Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has unveiled the eight innovative startups selected to compete in this year’s Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) pitch competition, taking place on June 18, 2025, at HITEC 2025. The 2025 E20X cohort showcases technologies aimed at revolutionizing the hospitality industry—from streamlining operations and enhancing guest experiences to improving property-vendor communications and leveraging smart data for better decision-making.

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The power of women in the hotel and lodging industry was on full display as the AHLA Foundation’s flagship ForWard Conference made its Atlanta debut this week, bringing nearly 1000 hospitality professionals to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. With a theme centered on recognizing, accessing, and amplifying power, the two-day event delivered bold conversations, practical leadership tools, and high-impact programming — all designed to elevate women in hospitality. Featuring top industry executives and immersive experiences, ForWard 2025 marked a continued investment in building a more inclusive and dynamic future for the hotel and lodging industry.

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The Boutique Hotel Investment Conference, the premier gathering dedicated to independent boutique hotel investment, returns to New York City on June 4, 2025, at the Florence Gould Hall. It promises a dynamic day filled with high-impact conversations, strategic insights, and unmatched networking for owners, developers, investors, and visionaries in boutique and luxury hospitality.

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The third annual TravelTech Breakthrough Awards program has named the Authentication and Management Platform (AMP) from global hospitality guest technology provider SONIFI as the 2025 “Guest Experience Solution of the Year.”

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ProVision Partners (“ProVision”), a leading global strategic growth marketing, technology, and commercial services advisory firm to the travel and hospitality industry, today announces the appointment of Daniel Johnson as Strategic Advisor for the Europe, Middle East, andAfrica (EMEA) region. A veteran of the travel technology sector, Johnson brings over two decades of experience in cybersecurity, data protection and strategic consulting to his new role at ProVision Partners.

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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has just successfully hosted its first CIO Summit EMEA last week in Barcelona. The high-level IT executive event hosted 50+ hospitality industry professionals including hoteliers, consultants and vendors for two days, April 24–25 at the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel, to engage in roundtable discussions on the technologies set to have the biggest industry impact in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This new event was a branch of The CIO Summit from Hospitality Upgrade, the technology magazine of HFTP, which has been the most successful CIO-level networking event in North America for over 20 years.

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The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces with great sadness the sudden passing of Jason Smith, Vice President of Marketing Communications. Jason served HSMAI and the hospitality industry with distinction, dedication, and exceptional leadership for more than 24 years.

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Salto Systems has announced the launch of the new XS4 Mini Metal Tubular model, a cutting-edge electronic locking solution for upgrading and modernizing access control systems. This innovative lock offers a range of advanced features and an easy-to-install design that simplifies the transition from traditional mechanical-key-operated locks to state-of-the-art electronic access control. Ideal for bedrooms or dorms, maintenance teams no longer need to access the inside to change batteries, making routine requests faster and easier to complete.

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VENZA, a leading provider of cybersecurity, data protection, and compliance solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced the launch of its newest solution: Chargeback Support. Combining automated dispute alerts with reimbursement of qualifying credit card chargebacks, this innovative offering addresses one of the most pressing financial and operational challenges facing hospitality, delivering end-to-end revenue protection.

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