HITEC 2014 Warns of Pirate Housing Groups

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. April 08, 2014

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA - April 8, 2014 - Along with its efforts to prevent pirate exhibitors from devaluing the conference, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is educating HITEC 2014 attendees about housing pirates. A housing pirate is an unauthorized housing provider that may approach exhibitors and attendees with fraudulent offerings of hotel rooms, request credit card information for "existing" reservations and provides false information regarding extended show dates. Only the official HITEC Housing Bureau can guarantee room reservations. To ensure attendees have time to make hotel room reservations, the HITEC Housing Bureau is deadline is May 23.

"Making a reservation through Orchid Event Solutions- the official HITEC Housing Bureau - is the only way to receive proper customer service from HITEC if you have a housing issue during booking or onsite. Booking through an unofficial housing company puts you at risk for losing significant deposits, hotel reservations, and discovering hidden costs," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP.

HITEC also has a policy against pirate exhibitors (often known as Outboarders or Suitcasers). It is common for unaffiliated or non-exhibiting vendors to take advantage of the show's popularity by promoting their wares leading up to and near the show, or on the exhibit hall floor in an unofficial capacity.

"Pirate vendors ultimately damage the overall success of the show for all involved," said Wolfe. "The official exhibitors and service providers spend thousands of dollars to be part of HITEC, and we feel it is our responsibility that they get the best experience possible at the show. Companies that attempt to circumvent the system should be on notice that HFTP will do everything it can to protect the integrity of HITEC."

Attendees approached by a hotel company other than the HITEC housing bureau or non-exhibiting vendors with invitations to attend product demonstrations or similar events at HITEC are asked to notify HFTP.

HITEC 2014 is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. The conference is June 23-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, Calif. It offers attendees a one-stop shop for essential education, access to experts and hospitality technology vendors, networking with top leaders in the industry and the resources to find cost-effective ways to improve company bottom lines.

Visit www.hitec.org for complete information about all conference and exhibition events, including a full conference schedule, Buyer's Guide with a list of exhibitors, a map of the exhibit hall and the most current HITEC news. For more information, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333.

About Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)

HFTP, Austin, Texas, USA and Maastricht, The Netherlands, founded in 1952, is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses. HFTP provides first class educational opportunities, research, and publications to members around the globe including, the premiere hospitality technology conference HITEC--founded in 1972. HFTP also awards the only hospitality specific certifications for accounting and technology --the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in the USA as the National Association of Hotel Accountants. For more information, visit www.hftp.org.