HFTP's Board of Directors Considering a HITEC Europe
Februay 2007
AUSTIN, TX, March 14, 2006. Hospitality Finanacial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) announced today that it is in the later stages of due diligence research to determine the feasibility of producing a version of its Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC(R)) in Europe. The 35-year-old event is the largest hospitality technology conference and exposition in the world, and has traditionally been held in alternating, large cities throughout the United States. The European HITEC would be a smaller version of the annual U.S. version.
"HFTP has received many requests to bring HITEC to Europe," said HFTP International President Ralph Miller, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, and president and owner Inntegrated Hospitality Management Ltd. "The HFTP Board of Directors is now seriously researching this option in response to the growing interest and our recent goal to expand the HFTP brand outside of North America."
In January, the HFTP Board of Directors held a strategic planning session to evaluate and discuss HFTP's numerous opportunities outside of North America and their impact on existing HFTP members. At the close of the meeting, the Board decided to actively pursue global opportunities, and in turn HFTP has established a European office and is participating in a number of hospitality industry events around the world.
"Having produced HITEC for over three decades, the association has the expertise and the network to put on a significant European version of HITEC," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, HFTP CEO and executive vice president. "We are exploring the possibilities of a Pan-European conference held in a city like Amsterdam, Berlin or Paris."
The proposed format would include two full days of conference education sessions, an opening welcome reception for attendees and sponsors, open evening for sponsor entertaining, and an exhibits area for sponsors to show their products.
HFTP will conclude its due diligence process on this potential event by May 15, 2006, and an announcement will be made after consideration by the HFTP Board of Directors during their Global Expansion Strategic Planning meeting in June. Through its partnership with Hsyndicate, Inc., the leading global hospitality electronic news provider, HFTP already has a reach of more than 10,000 hospitality professionals throughout Europe, and should HFTP proceed, it is likely that HITEC Europe would happen as soon as early February 2007.
Industry comments about this possible initiative can be e-mailed to hitec.europe@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 
