HOSPACE 2013 – HOSPA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition for Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management, IT and Commercial Professionals – to be held on 21 November at the Sofitel London Heathrow, Terminal 5.
‘Is Technology good for the hotel/hospitality business?’ is the title of the eagerly awaited annual IT Debate at HOSPACE 2013 when a panel of top hospitality IT experts will be exploring the implications of current rapid advances in technology on businesses and guest IT expectations.
Under the astute guidance of Bryan Steele, Chair of the HOSPA IT Community, the distinguished line-up of panellists debating this motion will include: Jeremy Ward, Senior Vice President of IT, Kempinski Hotels and Resorts (pictured right); Timo Kettern, IT Director Europe, Westbridge Europe (Westmont Hospitality Group); Carson Booth, Vice President, Global Property Technology, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; and Paul Squires, UK Head of Wireless Portfolio, Motorola Solutions.
Hot topics to be addressed will include: the future of in-room hotel entertainment systems with the proliferation of iPads, tablets and laptops – enabling guests to download movies for themselves through various streaming, movie services as well as catch-up players; the changing role of televisions in terms of interactivity and security when connected to guest mobile technology; the bandwidth required to meet the increasing demands for streaming through the internet; should Wi-Fi be free (is that permitted or does it risk market fixing accusations?); and is technology good for guest spend and hotel choice, or does its main benefit lie in backroom support for operating the business effectively, more environmentally efficiently and profitably? These key issues and questions, plus many more, will be put to the expert panel by debate chairman Bryan Steele.
“The rapid advances in technology have meant that hospitality owners and managers are having to constantly rethink not only the way they use technology for running their businesses, but also the types and ranges of technological services they now need to offer their customers, in line with more sophisticated consumer expectation,” explained Bryan Steele. “We are delighted to have such an eminent panel of hospitality IT professionals to debate this vitally important topic of ‘Is technology good for the hotel/hospitality business?’
An added bonus is that each panellist will be summarising a recent hospitality technology related project they have been involved with.”
The IT debate will provide what promises to be a lively and thought provoking finale to the morning sessions at HOSPACE 2013 –– the most prestigious gathering of like-minded hospitality practitioners in the UK – which is to be held on Thursday, 21 November at the Sofitel London Heathrow, Terminal 5.
In addition to the Hospitality IT Debate, other highlights of HOSPACE 2013 – designed for Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management, IT and Commercial Professionals – include: a scene-setting ‘Leaders Panel’ discussion by hospitality captains of industry on ‘Key issues, trends and developments facing the industry today’; a top-level Finance Panel discussion on ‘The changing face of the funding landscape for the hospitality sector’; and a highly informative Revenue Management Debate on ‘Integrating all the feeds for Revenue Management’. Delegates also will be able to benefit from HOSPACE’s popular, highly topical programme of hospitality industry specific educational workshops – all led by top specialists in their subjects.
As in past years, HOSPACE will be supported by a growing and increasingly influential exhibition of hospitality technology solutions – providing delegates with a ‘one stop shop’ to view and interact with the latest and ‘best in class’ technologies – covering all eventualities for any hospitality business, whether they be start-up, established independent, or multi chain-owned, operations.
For regularly updated information on HOSPACE 2013 (HOSPA Conference and IT Exhibition), visit the HOSPACE 2013 website. For bookings and further details for HOSPACE 2013, contact the HOSPA Membership Services Office on telephone: 01202 889 430; fax: 01202 887 967; or email bookings@hospace.net.