HFTP Announces Microsoft as Patron Sponsor of GUESTROOM 20X
AUSTIN, TEXAS USA (March 24, 2010) — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) announced today that Microsoft is the patron sponsor of GUESTROOM 20X, a futuristic guestroom featuring the hospitality industry's most innovative technologies. The exhibit debuts at the 2010 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. HITEC 2010, produced by HFTP, is June 21-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. USA.
“With the pace of technology change, it is important to understand what possibilities lay ahead," said Geoff Cairns, worldwide managing director of Hospitality & Travel for Microsoft. "The vision GUESTROOM 20X explores serves as a great guide post towards the development of the supporting systems, infrastructure and cloud services which themselves are evolving quickly to meet the needs of our industry.”
GUESTROOM 20X is a model guestroom featuring the latest and near-future technologies for the modern hotel room. HFTP produces a new version of the special exhibit every other year, after a worldwide, comprehensive search of existing, cutting-edge and future guestroom innovations. The exhibit originally debuted at HITEC 2006 and has been on display at various trade shows since. Technologies in the exhibit include non-traditional types such as lighting, eco-friendly products, fabrics and furniture, as well as traditional technology such as next-generation televisions, telephones and robots.
“Over the years, GUESTROOM 20X has become an important reference for the future of guestroom technology,” said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. “It takes a lot of time and hard work to pull the model guestroom together and we appreciate Microsoft's support in fostering the future of our industry.”
Submit a Technology for GUESTROOM 20X
HFTP is conducting a comprehensive global search for the latest and near-future technologies for the newest version of GUESTROOM 20X. The deadline to submit a technology for consideration is Wednesday, March 31. Those submitting a technology do not have to be a member of HFTP or a current HITEC 2010 exhibitor. Submissions are carefully chosen by the GUESTROOM 20X Task Force, a group of hospitality technology leaders and experts. Applications are available at www.guestroom20x.org.
For more information about GUESTROOM 20X visit www.guestroom20x.org or contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333 x26.
HFTP, Austin, Texas, USA and Maastricht, The Netherlands, founded in 1952, is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses. HFTP provides first class educational opportunities, research, and publications to members around the globe including, the premiere hospitality technology conference HITEC--founded in 1972. HFTP also awards the only hospitality specific certifications for accounting and technology --the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in the USA as the National Association of Hotel Accountants.