Ian Cole Named the 2008 CHTP of the Year
VP of Strategic Technology for Starwood Vacation Ownership
AUSTIN, TX, April 1, 2008. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)) will honor Ian Cole, CHTP, as the 2008 CHTP (Certified Hospitality Technology Professional) of the Year during the Opening Session of the 2008 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC(R)) on Monday, June 16. In its 11th year, the CHTP of the Year honors the individual that scored the highest on the CHTP certification exam in a given year. HITEC 2008 is June 16-19 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.
"I'm honored to be the 2008 CHTP of the Year," said Cole. "I am a strong advocate of both continuous learning and industry knowledge and the CHTP certification allows me to demonstrate my commitment to these goals."
Cole is vice president of strategic technology for Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO). He leads software development and web technology projects for SVO and is accountable for aligning business and technology strategy, as well as identifying and implementing new technologies. Ian joined SVO in 1998 and has been part of the IT leadership that helped the company grow from a small public company to being part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Cole has been a member of HFTP since 2002 and is the chairman of the American Resort Developers Association Technology Forum. He frequently speaks at conferences, like HITEC, on topics such as mixed use technology, IT organizational design and leadership, enterprise information management (EIM), business process management (BPM) and customer relationship management (CRM).
Developed jointly by HFTP and the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the CHTP designation is the ultimate achievement in hospitality information technology by showing a dedication to both the hospitality and technology industries. The CHTP exam was first given in 1994 at HITEC in Dallas, Texas. Since then, more than 250 professionals have earned the CHTP designation around the world. HFTP also administers the examination and awards the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE).
For more information about certification, contact the Certification Department at certification@hftp.org, (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333 x29. For more information about HITEC, visit www.hitec.org or e-mail attendee@hftp.org.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
