�It was encouraging to see such a good attendance at this year�s HITEC despite the overall depression in the economy and corporate travel restrictions,� said Frank Wolfe, CAE, HFTP�s executive vice president and CEO. �This signifies that the industry still places a high importance to progress and thinks of HITEC as a place to learn about the latest trends.�

�It was our first HITEC and we are thrilled with the exposure, professionalism and cooperation,� said Frances Schultz from NCIC, a HITEC 2003 exhibitor. �We will be at the next show and are making HITEC our priority expo to attend.�

Exhibitors use HITEC as a place for product launches, with many HITEC 2003 attendees announcing new products and alliances. The HITEC exhibit hall featured the most current in hospitality products and services for audio/visual, energy management and conservation, Internet, information processing, security, fire safety and telecommunications. Companies offered wireless services, in-room movies, reservation systems, self check-in and check-out devices, call center services, guest room telephones and much more. Many of the exhibitors were very happy with the response they got from attendees, as well as the overall show.

�HITEC remains an important industry event for Pegasus for a number of reasons,� said Michael Brophy, public relations manager for Pegasus, a HITEC 2003 exhibitor. �The conference provides an excellent forum to introduce applications and services to hoteliers. We also have come to appreciate the high caliber of HITEC�s attendees � truly an audience that understands technology and how its effective use can impact the industry. We look forward to HITEC 2004, in our headquarters city of Dallas.�

�This is Travelweb�s first HITEC experience and it has been a very successful show for us,� said Fred Bean, vice president of sales and relations for Travelweb, a HITEC 2003 exhibitor. �HITEC provided us with an opportunity to speak with current customers and to educate potential customers as to how Travelweb enables hotels to distribute discount inventory online. We�ll be back.�

�The service we�ve received from HITEC�s show management has really illustrated what the hospitality industry should be all about,� said Linda Gillis, director of marketing for Squirrel Systems, a HITEC 2003 exhibitor. �HFTP is a first-rate organization that we will want to do business with again.�

Already 63 percent of the exhibit hall is sold out for next year�s show at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas on June 22-24. 

At Tuesday morning�s Opening Session, best-selling author, Terry Pearce, explained what makes a leader in his presentation �Leadership � Building Culture, Inspiring Change.� He defined a leader as someone who inspires people to willingly take action to effect change. Pearce is founder and president of Leadership Communication, and is co-author, with Dave Pottruck, of Clicks and Mortar: Passion Driven Growth in an Internet Driven World.

After Pearce�s speech, two technology leaders were honored. 

First, the CHTP of the Year, Ab Echenberg, CHAE, CHTP, was acknowledged, although he was unable to attend the ceremony. Echenberg earned the honor by scoring the highest score for the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) exam within a set period. 

Next, Richard Siegel, president and publisher of Hospitality Upgrade, was inducted into the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame. Siegel was selected for influencing the progress of hospitality technology by providing a publishing forum for information on the industry.

Wednesday�s general session, �How to Achieve a Positive ROT � Return on Technology� was presented by Don Neal, chief marketing officer for Marsh Affinity Group Services. Neal explained that companies need to establish a customer-centric business model to get a return on investment. Neal is an expert in both business and marketing strategy. His experience includes the design and implementation of integrated advertising, marketing, loyalty and sales processes based upon a media-neutral Customer Relationship Management (CRM) strategy. 

Wrapping up the education conference was Peter Greenberg in his presentation, �Marketing on the Net.� Greenberg discussed the new state of the travel business, from the airlines and bankruptcies to hotel occupancies and consumer rights. He emphasized that the use of high-technology won�t mean a difference for the travel industry if the low-tech, like the human touch, isn�t working. Greenberg is the travel editor for NBC�s Today Show and author of the eagerly anticipated The Travel Detective: Secrets You Can�t Leave Home Without.

For those who were not able to attend HITEC 2003, visit online.hitec.org to review information on HITEC 2003 exhibitors. Also on the web site are interviews that were conducted directly in the exhibit hall. Kevin Heilbronner, host of the interviews, spoke with industry experts, HITEC speakers, various exhibitors and HFTP Board members. If you didn�t make it this year, start making plans to attend next year�s HITEC in Dallas at the Dallas Convention Center on June 22� 24, 2004.

Based in Austin, Texas, HFTP is the professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, resorts, clubs, casinos, restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses. The association provides continuing education and networking opportunities to more than 4,000 members around the world, and produces the premiere hospitality technology shows HITEC and ONHTEC. HFTP also administers the examination and awards the certification for the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in 1952 as the National Association of Hotel Accountants.

HFTP®, HITEC® and ONHTEC® are registered service marks of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals.