Hospitality Technology Trends and Ideas Dominate Discussion at 2009 EHTEC

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. February 05, 2009

FEBRUARY 5, 2009 - Networking and idea-sharing thrived at the third-annual 2009 European Hospitality Technology Educational Conference (EHTEC), covering a wide spectrum of European hospitality technology issues. Despite an uncertain start because of storm-related travel delays in Europe, prominent hospitality professionals gathered in Amsterdam to give insight into an extensive range of topics from how to profit from hospitality trends to adapting to the Millennial Generation.

A service of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)), 2009 EHTEC was February 2 - 4, 2009 at the Amsterdam Hilton in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

'ETHEC is the perfect place to get and stay in touch with the ever-faster, changing hotel technology world,' said Michael Levie, CEO of citizenM, a member of the EHTEC Advisory Council and featured 2009 EHTEC speaker. 'The technology offered at citizenM over the years has been very positively influenced by HFTP, through HITEC and ETHEC. It is a pleasure and an honor for us to present some of the results of the outcome and contribute back this way.'

EHTEC offers two days of focused technology education and various networking opportunities with peers and suppliers. Along with six featured sessions, EHTEC delegates customized their education with a variety of concurrent sessions. The EHTEC Advisory Council, a group of global hospitality experts, designed a program that addresses tough technology issues prominent in Europe. Important topics addressed include environmental responsibility, in-room technology, data security, optimizing hospitality business processes and more.

'With budgets-tightening across the industry, it is extremely important for hoteliers and technology professionals to gather together in a forum such as EHTEC,' said Jules Sieburgh, CHTP, a hospitality consultant with O'Neal Consulting and the HFTP Global president. 'Feedback from the attendees here about the conference was exceptional."

'EHTEC as ever has been a great educational experience with modern up-to-date subjects, sessions and speakers, excellent new networking possibilities, and time to catch up with friends,' said Ian Millar, CHTP, lecturer at Ecole Hoteliere De Lausanne in Switzerland, EHTEC Advisory Council member and HFTP Global board member.

Thank you to all the 2009 EHTEC sponsors for their support and for sharing their perspective of the hospitality technology issues discussed during the conference.

Featured Sessions at 2009 EHTEC:

o 'Global Hospitality Trends: Profit From Change' with Chekitan Dev, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

o "Hiring Technology - How Guests Can Do Our Work" with Michael Levie, citizenM and Matthew Harrington, citizenM

o "What Hoteliers Really Want From Hospitality IT Companies" with Michael Gray, Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill

o 'Using Mobile Technology - Re-engaging the Customer' with Timothy Jefferson, The Human Chain

o 'Short Range Wireless Networks and Hotel Applications' with Frank Breugelmans, Siemens, Jeremy Ward, Kempinski Hotels, and Simon Ianson, Swisscom

o 'The Millennial - Our Associates and Our Guests' with Chekitan Dev, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

For more information about 2009 EHTEC, send inquiries to [email protected], or call (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333.

ion, visit www.hftp.org.