8:00 - 10:00 AM General Session

Ten Trends in Technology
Dave Berkus, HFTP Technology Hall of Fame member and President of Berkus Technology Ventures, presents his “Ten Trends in Technology” that shape how we plan in 2008 and beyond. Berkus has been defining the future of technology for fifteen years, Mr. Berkus was an early pioneer in the mini-computer industry, guiding the company he founded, Computerized Lodging Systems, Inc., through a decade of spectacular growth, including two consecutive years on the Inc.500 list of America's fastest growing companies. Author of two books and numerous articles, Berkus asks us to contemplate the tough questions that come from an understanding of these trends, including “How do we remain competitive?” and “How does this affect our individual careers?” Delivered with humor and insight, Berkus’s “Ten Trends” is a must-attend and appropriate morning kick-off that plans to cause a great deal of hallway conversation as attendees evaluate the impact upon their personal lives and corporate strategies.

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Exhibits Open

2:45 - 4:00 PM Concurrent Sessions

Measuring Your IT Performance
Learn how to show the value that IT Departments brings to organizations as well as the advantages of building Service Level Agreements between your IT Department and the Business Units. Discuss how to measure the success or failure of your IT department. Also, learn how to utilize feedback to improve your IT Department's value to the organization.

Using Technology to Market Your Brand
Explore what technologies properties can use to market their Unique Story Proposition (USP). Learn how reinforce your USP and maintain top-of-mind awareness in all marketing communications.

Meeting Room Technology
Participate in a hands-on review of some technology offerings and learn which ones enhance overall meeting and public space areas. The session addresses design considerations that are necessary to implement these systems. Some of the areas covered are Audio Visual design, Wireless technology considerations, Digital Signage, Outdoor function space requirements, screening rooms. Also, take an inside look at specialized technology offerings for public space areas including: advances in public space background sound and content offerings Retail Stores, Spas, and Fitness Rooms.

IT Governance and Best Practices
Discuss practical tips on how to run an IT organization based on globally accepted best practices. Learn about IT strategy and business alignment, IT governance models, IT organizational structure, and of course IT funding.

Internet Marketing and Distribution Strategy in a Web 2.0 World
The travel industry has been hit with a tidal wave called Web 2.0 and it is changing the fundamentals of both marketing and distribution strategy. Riding this wave requires new skills and approaches in technology, sales, marketing, revenue management, eCommerce, and distribution management. It will impact the way organizations interact both internally and with the consumer. Understanding the nature of the changes can help executives in each discipline plan and execute more effectively. At this session, explore the tools of social media and the nature of social networks. Attendees will also discuss the implications for Web 2.0 on the overall marketing effort as well as the implications for distribution planning and management.

4:15 - 5:30 PM

Pricing in Today's Fast-Paced Hospitality Market
How can your organization improve on pricing principles and the pricing process? What should you use as the top considerations when determining pricing? The session explores these questions in detail and determines how much weight competitive pricing should impact your organization’s pricing strategies as well as impact short term arrivals.

Bandwidth Challenges in a Media Rich World
The number one amenity in hotels today is High Speed Internet Access and the number one problem is meeting guest expectations for bandwidth. In this session review the many issues and causes influencing the increased demand for internet bandwidth. Then analyze proactive, cost effective options, new technologies to consider and scaling strategies hotels can implement to meet guest growing demands while insuring fiscal responsibility.

RFID and the Guest Connection
Learn the direct implications of RFID technology for the hospitality industry. Explore the RFID possibilities for hotels. Can we leverage RFID technologies to enhance CRM and create better experiences for their guests? Review the role of RFID in enabling awareness as well as address privacy concerns.

Benchmarking: Hospitality IT
Analyze the results of Hospitality Upgrade’s new, cutting-edge IT benchmarking survey. As opposed to past benchmarking studies, this survey provides an aggregate as well as detailed view of both technology spending and utilization in the industry’s leading-edge companies. Join participants for an in-depth discussion on these unique and thought provoking results.

Supplier Session: The Changing Face of the Consumer
In this session learn how hoteliers can continue to reach and influence online travelers in a dynamic, user led web 2.0 and social media. Meanwhile, in the race to acquire as much traffic as possible, the importance of the online customer experience is often forgotten. Yet this, sometimes brief experience, has a dramatic effect on conversion rates. Explore how rich media directly impacts customer conversion for hospitality sites and why hoteliers need to build their visual strategy. Sessions shares how to use video content to drive qualified traffic to a website.  industry.