He's a relative newcomer to the lodging industry, but Nick Price has quickly become one of hotel technology's most innovative leaders. The chief information officer and chief technology officer for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will be inducted into the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame at next month's HITEC conference and trade show in Orlando.

Since joining Mandarin in 2000, Price has instituted a series of innovative technologies, especially ones aimed at guests, to keep the chain of 20 properties at the forefront of the luxury hotel segment. Under Price's direction, Mandarin was one of the first chains to include web services and converged IP networks in a new hotel. It was also the first to deploy high-definition content in hotel guestrooms, alongside the capability to integrate guest devices such as laptops, video cameras and iPods with the in-room AV system through an auxiliary panel.

Price will become the 32nd Hall of Fame inductee during a HITEC general session on Tuesday, June 22 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

HITEC, which runs June 21-24, combines the largest industry technology trade show with a full slate of broad and specific educational sessions. One popular feature of HITEC returning this year is Guestroom 20X, a futuristic guestroom that's crammed with an array of existing and near-future technologies.

*For more information and to register for HITEC, go to www.hitec.org.