Thank You for the Momentous Two Years

Letter from HFTP Global President Mark Pate

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

What an working experience these previous two several years have been serving as HFTP Worldwide President. There are so many adjectives to explain this special epoch in HFTP’s 70-12 months historical past — challenging, tumultuous, stunning, extraordinary, inspiring — and I am quite proud to have been a part of it.

Using on the place as HFTP Worldwide President is not 1 where by you are all of a sudden put without much foreknowledge. But relatively the HFTP leadership journey is constructed in excess of yrs when you acquire an knowing of the association’s strategic aims and route. Usually it starts off with a Director situation on the HFTP Global Board. And if you select to apply and are picked, you perform by way of the three positions on the Govt Committee top to President.

I am describing this since it was the lots of hrs taking part as an HFTP leader, the advice of my predecessors and the views of this management group that have been key to my capability to lead our association during a extremely amazing interval.

No Achievement Devoid of a Group

In advance of continuing, I would like to just take a moment to thank the HFTP World Board of Administrators for their willingness to volunteer their time and skills — even extending their allotted time serving on the Board. I also want to lengthen gratitude to my mentors on the government committee: Michael Levie, CHTP, Scott Campbell, CHTP and Timothy Nauss, CHAE+ who have been on the Executive Committee when I started out as secretary. And serving along with me these past two decades are Neil Foster, CHTP Stephanie Anderson, CHAE, CPA, CGMA and Justin Taillon, Ph.D., CHTP. Thanks to each of you.    

I can’t go on without recognizing the unique who keeps all of the gears going. That is HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH, who celebrated his 30th 12 months at HFTP in 2021. We are blessed to have these types of a committed particular person managing the association. Frank’s commitment and impressive wondering keep on to amaze me. Thank you Frank.

Unknowns and Pivots

My set up as HFTP President was extremely significantly a representation of the time. It was section of HFTP’s very first digital Annual Company Conference in Oct 2020. It was fairly fun and performed at a second when we have been all grateful to interact with fellow HFTP associates irrespective how it was done.

By this time, the HFTP team experienced now develop into quite expert with the virtual presentation format. As we should really all don’t forget – simply because it was not so prolonged back – HFTP was currently offering digital Zoom Hangouts considering the fact that the Spring of that yr.

Then when we couldn’t host an in-man or woman HITEC for the first time in a long time, the first ever CYBER HITEC was held. I really don’t assume I can adequately specific how enjoyable it was for me. I was astonished by the keynote speakers, the phenomenal education classes, the substantial-tech booths of our company associates. All expert from my possess computer system display screen.

At the start of my term as President we experienced to continue when there have been still a ton of unknowns — specially whether or not we could truly return to the in-particular person, networking gatherings that so lots of of our stakeholders appreciate. Mainly because of this, the HFTP International staff taken care of a potent digital schooling application that has helped our customers and stakeholders study and converse. The system continues to be and the offerings have been plentiful, diverse and informative. Not only are they accessible are living and for free of charge, but previous sessions are kept in an archive to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Collage of Mark Pate as HFTP president.

A Return to What We Know

Luckily, we were in a position to return, with caution, to in-individual activities in 2021. Starting off with the March 2021 Club Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and following up that Drop with the co-found HITEC 2021 and HFTP Once-a-year Convention in Dallas, Texas. And as the Pandemic eased and the sector rebounded, so has our in-particular person programming.

I am pleased that we just celebrated the 50th Anniversary of HITEC in Orlando this earlier June. The success had been beautiful. There have been around 6,100 attendees and a great number of reviews on how beneficial the encounter was. Just perusing my LinkedIn feed that week, you would’ve assumed there was very little else heading on but HITEC. An illustration of how properly our organization associates viewed the show, previously 83 percent of the 2023 show hall flooring is reserved.

Launching into its following era, HFTP strategies to spend in the strength of this founded occasion. In particular with the announcement of a brand-new, competing occasion on the identical days of HITEC North The united states in 2023. We are confident in HITEC and currently promising are the distinctive destinations for the subsequent two years: Toronto in 2023 and Charlotte, North Carolina in 2024.  

Also gratifying is the exhibit of support for HFTP and HITEC by our allied associations. Supporting HFTP are HSMAI — Hospitality Sales and Marketing and advertising Affiliation Global Americas the Global Hospitality Info Technological know-how Affiliation — iHITA Worldwide Council on Lodge, Cafe, and Institutional Training — ICHRIE Asian American Hotel House owners Association — AAHOA Girls Primary Journey and Hospitality — WLT&H Club Administration Association of America — CMAA and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Affiliation — CHTA. With each other with our associates we will collaborate to share understanding for the betterment of the field.

My involvement in what has just been explained would not be a truth with no my having taken a move to volunteer with HFTP. My closing request as president is to check with you to volunteer for HFTP. It is time to acquire your skill established to a entire new level – volunteering to provide on any of the amazing councils and committees that aid get the get the job done of HFTP finished. By serving on a council, you will meet up with some of the most talented individuals in the hospitality sector. You will also be performing with the phenomenal HFTP World staff – the men and gals who make HFTP perform on a day by day foundation.

I have had the privilege to serve on the CHAE (Certified Hospitality Accountant Govt) and CHTP (Licensed Hospitality Engineering Skilled) Advisory Councils, the Young Experts Council, the HITEC Advisory Council, the HFTP Once-a-year Convention Education Advisory Council, the Schooling Advisory Council and the Editorial Assessment Council that have been fashioned around the yrs. It is by serving on these councils that you are launched to the interior workings of HFTP and deal with the issues that arrive with shifting a a person-of-a-form affiliation like HFTP ahead.

Thank you to all of the HFTP members and stakeholders. This has been an working experience of a life span and I look ahead to remaining included with the affiliation.

Mark Pate Sr., CHAE, CHTP, MBA is the HFTP Global Board President and assistant controller & IT director for Highpointe Resort Corporation.

Jamie M. Hansen

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