By: Mark Pate Sr., CHAE, CHTP, MBA, HFTP International President

Are you searching for that subsequent position to take your profession upwards the place you need it to go – or maybe looking for to fill a vital position at your organization with the precise particular person? Are you attempting to unravel a seemingly insurmountable drawback at work – or simply questioning if there are different folks on the market fighting an {industry} problem such as you? The perfect reply usually lies in constructing connections.

Because the president of an affiliation, I realized way back the worth of getting concerned in a bunch of execs in the identical {industry} and discipline of labor who can share in your trials, tribulations, successes and progress as you make your method by way of a decades- lengthy profession journey. Associations are an important basis for creating these all-important relationships; they supply numerous alternatives for networking and engagement.

Take HFTP, for instance – I simply joined greater than 6,000 hospitality professionals and stakeholders at HITEC, the most important hospitality expertise occasion on the earth, the place I spent a number of useful days attending events, dinners, schooling classes and toured the exhibit corridor with colleagues and pals , each new and previous. I’m additionally very engaged in my native HFTP chapter and attend the HFTP Florida Regional convention often, which permits me to attach with professionals in my direct space.

Then, there are all the net alternatives to have interaction, and with a strong, international membership, meaning numerous potential new supporters from all around the world – and that is the place HFTP’s new on-line Neighborhood Teams are available in very useful. These neighborhood teams assist you to have interaction in discussions and Q&A based mostly on particular segments of the {industry} corresponding to lodge and membership and matters {of professional} curiosity corresponding to expertise and finance.

Be a part of Your HFTP On-line Neighborhood for Camaraderie, Suggestions and Options in Three Straightforward Steps

Step 1: Ensure you have entry in your pc and cellphone. To get to your HFTP neighborhood teams on on-line, you should be logged into your HFTP on-line account. Go to www.hftp.org to create your account or log in. I additionally encourage you to obtain the HFTP Membership & Occasions app to entry the neighborhood teams proper out of your cellphone! Seek for the app within the Google Play and Apple shops.

After you have it put in in your cellphone, select the HFTP Member App inside the checklist of guides to attach with different members within the HFTP Neighborhood Teams, handle your membership, get the newest HFTP information, message inside the app and extra.

Step 2: Electronic mail [email protected] to request admission to the HFTP neighborhood group(s) you need to be part of. Which industry-focused dialogue do you need to be part of? There are at the moment three teams arrange so that you can select from: Membership Skilled Change, Lodging Finance and Lodging Know-how.

If you’re a member of an area HFTP chapter or affiliation advisory council, it is possible for you to to hitch these choose, invitation-only neighborhood teams, as properly.

Step 3: Get engaged! When you turn out to be a member of your neighborhood group of selection, begin connecting. Ask questions of your fellow hospitality professionals, or lend sage recommendation to another person. That is your alternative to get to know most of the professionals working in direction of comparable targets within the nice hospitality {industry}.

Hope to see you within the dialogue quickly!

Mark Pate Sr., CHAE, CHTP, MBA is the HFTP International Board President and assistant controller & IT director for Highpointe Lodge Company.