Inaugural HFTP Digital Horizons 360 Event Brings European Hospitality to the Forefront

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to announce the success of its first Digital Horizons 360 Symposium, held 20-21 February at the Palau de Congressos de Palma in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

“Celebrating innovation means not just embracing change but driving it forward,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. “Digital Horizons 360 is a testament to the power of collaboration, pushing boundaries and shaping a future where technology elevates every aspect of the hospitality experience.”

An exclusive non-sales gathering, DH360 convened hospitality executives for roundtable deliberations on the technologies poised to make significant impacts on the European hospitality industry. This year’s agenda encompassed various themes including managing risks associated with AI in guest services, navigating data protection challenges both locally and globally within the hospitality sector, exploring applications of digital identity technologies and outlining how HFTP can offer support to finance and technology professionals across the continent as both an advocating body and resource. The outcomes of these conversations are in the process of being documented for archival purposes and future dissemination by event partners Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) and Hospitality Net.

Entrepreneur 20X, a favorite at HFTP events and exclusively sponsored by BAE Ventures, concluded the first day’s discussions on Tuesday evening. The startup pitch competition, showcasing six innovative startups presenting hospitality technology solutions to a panel of judges, returned to the continent for the first time since 2019. Winners were unveiled after the judges' deliberation, with Crqlar clinching the Judges’ Choice Award and returning Toronto 2023 competitor Aphy securing the People’s Choice Award determined by popular vote among attendees.

At the closing session the following day, HFTP Europe COO Carson Booth, CHTP thanked all in attendance, describing them as “the driving force behind Digital Horizons 360.”

“None of this would have been possible without our attendees,” Booth said. “Your enthusiasm, engagement and eagerness to learn have created an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation that is truly inspiring.”

The symposium was supported by multiple industry sponsors at various tiers with global systems integrator Fourteen IP leading the group as DH360’s exclusive Level I sponsor. View the full list of event sponsors here.

GAIN managing partner Michael C. Cohen described Digital Horizons on LinkedIn as “a true hospitality tech symposium, great thought leadership and even better industry dialog and debate,” noting that he was proud that his company was present at the event as both a participant and a sponsor.

Looking to the future, HFTP is set to exhibit at ITB Berlin on 5-7 March with an additional networking event with HSMAI Europe on 6 March at the Crowne Plaza Berlin Potsdamer. The association will continue building its EMEA network at HITEC Dubai, co-located with The Hotel Show Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 4-6 June.

Attendee registration for HITEC North America, scheduled for 24-27 June in Charlotte, North Carolina, is also open alongside hotel reservations via the show’s official housing service. Exhibiting space can be selected and purchased by reaching out to the HFTP Sales & Exhibits Department at sales@hftp.org. For more information about HFTP's events, visit www.hftp.org or contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org.