HFTP and HTNG Sign Partnership Agreement to Strengthen Resources for the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) and Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) announced during Hospitality Upgrade's Annual CIO Summit that they established a partnership geared toward strengthening the progression of the technology in the hospitality industry. The agreement is based on both organizations' desire to use each group's complementary strengths and resources to advance technology in the hospitality and travel industries.

"For years, HFTP and HTNG have worked in parallel in support of the hospitality technology industry," said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe. "Each organization has made great progress toward bringing the community together to establish education, standards, best practices and resources. Recognizing that working closer together would better serve the industry, the leadership of HTNG and HFTP has formed this partnership."

The two organizations are member-based nonprofits which draw from their volunteers' extensive knowledge bases to develop and present educational opportunities, industry standards, best practices and other resources. Through this agreement, HFTP and HTNG will cross-promote the programs of each organization to maximize the benefits and impacts of these efforts.

"HTNG and HFTP have played important roles in advancing technology in the hospitality and travel industry. With similar, but complementary missions, this partnership will bring the organizations closer together and codify the informal cooperation that has existed since HTNG's founding 16 years ago," said Mike Blake, CEO of HTNG.

The partnership establishes a corresponding presence within each organization's events and activities. The groups will promote each other's events on online calendar listings and news sites; as well as support each group's programs, including HFTP certifications and the HTNG Workgroups. Also, both HFTP and HTNG will invite leadership representatives from the other organization to participate in events, programs and advisory councils.

One of the first things the two organizations have agreed to do is to resurrect the Hospitality Technology Strategic Initiatives Council, co-founded by HFTP and HTNG in 2009. The council was composed of senior-level, industry leaders and related hospitality/travel associations to discuss pressing industry needs as they relate to hospitality technology. The council will work to identify industry initiatives and will determine the best possible home for these initiatives to reduce duplication efforts.

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). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org.

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