HFTP 2010 Annual Convention & Tradeshow Recap

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. October 25, 2010

AUSTIN, TX - October 20, 2010 - Nearly 600 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) members and other hospitality industry professionals recently gathered for HFTP's 58th Annual Convention & Tradeshow. The convention was held October 11 - 14 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, Calif. Attendees celebrated the association's successful year with a convention full of targeted education sessions, numerous networking opportunities, access to leading suppliers at the tradeshow and awards to various individuals and chapters.

"The conference was an amazing week of quality educational sessions, clearly setting HFTP apart from other association conferences of this type as the leader," James Schiff, CPA, CHAE, controller at Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown and convention attendee.

The education sessions were presented by experts from all segments of the hospitality industry. The three general sessions covered reaching full potential by focusing on the most essential aspects of life, working with four distinctly different generations and regaining control of an accelerated lifestyle by accomplishing important tasks in less time. The concurrent education sessions allowed attendees to discuss hot industry topics like PCI compliance, going green, internal controls, fraud, the latest tax issues, social networking and more.

With a Welcome Reception and Exhibits on opening night, special off-site social events and the elegant President's Evening, attendees had the opportunity to network and socialize throughout the convention with colleagues and vendors. Meanwhile, the tradeshow featured exhibitors representing a variety of hospitality products and services, as they offered their expertise on finding cost-effective solutions to current work challenges.

“This was our first opportunity to showcase our hospitality-specific smart safe at an HFTP tradeshow,” said Ed Grondahl, EVP global sales for Tidel Engineering and tradeshow exhibitor. “Our results were fantastic and we look forward to returning year after year.”

The Annual Convention was also a time for recognition of individuals and chapters. Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP, was posthumously awarded the Paragon Award for his dedication to HFTP and his tireless work educating its members. Jason Hizer, CHAE, director of finance for the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, Calif., was honored as the CHAE of the Year for scoring the highest on the CHAE exam in the past year. HFTP also awarded the Chapters of the Year. The winners, formatted with three tiers of winners based on number of members, included the Southern Alberta Chapter (1-35 members), Greater Milwaukee Chapter (36-70 members) and Mid-Florida Chapter (71+ members).

The 2011 HFTP Annual Convention & Tradeshow will be October 19-22 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333.

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.