HFTP 2014 Update
HFTP, or Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, is focused on serving as an important extension to individuals who have dedicated their professional careers to hospitality finance and technology. To maintain its value to HFTP members and the industry, the association continually evolves its services to meet current professional expectations and is breaking down geographic barriers to seamlessly offer its benefits globally.
Over the past year, HFTP has put into play a number of initiatives that push it forward, including updating its certification programs, expanding its presence outside of the United States, developing important professional resources and offering new outlets for information delivery. Here’s a look at where the association is putting its efforts.
Global Expansion Continues
HFTP aims to make its services available, no matter where you live. To do this, the association initially expanded the hours of its Austin, Texas-based global headquarters. The extended hours give members in all time zones the opportunity to speak directly with an HFTP staff member.
In addition, the ProLink webinars, which are free to HFTP members, are now regularly scheduled at varied times. The webinars cover numerous industry-related topics presented by expert speakers, and the staggered scheduling allows members outside the United States the opportunity to participate in sessions, which are interactive when one tunes in to a live broadcast.
The association is also taking root in new locales. This fall HFTP opened a research office based at the The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The new office will work on projects designed to enhance the education and professional development of hospitality practitioners in Asia.
In November is the HOSPACE Conference & Exhibition in London, during which HFTP is taking an active role. The event is produced by U.K.-based HOSPA, Hospitality Finance and IT Professionals, an allied association with HFTP. HFTP will work with HOSPA to grow the conference, contributing its resources developed as a producer of HITEC (Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference).
CHAE and CHTP with Impact
HFTP’s designations are changing with the industry through a whole new bank of exam questions that reflect current business practices. The updated exams for both the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) and Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) will hold weight by testing applicants’ knowledge on today’s relevant topics and continue to signify a professional’s dedication to the hospitality industry. The CHTP exam has already integrated new questions, and the CHAE exam will come next with new questions slated for 2015. In order to continue to keep the hundreds of CHAE and CHTP exam questions fresh and relevant, including the new ones currently being added, HFTP has now developed HexQ (Hospitality Exam Questions). This custom software traces the history of an exam question, including when it was last reviewed, flags it for review, marks it for revision and more. Looking forward, this automated system will help HFTP maintain the value of both designations with an active process for reviewing and updating the questions.
Find it at the New HFTP.org
All the details on these new initiatives can be located at the new HFTP.org. In the works for a year, the new website serves as a central portal to HFTP, and can be read in multiple languages thanks to the Google translator tool integrated into the site.
All these efforts are obviously making an impact; since October 1, 2013, HFTP has gained more than 1,000 new members, and its overall membership includes stakeholders from 55 countries. The association works hard to enhance its members’ professional path and the industry as a whole, and will continue to evolve its services.
© 2014 Hospitality Upgrade
This work may not be reprinted, redistributed or repurposed without written consent.
For permission requests, call 678.802.5302 or email info@hospitalityupgrade.com.