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

What an expertise these previous two years have been serving as HFTP World President. There are such a lot of adjectives to explain this distinctive epoch inside HFTP’s 70-year historical past — difficult, tumultuous, shocking, spectacular, inspiring — and I’m fairly proud to have been part of it.

Taking over the place as HFTP World President shouldn’t be one the place you’re abruptly positioned with out a lot foreknowledge. However relatively the HFTP management journey is constructed over years while you acquire an understanding of the affiliation’s strategic targets and course. Often it begins with a Director place on the HFTP World Board. And if you happen to select to use and are chosen, you’re employed via the three positions on the Government Committee resulting in President.

I’m explaining this as a result of it was the numerous hours collaborating as an HFTP chief, the steerage of my predecessors and the views of this management group that had been key to my functionality to steer our affiliation throughout a really extraordinary interval.

No Success And not using a Workforce

Earlier than persevering with, I wish to take a second to thank the HFTP World Board of Administrators for his or her willingness to volunteer their time and experience — even extending their allotted time serving on the Board. I additionally wish to prolong gratitude to my mentors on the chief committee: Michael Levie, CHTP, Scott Campbell, CHTP and Timothy Nauss, CHAE+ who had been on the Government Committee after I began as secretary. And serving alongside me these previous two years are Neil Foster, CHTP; Stephanie Anderson, CHAE, CPA, CGMA and Justin Taillon, Ph.D., CHTP. Thanks to every of you.

I can’t go on with out recognizing the person who retains the entire gears shifting. That’s HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH, who celebrated his 30^th yr at HFTP in 2021. We’re blessed to have such a devoted particular person working the affiliation. Frank’s dedication and revolutionary considering proceed to amaze me. Thanks Frank.

Unknowns and Pivots

My set up as HFTP President was very a lot a illustration of the time. It was a part of HFTP’s first digital Annual Enterprise Assembly in October 2020. It was fairly enjoyable and carried out at a second once we had been all grateful to work together with fellow HFTP members regardless the way it was carried out.

By this time, the HFTP staff had already develop into fairly skilled with the digital presentation format. As we must always all keep in mind – as a result of it wasn’t so way back – HFTP was already offering digital Zoom Hangouts for the reason that Spring of that yr.

Then once we could not host an in-person HITEC for the primary time in many years, the primary ever CYBER HITEC was held. I do not assume I can adequately specific how thrilling it was for me. I used to be amazed by the keynote audio system, the outstanding schooling periods, the high-tech cubicles of our enterprise companions. All skilled from my very own pc display screen.

At first of my time period as President we needed to proceed when there have been nonetheless plenty of unknowns — particularly whether or not we may really return to the in-person, networking gatherings that so lots of our stakeholders get pleasure from. Due to this, the HFTP World staff maintained a robust digital schooling program that has helped our members and stakeholders study and converse. This system stays and the choices have been plentiful, numerous and informative. Not solely are they obtainable dwell and totally free, however previous periods are stored in an archive to accommodate everybody’s schedules.

A Return to What We Know

Fortunately, we had been in a position to return, with warning, to in-person occasions in 2021. Beginning with the March 2021 Membership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and following up that Fall with the co-located HITEC 2021 and HFTP Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. And because the Pandemic eased and the trade rebounded, so has our in-person programming.

I’m happy that we simply celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of HITEC in Orlando this previous June. The outcomes had been beautiful. There have been over 6,100 and numerous feedback on how worthwhile the expertise was. Simply perusing my LinkedIn feed that week, you’ll’ve thought there was nothing else happening however HITEC. An illustration of how properly our enterprise companions seen the present, already 83 % of the 2023 exhibit corridor flooring is reserved.

Launching into its subsequent period, HFTP plans to spend money on the energy of this established occasion. Particularly with the announcement of a brand-new, competing occasion on the identical days of HITEC North America in 2023. We’re assured in HITEC and already promising are the distinctive areas for the following two years: Toronto in 2023 and Charlotte, North Carolina in 2024.

Additionally gratifying is the present of assist for HFTP and HITEC by our allied associations. Supporting HFTP are HSMAI — Hospitality Gross sales and Advertising Affiliation Worldwide Americas; the Worldwide Hospitality Data Know-how Affiliation — iHITA; Worldwide Council on Lodge, Restaurant, and Institutional Schooling — ICHRIE; Asian American Lodge Homeowners Affiliation — AAHOA; Ladies Main Journey and Hospitality — WLT&H; Membership Administration Affiliation of America — CMAA; and the Caribbean Lodge and Tourism Affiliation — CHTA. Along with our companions we’ll collaborate to share information for the betterment of the trade.

My involvement in what has simply been described wouldn’t be a actuality with out my having taken a step to volunteer with HFTP. My closing request as president is to ask you to volunteer for HFTP. It is time to take your talent set to a complete new degree – volunteering to serve on any of the superb councils and committees that assist get the work of HFTP carried out. By serving on a council, you’ll meet among the most gifted individuals within the hospitality trade. Additionally, you will be working with the outstanding HFTP World staff – the women and men who make HFTP work every day.

I’ve had the privilege to serve on the CHAE (Licensed Hospitality Accountant Government) and CHTP (Licensed Hospitality Know-how Skilled) Advisory Councils, the Younger Professionals Council, the HITEC Advisory Council, the HFTP Annual Conference Schooling Advisory Council, the Schooling Advisory Council and the Editorial Assessment Council that has been shaped through the years. It’s by serving on these councils that you’re launched to the inside workings of HFTP and face the challenges that include shifting a one-of-a-kind affiliation like HFTP ahead.

Thanks to the entire HFTP members and stakeholders. This has been an expertise of a lifetime and I stay up for remaining concerned with the affiliation.

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