douglas Merrill raising his hand (an inside joke if you weren’t there).
Tuesday’s keynote, Rachel Botsman, knocked it seriously out of the park (while scaring the pants off us). I will stop short of saying that by itself it justified the trip, but hearing speakers like her is why you should be here, if you aren’t (yesterdays L.A. HFTP Chapter/IBS party at Lucky Strike Lanes being another).
Ms. Botsman talked about the emerging (heck, it’s here) Collaborative Economy. Read More »
My Club and Hotel Controllers Conference Experience
I have to admit that on my way to conference I had a moment where I thought ‘what if I won’t know what to write about?’ Well I am just halfway through the first full day of sessions and my fear is materializing, not because I have nothing interesting to write about, but because I was told that I only have to write one post during the conference and I am having a hard picking my best experience.
Everything I have witnessed so far has been amazing, from the HITEC opening keynote speaker, Douglas Merrill, who inspired me with his smarts and eccentric presentation. He turned my perception of information security upside down. I was amazed by the architecture and atmosphere of the Belasco Theatre, where the HITEC opening party was held on Monday night and by the various education sessions I have attended so far. Probably the most mind-blowing, was the magician that charmed me and my colleagues at the entrance to the exhibit hall. Read More »
A View From the Back Aisle
I know it is early, but I am already hearing the same question I hear every year, “What do you think about the traffic on the show floor?” Everyone seems concerned about how many people are walking around at the show. I know it matters, but I have to wonder if it matters as much as we think. After all, the show floor is sold out and attendance seems strong from what I can see, even in the educational sessions.
Sometimes I think we judge the success of a show by how many people we have to squeeze past as we try to get to the next appointment. Do we take into consideration the size of the hall or the time of day or the people who are trying to get out early (we know who we are!) Read More »
What Can This Do For Me?
HITEC is here again and this year we are heading for the City of Angels. If you’ve never visited Los Angeles, then this might also be a good opportunity to see what the city has to offer. I’ve been told that it’s an exciting city, but don’t ask me. Apart from a short flight change years ago, I’ve never spent time in L.A., so this trip should be interesting!
I assume that those of us attending HITEC 2014 are looking forward to interacting with exhibitors and expanding our knowledge through the educational sessions – all in an effort to discover what the available technology, new or old, can do for us. Some may also be excited about opportunities to network with peers, explore new business partnerships, or the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues. Hopefully, this year’s event will be exciting, interesting, and fruitful for all of us! Read More »
HITEC is for learning too…
There are a lot of reasons to attend HITEC. For some, it is about the exhibit hall – the opportunity to address an issue or to see what’s new and exciting in the industry. For others, it is a social occasion – time to meet industry friends we see all too infrequently or have a blast at that big vendor bash. When I was on the hotelier side, it was my opportunity to meet nearly every vendor I did business with in one spot – I just expected them to be there (let’s face it – sometimes you can be more noticed by your lack of participation than the size of your booth). Read More »
A Time for Sharpening Our Tech Skills
One glance at my inbox says it all… HITEC is just around the corner. It’s time to step back from the day-to-day and get immersed in what’s happening with technology in our industry. From a career standpoint, this is what Dr. Stephen Covey (in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) called “Sharpening the Saw.”
This will be my third conference. After my first HITEC in 2012, I kicked myself for not having been there all along. Even though it’s a bit of a hike from North Carolina, it has become a must-attend event for me.
We all share the feeling that keeping up with technology in our industry is an overwhelming task. None of us can know everything about hospitality technology (although some of my HFTP colleagues do amazingly well at it), but our constituents — whether we call them clients, coworkers, or something else — seem to think that we should. Read More »
Why HFTP? Why CHCC?
When I received the email about the upcoming HFTP Club and Hotel Controllers Conference and saw the location was sunny Los Angeles, which I have traveled through but never really had a chance to explore, I decided that I wanted to go. The “why” never came up until I actually submitted the request for approval to my employer, and had to make a case for it.
HFTP is the first professional organization that I have belonged to, aside from my professional accounting association. Initially, I was invited along to the local chapter meetings, which take place monthly at different clubs and hotels in the area. Other than the attraction of great lunches and wines mid-day, as each property brings out their best to impress the rest, the sessions always provided interesting and varied educational topics that I was able to apply in my daily work. Read More »
Announcing the HFTP 2014 – 2015 HFTP Global Board Slate
Earlier this year, the nominating committee – comprising past HFTP Global past presidents, advisory council chairs and chapter presidents — were tasked with picking the HFTP members that would replace the outgoing directors of the HFTP Global Board. After a long day of interviews, the nominating committee was able to narrow their choices down. Without further ado, here is the official slate for the 2014-2015 HFTP Global Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Executive Committee
HFTP Global President Daniel Conti, Jr., CHAE, CAM, director of finance for Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place
HFTP Global Vice President Ian Millar, CHTP, senior lecturer, Ecole Hoteliere De Lausanne
HFTP Global Treasurer Arlene Ramirez, MBA, CHE, CHAE, principle of ADR Hospitality Consulting
HFTP Global Secretary Lyle Worthington, CHTP, self employed consultant
HFTP Global Immediate Past President Jerry Trieber, CPA, CHAE, CFE, CFF, CGMA vice president of finance for Crescent Hotels & Resorts
New Global Directors
Director Ted Horner, E. Ted Horner and Associates Pty. Ltd.
Director Chris Koepper, CPA, CFO of The Cliffs
Director Scot Campbell, CHTP, vice president of strategy for Caesars
Director Christopher Garland, senior vice president of operations finance for Four Seasons Hotels Ltd.
In accordance with Article X, Section 3, of the bylaws, should the slate above remain uncontested, the HFTP Secretary will cast a single ballot at the HFTP Annual Business Meeting at the Annual Convention & Tradeshow in New Orleans, LA. The Secretary will then declare the mentioned individuals as duly elected.
Raman P. Rama, CHA, CHAE, CHTP, served as chair of the HFTP 2014-2015 nominating committee and is the HFTP Global Immediate Past President. Rama is also the vice president and CIO/CTO of JHM Hotels.
