Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) and Hospitality Upgrade are honored to announce Zaira Valls as the recipient of the 2025 John Cahill Student Seat for this year’s CIO Summit. This distinguished recognition is awarded annually to one exceptional student from a hospitality program who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and a passion for innovation in hospitality technology.

Zaira, an outstanding student in the Bachelor of Hospitality Management program at Acsenda School of Management in British Columbia, was selected for her academic focus on AI and automation in front desk operations, her leadership as a mentor for Women of Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality (WORTH) Association, and her consistent academic achievements. HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade are excited to welcome her to the 2025 CIO Summit, taking place Sept. 3–5 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver where more than 70 CIOs from the hospitality industry are expected to attend.

HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE said, “Each year, the selection process for the John Cahill Honorary Seat becomes more competitive, with an impressive pool of students from top hospitality programs around the world. Choosing just one recipient is never easy, but Zaira Valls truly stands out. Her strong academic record, creative use of technology, and clear drive as a leader made her an exceptional choice. She embodies the spirit of this award, and we’re thrilled to recognize her as the 2025 recipient.”

Dr. Thomas Gomes, director of the BHM Program, also praised her achievements, “With her drive, creativity, and commitment, Zaira Valls is poised to become a future leader in the global hospitality industry.”

The John Cahill Honorary Seat is awarded to one distinguished student from a selected university or four-year college with a hotel program. This student is recommended by his or her professors as an individual with great potential in the hotel technology industry.

The John Cahill Honorary Seat was created in memory of industry leader, technologist, mentor and friend John Cahill, a big supporter of the CIO Summit from its inception in 2001. Over the course of his career, Cahill was the CIO for three hotel companies – ITT Sheraton, InterContinental Hotels and The Denihan Hospitality Group. Cahill was an active HFTP leader, with his contributions including co-editing the inaugural Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP®) exam in 1995 and serving as HFTP Global President in 2001–2002.

Above all, Cahill was a mentor. HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade wish to see John’s memory live on by presenting one student each year with an exclusive opportunity to attend an otherwise closed-door, invitation-only CIO Summit, allowing the student to sit in John’s seat for the two-day event.

The previous recipients of this award include inaugural recipient Spencer Rung, a 2016 graduate of the Penn State School of Hospitality Management; the 2017 recipient, Andrew Trupia, a graduate of the University of Nevada - Las Vegas; the 2018 recipient Juan Jesus Trevino, a student of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston; the 2019 recipient, Smit Patel a graduate student of the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration program; the 2021 recipient was Alana Agcaoili, an undergraduate student of the Kennesaw State University School of Hospitality Administration; the 2022 recipient was Shannon Regan, an undergraduate student of the NAU School of HRM in the W. A. Franke College of Business; the 2023 recipient was Dylan Emerson, an undergraduate student of the Conrad Hilton College at the University of Houston; and the 2024 recipient was Andrew Pham, undergraduate student from UNLV.

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About The CIO Summit
The CIO Summit is an annual event produced by Hospitality Upgrade and HFTP. It is a unique, invitation-only event for chief information officers from hotel brands, management companies, cruise lines, gaming and independent hotels. This year’s CIO Summit will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, on Sept. 3-5, 2025.
For more information about The CIO Summit, please visit the CIO Summit website.

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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 magazine Hospitality Upgrade and the premier daily email and news site Hotel Online.