Written by: Ron Strecker, CHAE, CHTP
It’s almost time! HITEC 2021 is right around the corner. I’m ready, are you?
Many of you may have read my recent four-part series on “HITEC 2021 Tips,” which was published on Hospitality Upgrade (read Part Four here). In each article, I emphasized the need to focus on cloud-based application. By now, most organizations have recognized the benefits of migrating applications to the cloud, and so should you, if you haven’t. Most of the software vendors at the show offer cloud-based solutions, some exclusively.
Hopefully, you are coming with a prepared list of applications you want to evaluate. In fact, you may be trying to make a few final selections to include in your 2022 budgets. If you have specific vendors to visit, then I highly recommend trying to set up an appointment in advance. This assures that you will have their attention to answer your questions. View a complete list of HITEC 2021 exhibitors here.
Be sure to attend these HITEC education sessions.
If cloud computing and its benefits are new to you, then I’d like to direct your attention to several key educational sessions that you should plan to attend. Remember, HITEC is more than just the exhibits. The education sessions listed below are presented by a number of the leading experts in our industry.
Does Your Data Lake Have Any Depth?
Monday, September 27, 9:00 a.m. This session sounds like the perfect way for you to get a dose of where things are headed with big data and AI. Expect to hear the phrase “data lake” a lot when it comes to cloud computing and using big data for business analytics.
No More Nightmares: How to Budget Technology Expenses
Monday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. Cloud computing has brought about several changes in the way technology expenses are handled. Making sure you have the complete picture is the only way to create an accurate budget projection.
The First-mover Advantage: Are You the Leading Edge, or the Bleeding Edge
Monday, September 27, 2:00 p.m.
As new technologies are developed you need to make choices. Should you jump in early, or wait until the bugs are worked out? Sometimes there is truth to the saying: “If you snooze, you lose.”
They ARE Out to Get You: Your Hotel’s Most Pressing Cybersecurity Threats
Tuesday, September 28, 4:15 p.m.
Let’s face it, whether you deploy cloud-based applications or your still using onsite data centers, cybersecurity is a serious matter. Learning how to better assess your vulnerabilities is critical to being better prepared to meet the challenges of today’s connected world.
Hyper-Personalization: The Future of the Guest Experience
Wednesday, September 29, 3:15 p.m.
This sounds like it will be a great companion session to the first data conversation on Monday. This session focuses on how we can use available data and AI to improve the guest experience while maintaining the guest’s privacy rights.
View the full HITEC education schedule online.
The full HITEC Schedule of Events is available online. These are just a few of the top-notch sessions being offered during the week, along with various Exhibitor Tutorials taking place on the HITEC exhibit floor (these are also listed in the HITEC Schedule of Events). In the meantime, you can catch my four HITEC 2021 Tips online at Hospitality Upgrade. Can’t wait to see everyone and don’t forget to bring your mask and walking shoes.
Ron Strecker, CHAE, CHTP is an independent consultant, author, and speaker with over 35 years of senior financial leadership roles. He is also an official event guest blogger for HITEC Dallas 2021, taking place in-person September 27-30 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas USA. Continue checking HFTP Connect for more of Ron’s experiences at HITEC this year.
