Produced yearly by HFTP, Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) showcases the industry’s latest innovations, and provides a top-notch education program for attendees. HITEC Houston took place from June 18-21, 2018, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
HITEC Houston featured more than 120 speakers, including futurist Mike Walsh and data security expert Theresa Payton as the keynote speakers. The daily education sessions addressed trending topics including: data security, IT initiatives, sustainability and CSR, AI, leadership development, blockchain, millennials reshaping the industry and more. The Houston exhibit floor featured 397 exhibitors showcasing the latest in hospitality technology products and services. An impressive 47 registered press members were in attendance covering the event.
“Thank you to everyone who helped make HITEC Houston a huge success,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. “HITEC Houston was not only the highest attended HITEC conference to date, but it was also the highest attended overall conference in HFTP’s 65-year history. HFTP looks forward to continuing to serve the hospitality technology community in years to come. See you next year in Minneapolis!”
The Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) Houston innovation competition for hospitality startups featured 16 startups, an expert panel of six judges and 16 industry mentors who coached the entrepreneurs before their four-minute pitch. Reply.ai won the E20X Judge’s Award grand prize of $5,000 USD, and Beekeeper was chosen by conference attendees – via the HFTP Multi-event app – as the E20X People’s Choice Award winner. The HITEC Houston Opening Party, presented by Samsung and HFTP, featured multiplatinum rapper Flo Rida and took place at the famous House of Blues Houston.
Three hospitality technology industry leaders were recognized and awarded at HITEC Houston: 2018 HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame recipients Tammy Farley and Jing Zhu; and 2018 CHTP of the Year recipient Sean Van Dyke, CHTP. HFTP also hosted its annual HITEC Helps social responsibility project during HITEC Houston, and raised funds for local nonprofit Compudopt, an organization that provides technology access and education to underserved youth.
Attendees with access to the HFTP Multi-event app can use it to refer back to the attendee list and exhibitors to follow up on the event. HITEC Minneapolis will be held June 17-20, 2019, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn., USA. In addition, HFTP has several other coming events. The HFTP Annual Convention iwill be held October 24-26 at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kent., USA; HITEC Dubai will take place December 5-6 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE; and HITEC Europe will be held April 10-11, 2019, at Palau de Congressos in Palma (Mallorca) Spain.