Hundreds of hospitality leaders and decision makers have converged in Dubai ahead of the debut Middle Eastern leg of Hospitality Industry

(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - November 14th, 2017 - Hundreds of hospitality leaders and decision makers have converged in Dubai ahead of the debut Middle Eastern leg of Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, HITEC, the world’s largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand, which takes place on November 14 – 15 at Conrad Dubai.

HITEC Dubai is co-produced by Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Naseba, and endorsed by Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the principal authority for the planning and marketing of tourism in Dubai

HITEC Dubai will feature an expo floor with more than 40 technology providers showcasing the latest industry innovations. It also features a brand-new summit portion with meticulously crafted educational sessions, panel discussions, tech talks, workshops and networking sessions for senior hospitality executives to explore collaborations and partnerships.

With an industry-leading agenda covering Smart rooms, loyalty by blockchain, PMS, sustainable technology, all-cloud hotels and Smart data analytics, the event’s opening address will be delivered by Jumeirah Group CIO and HITEC Dubai Advisory Council chair, Marwan Al Ali.

Further highlights on the agenda include Emilio Dragas, CEO, m3connect, who will deliver a Tech Talk session titled Bandwidth (5G) and its impact on the hotel market; and HFTP Hall of Fame member Fraser Hickox, Managing Director, Conceptual Group, who will present a session on technology project management.

Other confirmed speakers include Dr. Sanjay Nadkarni Director, Research and Innovation, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; Laurent A. Voivenel, SVP - Operations & Development, for the Middle East, Africa and India, Swiss-Belhotel International; Bob Gilbert, CEO, HSMAI; and Nigel Hattersley, Sr. Director Technology MEA, Marriott.

Laurent Voivenel, said, “HITEC is the largest hospitality technology show for hotels worldwide and it is exciting to see its debut in Dubai. As we operate in smart cities such as Dubai, our hotels need to be smart too and HITEC provides a great opportunity to learn about the latest technological developments and trends shaping our industry.”

Naveen Bharadwaj, Production Director of Naseba said: “From robotic butlers, to mobile phone key cards and cutting edge content systems, technology is transforming the Middle Eastern tourism and hospitality market at a break-neck pace. The debut of HITEC in the Middle East marks a new era in collaboration and best practice management, facilitated by a recognised and prestigious global brand. That is constantly at the forefront of technological development in the hospitality space.”

HITEC Dubai is supported by lead sponsor m3connect, gold sponsors, AVAYA, xnprotel, Acentic, Oracle Hospitality, and silver sponsor and official lounge partner, Lufthansa Industry Solutions, who will all be represented in the exhibitor hall. Other key exhibitors include market leaders such as IDS Next, Otrum, Assa Abloy and many more.

Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP said:  “With the number of projects being built and under refurbishment, Dubai is one of the most attractive hospitality markets in the world. Leadership in the UAE are looking to foster innovation and HITEC DUBAI wants to be the bridge that connects hospitality and technology in the region. We’d like to thank our advisory council, sponsors, exhibitors, attendees and partners and I look forward to welcoming everyone to HITEC DUBAI.”

HITEC DUBAI’s summit begins at 9:00 AM and takes place on the 4th floor of the Conrad Hotel. The expo will also be running concurrently from 10:30 AM and will be taking place on the 4th floor.

For more information, contact Sharath Ravi on +971 44 55 79 13 or email at sharathr@naseba.com

About HITEC Dubai
Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) is the world’s largest and oldest hospitality technology exposition and conference brand. HITEC offers a unique combination of top-notch education and brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe to one place.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of HITEC, will partner with Naseba, a business facilitation company, to bring the brand to Dubai. Making the event accessible to buyers from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.

The show will offer an education program and exhibits. In addition, HITEC Dubai will feature a summit with one-to-one business meetings that have become the hallmark of Naseba’s platforms. Hoteliers attending the summit portion of HITEC Dubai will be pre-qualified to confirm their purchasing authority, budgets, timelines and solutions of interest.
hitec.naseba.com

About HFTP
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with members and stakeholders spanning across the globe. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. It does this via its expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events such as HITEC. HFTP also owns the world's only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com®.

For more information about HFTP, email membership@hftp.org or download the HFTP/HITEC media kit. Follow HFTP/HITEC on HFTP Connect, Facebook (@HFTPGlobal; @HITECconference), LinkedIn, Twitter (@HFTP), Instagram (@HFTP_HITEC), Flickr and YouTube for the latest news. Stay tuned to HFTP's industry-specific, informational news sites: HFTP News, HITEC Bytes, HFTP Club Bytes and HFTP Finance Bytes.

For media contact:
Hina Bakht
Vice President
MPJ (Marketing Pro-Junction)
Mob: +971 50 697 5146
Email: h.bakht@mpj-pr.com
http://www.mpj-pr.com

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