Planning has begun for Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals’ (HFTP®) 2009 European Hospitality Technology Educational Conference (EHTEC). The EHTEC Advisory Council, a group of global hospitality experts, are designing a program that tackles tough technology issues prominent in Europe. EHTEC 2009 is February 2-4, 2009 at the Amsterdam Hilton in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In its third year, the popular conference has seen an increase in attention, attendance and necessity. "With EHTEC 2008 selling out, it shows how much hospitality professionals in Europe need a technology conference like EHTEC," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. "There are many technology issues that are specific to Europe and attendees relish the opportunity to discuss these problems and brainstorm solutions. We expect EHTEC 2009 to be just as packed as previous years."

EHTEC offers two full days of focused technology education and various networking opportunities with peers and vendors. The EHTEC Advisory Council determines the education sessions for 2009. Those interested in suggesting an education topic for EHTEC 2009 are encouraged to contact the Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org. Previous education topics dealt with global converged networks, green hotel technologies, technology trends and more.

"EHTEC has quickly garnered a reputation as being a high-quality education conference," said Jules Sieburgh, CHTP, hospitality consultant with O'Neal Consultants and HFTP Global vice president. "The EHTEC Advisory Council takes that reputation very seriously when it decides the important topics that the conference tackles. We want attendees to take as much as they can from this experience."

The EHTEC Advisory Council includes:

• Floor Bleeker, group director of IT for Jumeirah Group in the UAE
• Carson Booth, CHTP, VP of information technology, Europe, Africa, Middle East for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in Belgium and director on HFTP Global Board
• Gerald Lampaert, VP of global information technology for Dolce International in the USA
• Michael Levie, CEO of CitizenM in The Netherlands
• Ian Millar, CHTP, lecturer at Ecole Hoteliere De Lausanne in Switzerland
• Peter O'Connor, PhD, professor at IMHI, Essec Business School in France
• Henri Roelings, founder and CEO of Hsyndicate in The Netherlands
• Finn Schulz, senior vice president of IT for The Rezidor Hotel Group in Denmark
• Jules Sieburgh, CHTP, hospitality consultant with O'Neal Consultants in the USA and HFTP Global vice president
• Riko Van Santen, VP of electronic distribution and IT for Golden Tulip Hospitality Group in Switzerland
• Wibecke Vinke, managing director for IT & Systems Consulting for Hospitality in Switzerland
• Derek Wood, managing director for Derek Wood Associates LTD in the United Kingdom
• Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP in the USA