Spring should be in full swing when HITEC® Amsterdam 2018 takes place this April — which is just six short weeks away. If you would like to attend HFTP’s European extension to the world’s largest and oldest hospitality exposition and conference brand, the early registration deadline is approaching fast. Register by this Saturday, March 10, 2018 to secure your spot at the best possible price.
HITEC Amsterdam debuted last year to immense success, with more than 1,100 hospitality industry professionals from around the globe gathering together to explore the industry’s best practices and latest innovations.
HITEC Amsterdam 2018 is shaping up to be extremely successful, as well. The conference has already sold out all exhibit spaces and will feature 84 exhibiting companies — a remarkable 43 percent increase from last year. (Check out the floor plan here.)
But aside from the unparalleled expo that will showcase the latest industry and services from all over the world, the event will feature two full days of exceptional education, including two highly-anticipated keynote presentations.
Extreme Customer Centricity in a Networked World, keynote presented by Nancy Rademaker
With more than 20 years of experience in information technology and training, Nancy Rademaker has always, and above all else, been passionately focused on people — on how technology influences their behavior, how it helps them share knowledge, and how it enables them to create and innovate.
During her keynote presentation, Nancy will address what she calls “the new normal” — in which “digital” has become the new normal— and how it has transformed the traditional work environment into a dense network. She explains how this has changed customer behavior and the market, and how companies themselves need to become a network if they want to survive. Above all else, she demonstrates how companies must put the customer first if they want to thrive in this new “day after tomorrow.”
Nancy is an exceptional and highly motivational international business speaker. She has energized many roundtables, boardroom discussions and corporate events with her bold presentations on the topics of extreme customer centricity, disruption, business model change and marketing. She loves inspiring others about how they can organize their companies for the “day after tomorrow” and push their business models to the next level. Do not miss her invigorating keynote presentation at HITEC Amsterdam on Thursday, April 12, 2018.
Improving Your Odds of Success in a Time of Accelerating Change and Disruption,
keynote presented by Frits Van Paasschen
Frits Van Paasschen understands better than most that we are living in a time of accelerating change and disruption — and that the hospitality industry is no exception to this. As a result, past formulas for success are being eviscerated. Every new day, new technologies spawn companies that sidestep old barriers to entry, create new middlemen, and slice off lucrative pieces of old business models.
The fact is that most companies will wake up too late to this reality. Established interests, change-blindness, and set ways of working make it nearly impossible for incumbents to survive. Despair not! There are ways for leaders to improve their odds of success.
During his keynote presentation at HITEC Amsterdam, Frits van Paasschen, former CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts and author of “The Disruptors’ Feast,” shares his thoughts on this vitally important topic. His illuminating presentation will take place on Friday, April 13, 2018.
30+ Expert Hospitality Industry Speakers Confirmed for Educational Sessions
HFTP is excited about the lineup of professional industry speakers who will be presenting at HITEC Amsterdam. Be sure to visit the HITEC Amsterdam online speakers section and get to know the names and faces of the many talented and experienced individuals who are helping to make HITEC Amsterdam 2018 a premier conference in global education.
Introducing Sherif Mamdouh: HITEC Amsterdam’s Official Guest Blogger
Sherif Mamdouh is the external communications manager at Ecole hôteliere de Lausanne (EHL). He previously worked in private banking and as head of content and strategy for a reputation management firm in Geneva.
When asked what he is looking forward to most: “I believe it is an excellent initiative that HFTP expands its global reach with HITEC in Europe and the Middle East. Hospitality is a global business, technology is ubiquitous in the modern world and the fact that HFTP has global leadership and membership makes it a logical and necessary decision. Also, the fact that HITEC is branching out to new destinations will only help to reinforce the idea that HITEC is the number one place to be if you really want to have your finger on the pulse of hospitality technology.
“The E20X competition is something I will be looking at very closely, for both substance and form. As a hospitality management university, we encourage our students to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, think outside the box and build up the confidence to sell their ideas.
“I have never been to Amsterdam and I’m very excited to just walk around and soak up the vibe, sneak in a couple of museum visits and get a taste of its nightlife.”
Do not forget to visit HFTP Connect in mid-April to read Sherif’s valuable perspective on the many exciting happenings leading up to, during, and after HITEC Amsterdam 2018.
Briana Gilmore 
is the HFTP Communications Coordinator.
Briana can be reached at Briana.Gilmore@hftp.org or +1 (512) 220-4017.
