HFTP Blog
September 2, 2021

Spotlighting the Powerhouse Speakers...Presenting at HITEC Dallas and HFTP Annual Convention this Month

Events
Written by Briana Gilmore

Each year, the carefully curated education programs at HITEC and the HFTP Annual Convention feature amazing individuals, presenting supercharged keynote sessions, sharing their personal stories and drawing valuable connections designed to help attendees grow both personally and professionally in their own lives. The year 2021 is no different — except for the notable fact that the two conferences are co-located in Dallas, Texas this year, September 27-30.

A huge plus: registration for one event grants full access to the other, allowing you to take advantage of both education programs, and all three of the highly-anticipated sessions detailed below. Check out all the details about the HITEC and HFTP Annual Convention keynote sessions, and register to attend today.

ERIK QUALMAN
Presenting the HITEC Opening Keynote Session

Erik Qualman, #1 best-selling author and motivational speaker, has performed in over 50 countries and reached 25 million people this decade. His Socialnomics work has been on 60 Minutes and the Wall Street Journal and used by the National Guard and NASA. His book Digital Leader propelled him to be voted the "2nd Most Likeable Author in the World" behind Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling.

What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube helped Qualman to be listed by Forbes and Fortune as a "Top 100 Digital Influencer." His books on business are used in over 200 universities, and he has received an honorary doctorate for his groundbreaking work.

How to Sell on LinkedIn is becoming mandatory reading for sales teams. Qualman was formerly a sitting professor at Harvard and MIT's edX labs.

About Qualman's opening keynote presentation, "Digital Transformation: Design Your Future"
Monday, September 27 | 4:30-6:00 p.m. | Ballroom A 1-3, Level 2 — sponsored by BluePrint RF

We do not have a choice on whether we digitally transform⁠—the choice is how well we do it. Leaders this digital decade are made, not born. The key is not only understanding big data, IoT, mobile, AI and virtual technologies, but more importantly, understanding how they work together. This session will give you the tips and tricks on how to implement current and future digital trends to maximize your organization's impact on the world.

What Qualman preview his HITEC Dallas presentation on HITEC TV below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC8pk0zt4j0

JOHN SILEO
Presenting the HITEC Closing Keynote Session

John Sileo lost everything to cybercrime, including his multi-million dollar software company and two years while facing jail time for cybercrimes he did not commit. Now, he shares his experiences worldwide to keep others from suffering a similar fate. A keynote speaker, award-winning author and cyber-tech expert, Sileo has been featured on 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper, contributed to The Wall Street Journal and spoken for clients ranging from the Pentagon and Amazon to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Schwab. he graduated from Harvard University, is an inductee into the National Speakers Hall of Fame and divides his life’s work between speaking and hosting nature-immersed leadership retreats in the Rocky Mountains.

About Sileo's opening keynote presentation, "Building a Bulletproof Culture of Security"
Thursday, September 30 | 2:15-3:30 p.m. | Ballroom A 1-3, Level 2

To avoid becoming the next disastrous data-breach headline, you must foster a healthy culture of security that addresses both the technological and human elements of data defense. Change happens when you create energy and buy-in among the people who handle your mission-critical information. When it comes to the latest data security threats, you can’t possibly do everything—but you must do the right things. This cyber security training crash course forges a high-level, non-technical path through the often-confusing web cybersecurity. This highly interactive presentation builds on Sileo’s experience losing everything to cybercrime, continues with a live hacking demo of an audience member and ends with an actionable Roadmap of Next Steps.

What Sileo preview his HITEC Dallas presentation on HITEC TV below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR6nwsCDrAo

VICTORIA LABALME
Presenting the HFTP Annual Convention Keynote Session

Victoria Labalme, author of the Wall Street Journal best-selling book Risk Forward, helps people express their hidden genius in their communications, at work and in life. Her unconventional approach offers a surprising blend of art and business. As a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Labalme is known for her keynote performances and workshops around the world.

Her proprietary systems and strategies have been embraced by hundreds of thousands of people and more than 700 organizations including top team members at Starbucks, Microsoft, Intel, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Cisco, Oracle, Chase, Lowe’s, L’Oreal, PayPal, American Heart Association, MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the World Bank, universities, cultural institutions, and not-for-profits. Labalme has been the trusted consultant to C-suite executives, managers, leading entrepreneurs, and New York Times best-selling authors. She has coached hundreds of elite individuals for high-stakes presentations including keynotes, boardroom events, live streams, PBS Specials, TED, Oprah’s SuperSoul Session and arena events. Her creative projects have received critical acclaim from The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, Variety, BBC, CBS, Los Angeles Times, and Good Morning America.

About Labalme's opening keynote presentation, "Crazy Busy Nuts: Getting Off the Conveyor Belt of Life"
Wednesday, September 29 | 8:30-9:45 a.m. | Ballroom A 1-3, Level 2 sponsored by VENZA

Today's world is indeed "crazy busy nuts." People seem busier than ever before…while working under challenging conditions. How can you help people stay connected to what really matters? How do you keep them engaged? How can you make sure your interactions are meaningful? In this keynote session, Labalme will show you how to stay focused and move through the chaos effectively and with grace.

Watch a special video message from Victoria Labalme on HITEC TV below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwtkrcE5ABA

A Slate of Expert Industry Speakers Lined Up to Present Education

The learning does not stop at the sessions featured in this blog post. HITEC Dallas has scheduled a four-day education program addressing the biggest industry topics such as: emerging technology in F&B, decentralized ID, direct distribution vs. third-parties, hyper-personalization, defining a digital hotel, ethical conundrums in technology, pressing cybersecurity threats and more. Also this year, the HFTP Annual Convention education program features specialized tracks in hospitality finance and technology for the club and hotel segments.

View the HITEC Dallas speaker lineup and schedule of events, and the HFTP Annual Convention speaker lineup and schedule of events — and start planning your educational agenda today.

2021 Annual Convention education finance HFTP HITEC hospitality keynote networking speakers technology Texas