HFTP to create 'hospitality code of digital responsibility'

HOSPITALITY FINANCIAL AND Technology Professionals, the global representative for hospitality technology and producers of HITEC, recently initiated a project to develop a digital responsibility code for the hospitality industry. HFTP is forming a task force of experts and academics to develop the code.

HFTP commissioned the University of Houston to write a white paper on digital responsibility, featured in the inaugural issue of HFTP’s Tech+Fin Hospitality Magazine at HITEC 2024, HFTP said in a statement. The paper and industry discussions highlighted the need for guidelines on digital responsibility.

Task force members include:

• Co-chair Scot Campbell, principal, Integrated Resort Advisors, HFTP Global past president and inductee to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame
• Co-chair Agnes DeFranco, Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair at University of Houston and HFTP Global past president
• Mike Blake, vice president, IT, Kemper Sports
• Steven Bronken, head of global hospitality, Ruckus Networks
• Sanovnik Destang, executive director, Bay Gardens Resorts
• Florian Gallini, CEO, INTEREL
• Thomas Hempel, vice president, sales and partnerships, VENZA
• Barry Thomas, vice president, technology, Orient Express and Fairmont Hotels
• Sherry Marek, founder, Aiken Street Consulting and inductee to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame
• Shannon McCallum, vice president, hotel operations, Resorts World Las Vegas,
• Neal Patel, managing partner, Blue Chip Hotels, AAHOA past chairman
• Andrew Rubinacci, chief advisory officer, FLYR for Hospitality
• Thomas Atzenhofer, deputy CEO, HFTP

“There are many good practices for digital responsibility throughout the industry, but these have never been aggregated, vetted and published as a compilation of the best practices in a uniform guide,” said Atzenhofer. “HFTP’s task force of global industry technology and business experts, has agreed to tackle the task and make the industry better for all segments—from small to large.”

The first task force meeting will be held this month at HITEC 2024 in Charlotte, HFTP said. After developing a draft code, it will be presented for industry feedback. A final code will then be established, and compliant hospitality enterprises will receive a compliance seal.

“The advent of AI and digital responsibility is going to continue to be a growing concern to our customers,” said Campbell. “Rather than have disparate governmental regulations by those who don’t understand our business, it is more prudent to have these guidelines developed for the industry by the industry. None of us want to be able to have an unhappy customer whose digital information is accidentally used in a way they did not intend.”

Canary Technologies, led by CEO Harman Singh Narula and President SJ Sawhney, recently closed a $50 million Series C funding round to advance AI guest technology, totaling nearly $100 million raised to date.