The sixth edition of
The sixth edition of
EURHOTEC 2001 offered a high-powered learning experience with 23 educational sessions featuring major speakers from the world of hospitality technology. Highlights included 'A View from the Top' from senior marketing and IT managers from Cendant Corporation, Mandarin Oriental and Swissotel.
Concurrently, the IH&RA staged its fifth Think-Tank on Technology, attended by over 30 participants from industry, academia and the supplier community. Two days of debate produced unanimity that the people dimension was crucial to the future of technology in the industry – the right skills, the right levels of IT awareness and the right organisational structures.
EURHOTEC 2001 saw the launch of a first ever 'IH&RA Technology Leaders Summit' at which top IT, finance and marketing executives discussed how best to overcome the reluctance of owners and managers to make technology investments and ensure IT is embraced throughout the organisation. Participants identified a need for research into the critical success factors for technology as well as the elements of value that underpin the cost structure and revenue potential of technology-related investments. At a subsequent press conference, Jean-Paul Nichols, VP Marketing for Cendant Corporation's Hotel Division, commented, "The Think-Tank and Summit have given me a very valuable perspective from the international standpoint."
EURHOTEC 2002 will reconvene in Paris Palais Des Congres, 11th – 13th February, 2002.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
