Because the world’s largest, longest-running hospitality know-how exposition and convention, HITEC North America has at all times been a sexy vacation spot for hospitality buyers and know-how firms alike. Annually, the convention brings collectively lots of of the newest hospitality know-how services and products onto one large present ground, proving to be an indispensable alternative for a lot of of these trying to underwrite innovation within the trade.
In 2024, the producers of HITEC acknowledged a have to create much more worth for this contingent of attendees: by launching a brand-new, co-located occasion referred to as HITEC Know-how Funding Convention (HITEC-IC). Happening on the tail finish of #HITEC Week, June 27-28, the inaugural HITEC-IC includes a comprehensively investment-focused schooling program, curated excursions of the HITEC Exhibit Corridor, and networking alternatives to particularly join the funding neighborhood with representatives from the businesses behind the know-how.
It is very important not solely know which applied sciences are driving innovation within the hospitality trade, but in addition learn how to consider the chance and worth of those applied sciences in financial phrases. Subsequently, the schooling program has been rigorously developed to current a variety of helpful views and experience together with the resort technologist, monetary advisors, the entrepreneur now listed on NASDAQ, and the advocate group AAHOA who champions the resort trade nationally.
Planning the convention’s instructional part is occasion chair Prakash Shukla, who serves as an advisor on the HFTP World Govt Committee. Shukla’s skilled expertise overlaps extensively between the funding sector and hospitality know-how. He presently is managing companion at Wayfare Ventures, an angel capital funding agency supporting the commercialization of improvements in journey, know-how and associated companies. His background entails funding, normal administration, finance, know-how and entrepreneurship, with earlier roles as companion at personal fairness agency HandsOn World Administration (HGM), SVP/CIO of TAJ Group of Inns, and an early investor within the firms Speech & Software program Applied sciences, TravelGuru and Transerv. Shukla was inducted into the HFTP Worldwide Hospitality Know-how Corridor of Fame in 2016.
Kicking off the HITEC-IC 2024 schooling program is Ground Bleeker, Group CTP for Accor. In his session “Tipping Level in Hospitality: Rising Investments and Maturing Applied sciences,” Bleeker will present a forward-looking perspective on the technological developments shaping the hospitality trade together with sustainability and AI. Attendees will come to know the strategic benefits of investing in superior hospitality tech together with enhanced operational effectivity, price financial savings and improved visitor satisfaction to drive sustainable progress and future readiness.
A spotlight of this system is a candid, insightful case examine of Agilysys. Led by its CEO/President Ramesh Srinivasan, “The Agilysys (Nasdaq: AGYS) Turnaround Story – 2017 to 2024” will discover the enterprise software program firm’s transformation from low-level stagnation to an almost tenfold progress in market capitalization in just below seven years (with a two-year world pandemic in between). The corporate will share what was performed effectively and what might have been performed higher, the teachings discovered, and the method that must be used to drive income progress, enhance profitability and obtain outcomes.
A panel of AAHOA’s management together with President/CEO Laura Lee Blake, Vice Chairman Kamalesh Patel and Chairman Miraj Patel may also discover the trade’s newest technological developments in visitor expertise, operational effectivity and sustainable practices, plus present sensible, actionable options tailor-made for resort homeowners. Of their session “Revolutionizing Hospitality: Slicing-edge Tech Improvements for Lodge House owners on the Grassroots Degree,” attendees will achieve insights into how grassroots-level improvements can drive progress, improve buyer satisfaction and provides your resort a aggressive edge. Attendees may also profit from listening to in regards to the affect these applied sciences have in real-world functions from resort homeowners who oversee operations on the ground-level.
One other panel will discover know-how investments from the asset proprietor’s perspective, to know what drives their selections, and the way they create worth from their investments now and sooner or later. Be a part of panelists (Michael Clean, Principal at Woodmont Lodging, Jeffrey Friedlander, SVP at Clarion Companions, and Melissa Silvers, Principal at SCS Advisors) and moderator David Chestler (President at ProVision Companions) to discover how know-how impacts investments within the hospitality trade whereas balancing operations, visitor engagement and budgets. What are asset managers actually searching for when managing their tasks and portfolios? How can manufacturers differentiate themselves? And the way can distributors attraction to asset homeowners and operators?
The schooling program will additional join tech innovation with underlying financial rules that drive funding selections. First, discover the worldwide state of the economic system with Jim Meek, Managing Director Wealth Administration-Institutional Consulting Director at Graystone Consulting, a enterprise of Morgan Stanley. And in one other session entitled “Economics, Dangers and Asset Pricing,” attendees shall be shared helpful insights into the macroeconomic variables, potential dangers and present developments driving progress and contraction within the hospitality trade. The chief for this session, Samir Shah, CIO at MBS Mantra, LLC will join economics, cash provide, rates of interest and leverage to pricing and efficiency in business actual property and hospitality asset investments, whereas additionally evaluating the dangers they create.
Capping off the primary full day of this system shall be a two-hour sequence of roundtable discussions hosted by notable trade heavyweights together with: Sherry Marek, CEO at Aiken Road; Shannon McCallum, VP of Lodge Operations at Resorts World Las Vegas; Ian Millar, Senior Lecturer at EHL Hospitality Enterprise College; Wealthy Siegel, President/Writer at Hospitality Improve/Lodge On-line; Ira Vouk, Founder at Hospitality 2.0 Consulting; and Lyle Worthington, CEO at Worthington Tech.
The second and ultimate day of HITEC-IC will function a noteworthy dialogue led by Wealthy Siegel and HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe on the subject of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in hospitality, specializing in the exploration of real-world case examine methodology with the viewers.
Be taught extra in regards to the schooling program anticipated on the inaugural HITEC-IC, in addition to the varied networking alternatives, by visiting the full schedule on-line. Registration for HITEC-IC is now open. Please be aware that separate registration for this occasion is required from HITEC. Full occasion particulars can be found at www.hitec.org/special-events/hitec-ic.
