This blog post is based on Mark Pate’s Welcome Message and President’s Report during the HFTP 2021 Annual Business Meeting, which streamed online to the public on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. Did you miss the live streaming? Watch the recorded meeting here.
By: Mark Pate, Sr., CHAE, CHTP, MPA | HFTP Global President
The success of HFTP comes from the collaboration of its leaders and stakeholders. HFTP’s Annual Business Meeting, which streamed virtually for the second year in a row, is an opportunity to learn about the association’s recent accomplishments, and its initiatives — current and new. It is the knowledgeable input and expertise from the HFTP Global Board that help make these programs happen. We announced earlier this year that the outstanding individuals who have served us on the HFTP Global Board during the past year have all agreed to extend their HFTP leadership term one more year. The next slate selection for the HFTP Global Directors and Executive Committee is scheduled for May 2022. Remaining with the current group of leaders has allowed for a seamless progression of the association as it recovers from a financially difficult year and works to build back its program offerings.
I think I can easily declare that my term as HFTP Global president has been during one of the most unique periods of our association. What has been incredible is being a part of the team that has helped our association build up from one of its lowest positions. Just having returned from our highly successful, co-located and in-person Annual Convention and HITEC Dallas last month, I have no doubt our association will return to the level of service it is known for.
Let’s rewind to a year ago when there were still a lot of unknowns — especially whether we could actually return to the in-person, networking gatherings that so many of our stakeholders enjoy. Because of this, the HFTP Global team maintained a strong virtual education program that has helped our members and stakeholders learn and converse. The offerings have been plentiful, diverse and informative. Not only are they available live and for free, but past sessions are kept in an archive to accommodate everyone’s schedules.
The virtual education will continue into next year. In fact, please check the schedule for this month and next, when we have encore presentations of the popular sessions from the 2021 HITEC and Annual Convention. In May 2021, as meetings became viable once again, HFTP hosted its popular Club Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with health and safety measures in place. The association also participated in The Hotel Show Dubai with HITEC Dubai. Now we have capped our year with the events in Dallas in September, with 4,000 plus attendees and plentiful positive feedback. We are ready to meet again in 2022, including HITEC Orlando, taking place June 27-30, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida USA. Please stay-tuned to the HFTP website for additional event dates and news.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support of HFTP. Without your dedication we would not be in the strong position we find ourselves in today. I wish all of you well and I look forward to serving as HFTP Global President for another year.
Mark Pate Sr., CHAE, CHTP, MBA is the 2020-2021 HFTP Global Board President. He is assistant controller & IT director for Highpointe Hotel Corporation.
