The Newly Established HFTP Foundation Exceeds Fundraising Goals with Founding Donors Campaign

The Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) Foundation has raised significant support in its first months to enact its initial goals for hospitality research and scholarship programs. In the time period between September through November 2019, the Foundation raised over $85K through a Founding Donors campaign. Contributors will have the unique honor of forever being recognized as a Founding Donor.

A separate operation from HFTP, the HFTP Foundation will secure nonprofit funding for hospitality and travel industry-related research, educational projects and scholarships. It will oversee the three HFTP Research Centers - Americas, Asia and the Middle East. The new organization is led by Executive Director Lucinda Hart, CAE, MBA, who has been with HFTP for 25 years.

"It has been astounding to receive this level of backing for the Foundation from the get-go," said HFTP Foundation Executive Director Lucinda Hart, CAE, MBA. "This demonstrates the passion of our support network to build an organization that promotes the ongoing and future success of the industry. With the assistance of this initial funding, we are able to proceed with much of our planned research projects and scholarship distribution."

The Research Centers work with industry experts to develop reports on topics that will help companies make smart, strategic decisions. In 2020, the HFTP Foundation is set to release reports on wireless networks, hotel labor costs and the biannual HFTP Compensation and Benefits survey.

The Foundation also supports the association's scholarship initiatives. Supporting academics and the next generation of professionals has always been a core objective for HFTP. With education and networking at the heart of its purpose, extending the HFTP network's expertise to the next generation of hospitality professionals is a natural part of this. The Foundation's aim is to bolster the HFTP scholarship program.

In addition to the Founding Donors campaign, the HFTP Foundation also raised funds at the HFTP Foundation Silent Auction which was held at the HFTP Annual Convention October 23-25 in Orlando, Florida USA. Future fundraising events will be held at HITEC North America held June 15-18, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas USA and at the 2020 HFTP Annual Convention held October 14-16, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.

Contributions include generous donations from:

HFTP Foundation Legacy Donor

• Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals
• Sarona Holdings, The Rama Family

Founder's Circle ($15,000+)

• POST Integrations, Inc.

Benefactor ($7,000 - $14,999)

• CBIZ
• Timothy G. Nauss, CHAE
• Lyle Worthington, CHTP

Keep up with the HFTP Foundation upcoming initiatives by visiting its website or following news updates on HFTP News.

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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