HITEC 2012 Tackles Gaming Industry Issues in Education Sessions

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. May 16, 2012

AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA - May 16, 2012 - Going beyond the typical hotel technology issues, the 2012 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) education program is also focusing on the added issues that gaming properties encounter. The HITEC 2012 gaming sessions will be held on Monday, June 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md. HITEC 2012, a service of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. The conference is June 25-28.

"When you add a casino to a hotel, you also add in a large additional list of technology initiatives. Beyond the hotel, gaming properties also have to consider technologies related to slot machines, table games, race and sports books, payment kiosks, loyalty programs for frequent gamers, resort amenities and more," said HITEC Advisory Council Chair Allison Morris, CHTP, senior IT manager for Caesars Entertainment, Inc. "This year at HITEC, professionals from gaming properties can get education specific to their industry and discuss with gaming executives how they tackle any challenge."

The Gaming Gurus education session includes a panel of seasoned technology experts from gaming properties who will discuss the ins and outs of running gaming properties from a technology perspective. They will cover how gaming properties differ from hotel properties, debunk common myths about casinos, what gaming is like outside of Las Vegas and more.

The panel includes HITEC Advisory Council Chair Allison Morris, CHTP, senior IT manager for Caesars Entertainment, Inc.; Kris Singleton, vice president and CIO of Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino; Scot Campbell, vice president and CIO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. and director on HFTP's Global Board; and John Bollen, vice president of IT Strategy & Business Engagement at CityCenter.

The gaming conversation will continue with the Opening Keynote session on Monday, June 25. Chairman, CEO and President of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., Gary Loveman will explain the importance of customer service and customer loyalty in the hospitality and gaming industries. Loveman will discuss his popular customer service philosophy that focuses on matching customers with distinct value propositions.

His extensive background in retail marketing and service-management was helpful in developing and implementing the successful loyalty program, Total Rewards. Today, Caesars Total Rewards boasts more than 40 million customers and is largely responsible for the company's consistent same-store sales gains.

Loveman was a former associate professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration before he joined Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. as Chief Operating Officer in 1998 and was named CEO in January 2003.

Since then, he has presided over a period of growth and profitability that culminated in Harrah's June 2005 acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. — at $9.4 billion, the largest single transaction in the industry's history. The Fortune 500 company's performance has led to its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a group of international companies noted for creating long-term shareholder value, for six consecutive years. It also earned Loveman the distinction of being recognized as the gaming and lodging industry's best CEO by Institutional Investor magazine for four consecutive years.

Attendee registration and the Housing Bureau are now available on the web site. Early registration ends on May 21. Visit HITEC.org for complete information about all conference and exhibition events, including the conference schedule, a list of exhibitors, a map of the exhibit hall and the most current HITEC news.

For more information about HITEC, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at [email protected], (800) 646-4387 or +1 (512) 249-5333.

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 more than 4,800 members globally 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.