August 5, 2025 (Austin, Texas) – Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) and Hospitality Upgrade are thrilled to announce Bob Flores, former chief technology officer (CTO) for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as the keynote speaker for the upcoming and highly-anticipated CIO Summit. Following his CIA career, Flores founded Applicology, Inc. and is a visionary leader at the intersection of cybersecurity, intelligence, and advanced technology.  

A Board Qualified Technical Executive (QTE), Bob is a trusted advisor to multiple early-stage technology companies and is a former co-chair of the Cloud Security Alliance’s Software Defined Perimeter Working Group. He is also an independent director for Filter Labs and a virtual CISO for early-stage companies.  Flores’ distinguished 31-year career at the CIA culminated in his role as the agency’s first enterprise CTO, following pivotal assignments across the directorates of intelligence, support, and operations. This extensive expertise positions him as a compelling thought leader for this year’s CIO Summit.

“Bob Flores’ remarkable career and industry knowledge make him an ideal speaker and it’s also a testament to the power of nonprofit groups working together,” said Frank Wolfe, HFTP CEO. “His deep insights into cybersecurity and emerging technologies are incredibly relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing cloud cybersecurity today.”

The 2025 CIO Summit is set to gather technology leaders in the hospitality industry, offering an exclusive platform to exchange ideas, discuss trends, and explore cutting-edge solutions. Flores’s presentation, “Thwarting Nation State Attacks,” will provide insights for a series of discussions aimed at addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges, including AI, data security and operational efficiency.   

In addition to Flores’ presentation, the 2025 CIO Summit will feature the following sessions:  

• Tariffs, Travel and Trouble – A Canadian and US Hotel Industry Economic Outlook
  Presented by Nicole Nguyen • SVP, Head of Hotels Valuation & Advisory, Canada • CBRE Hotels

• Where and How AI is Being Deployed in Hospitality
  Moderated by Harman Narula • CEO • Canary Technologies

• A CIO's Legal Compass: AI, Data Protection, Digital Identity and other Emerging Risks in Hospitality
  Presented by Greg Duff • Principal • Foster Garvey PC

• AI Agents, Super Intelligence, and What’s Next: A CIO's Guide to the Coming Wave
  Presented by Michael Goldrich • Founder and Chief Advisor • Vivander Advisors

• CIO Summit Round Table
  Moderated by Cameron Hammond • SVP, Global Field Technology Services • Hyatt Hotels Corp.

For a full program overview and speaker backgrounds, please visit the CIO Summit schedule. Note that the program is subject to change.  

About The CIO Summit

This year will mark the 23^rd CIO Summit, a unique, invitation-only event for chief information officers from hotel brands, management companies, cruise lines, gaming and independent hotels. Produced by HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade, this year’s CIO Summit will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, on Sept. 3-5, 2025.  To inquire about an invitation please contact Geneva Rinehart, HFTP SVP, Media Division.

For more information about The CIO Summit, please visit the CIO Summit website.  

About HFTP

‍ Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in the EU and Middle East. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP produces international events throughout the year, including the world's largest hospitality technology tradeshow and conference brand: HITEC.  In addition, it oversees the hospitality-specific Pineapplesearch.com® and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). HFTP also publishes the hospitality technology focused magazine Hospitality Upgrade and the premier daily email and news site Hotel Online.  

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