When asked to comment on HITEC, I generally attempt to do so not from a consultant's, vendor's or speaker's perspective but from that of a hotelier. For hoteliers, HITEC is a once-a-year opportunity for a quick and intensive update on property technology. It is the chance to see and hear about new options, new enhancements and new plans. It is often the only opportunity for hoteliers to chat with the staff of vendors on whom they rely for all manner of services. The HITEC trade show is the industry's best opportunity to do this — a day on the show floor may well be the best hotel systems update opportunity in the world.

A hotel manager or executive also needs to be familiar with the technology-related developments that do — or may — affect them either positively or adversely in the coming months. The HITEC educational sessions go some distance to achieving this goal; room remains for improvement. The challenge of devising, staffing and coordinating tightly focused sessions that address the needs of users with differing levels of expertise is difficult. Smaller is better in these sessions, though not always practical. More case studies where hoteliers could hear their peers describe real-world challenges and the ways in which they confronted and overcame (or didn't overcome) them would be a valuable addition to the program. What about roundtable discussions with attendees able to suggest topics in advance and moderators present to facilitate but not lead the discussion? Maybe this is a possibility during an early breakfast time slot; it's something for HITEC sponsor Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) to consider.

This year's program also includes the Revenue Management Strategy Conference presented by HSMAI's revenue management special interest group. Both the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association and HFTP deserve credit for working together to dovetail these complementary sessions. Are more, similarly beneficial, special-interest sessions possible as well?

I also look forward to the Guestroom 2010 exhibit. Kudos to Frank Wolfe and HFTP for this move from relatively passive event organization to more active participation in promoting, and with the aid of Doug Rice and Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) arranging, the thought-provoking discussion and action that must accompany this vital aspect of hotel operations.

HITEC 2006 promises to be a great conference and trade show. With HFTP's help, the food at the lunches will continue to improve still more. See you at HITEC!

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John Burns is president of Hospitality Technology Consulting. Call Burns at 480-661-6797 or e-mail john@burns-htc.com.

SALES AND CATERING		Integrated	Trace and contact history	Mailing engine	Corporate account consolidation	Remote access	Auto. gen.: contracts, banquet/event orders, other	Group rooms blocking	Group history	Function book	PMS Interface	Central database	Distributed at property level	Web/browser-enabled	Lead exchange-Internet	Multi-property functionality	E-proposal	Single-image database integration to property/group modules	Room diagram integration	Transient business	Property /Corporate Reporting	Contact management	F&B management	Other
Adaco Services	— Circle 94											•		•		•						•	•
AltiusPAR	— Circle 96	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•		•		•		•	•
Birch Street Systems	— Circle 104													•									•
Capton	— Circle 109						•																•
Card Scanning Solutions	— Circle 110	•								•	•		•								•
Culinary Software Services	— Circle 116																						•
Digital Alchemy	— Circle 119			•																				•
Epicor Software	— Circle 127				•																		•
Four Winds Interactive	— Circle 130																		•
Gatesix	— Circle 133													•
Innes Systems	— Circle 152	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Intellix Media	— Circle 153													•			•							•
IQWare	— Circle 155	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•					•	•	•	•		•	•
Janus Digital Displays	— Circle 228	•									•													•
KABA Lodging Systems	— Circle 156										•
Micros Systems	— Circle 164	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•
Multi-Systems Inc.	— Circle 170	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•							•		•	•	•	•
Newmarket International	— Circle 172	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
Northwind-Maestro	— Circle 173	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Passkey	— Circle 236					•		•	•		•
RedSky IT	— Circle 185	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			•	•	•			•	•	•
ResortSuite	— Circle 186	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•				•				•	•	•	•
Secure-Res	— Circle 192														•	•						•
Shift4	— Circle 195										•
SoftBrands	— Circle 198	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•						•	•		•
TIG Global	— Circle 207																•						•
Visual One Systems	— Circle 218	•	•			•		•	•	•	•	•	•					•		•		•	•

INTERNET TECHNOLOGY		High-speed Internet access via CAT5	High-speed Internet access via xDSL, HPNA or similar	High-speed Internet access via wireless	Integrated voice/data lines	Proprietary ISP	PMS interface	High-speed Internet via CAT3	Participation in a wireless roaming network	Bandwidth shaping tools	Intrusion detection services	Other
Agilysys	— Circle 95						•
Argon Technologies	— Circle 101					•				•
Brandstand Products	— Circle 108											•
Comcast	— Circle 113	•		•			•
Digital Alchemy	— Circle 119						•
Eleven Wireless	— Circle 124											•
Extenway Solutions	— Circle 128	•		•			•
Fire2Wire	— Circle 129	•	•	•		•						•
Four Winds Interactive	— Circle 130											•
Global Card Services	— Circle 226						•
Goodman Company/Amana	— Circle 137											•
GuestDirect	— Circle 139											•
Guest-Tek	— Circle 141				•
iBAHN	— Circle 146	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Innes Systems	— Circle 152						•					•
KABA Lodging Systems	— Circle 156						•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 235	•		•	•		•	•
LodgeNet Entertainment	— Circle 157	•	•	•			•			•	•	•
Merlot Communications	— Circle 161	•		•	•			•
NEC Unified Solutions	— Circle 171				•				•		•
nSTREAMS Technologies	— Circle 174	•		•			•		•
NXTV	— Circle 175	•		•				•
Pegasus Solutions	— Circle 179						•
RedSky IT	— Circle 185	•		•	•		•
RoomLinX	— Circle 188	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Shift4	— Circle 195						•					•
Sprint Nextel	— Circle 199	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
StayOnline	— Circle 200	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
SuiteSpeed	— Circle 223	•	•	•			•		•
SVI Systems	— Circle 201	•	•	•				•
SynXis	— Circle 202						•
TeleAdapt	— Circle 203											•
Teledex	— Circle 204	•	•	•	•		•	•		•
Telkonet	— Circle 206			•								•
Time Warner Cable	— Circle 209	•	•	•
US LEC	— Circle 215	•		•	•	•	•	•
Wayport	— Circle 220	•		•	•		•		•	•		•