HTNG Connect: Asia-Pacific

• Chip Rogers, President & CEO, AHLA

• Eric Ricaurte, CEO, Greenview (Moderator)
• Veenus Pandian, Group Director of Engineering, Dusit International
• Matawee Mujchapan (Nim), Operations Manager, Environment & Sustainability, Centara Hotels & Resorts

Sustainable practices are critical for the health of our planet and support of our communities, but also good for business. More and more guests and travel buyers are choosing hotels that are working to reduce carbon emissions and pursuing sustainable practices, so sustainability can also impact your bottom line. The landscape of emerging hard and soft regulation also takes the need for sustainability to the next level. Technology plays an important role in tracking sustainability programs, progress, and performance data to measure and communicate success in areas of carbon emissions, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and more. Today's panel will share best practices by hoteliers and suppliers and discuss tools for measuring success and comparing it to others. 

As the hospitality industry evolves, guests increasingly expect seamless and secure wireless connectivity in every aspect of their stay. Open Roaming, a new standard for wireless connectivity, promises to deliver just that, allowing guests to connect effortlessly across different networks, devices, and locations. This conference session will explore the benefits of Open Roaming for the hospitality industry, and how it can enhance the guest experience.

• Andrew Chan, Founder & CEO, ACI HR Solutions (Moderator)

The pandemic was full of surprises. One of them was the difficulty of finding staff. We closed hotels during COVID due to the lack of business; now we are struggling to operate fully due to the lack of staff. Join executive recruiter and HR expert, Andrew Chan, and his panel to explore ways to deal with this problem, both at the corporate and property level. How as leaders can we find the staff we need, and how as technologists can we help our hotels?

• Guillermo Galarza, VP, Partnerships & Law Enforcement Training, International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Moderator)
• Wirawan (Boom) Mosby, Director & Founder, The HUG Project
• Anchana Chailert (Mindy), Thailand Department of Special Investigation
• Matthew Wright, Regional Attaché, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Human trafficking is a global scourge that requires a global solution. The hospitality industry has been leading on this effort thanks to its deep commitment to eradicating trafficking through the No Room For Trafficking campaign. Learn from representatives of law enforcement, NGOs, and the industry about this issue, as well as ways we can leverage technology and innovation to prevent and respond to human trafficking around the world.

• Christina Cornwell, VP Technology Field Services, Hilton
• Dayna Kully, Co-Founder, 5thGenWireless
• Liz Ortiguera

Hospitality technology is rapidly evolving with enormous potential for growth and innovation. However, women still face many challenges in the field, including a lack of representation in leadership positions and unequal opportunities for career advancement. This panel discussion aims to explore the current state of women in hospitality technology, identify key issues and barriers that women face, and discuss strategies to advance women in this dynamic industry.

• Chip Rogers, President & CEO, AHLA

• Kanishka Agiwal, Head of Service Lines, India & Southeast Asia, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Kanishka Agiwal, Head of Service Lines, India & Southeast Asia for Amazon Web Services (AWS) will explore the latest technology trends that are shaping the hospitality industry, focusing on two areas: Generative AI and Web3. Throughout the session, you'll gain a deeper understanding of these technologies that are shaping the future of the hospitality industry. You'll leave with practical insights and ideas for how to leverage them in your own business to stay ahead of the curve. So, if you're curious about what's next in hospitality technology, join us for this informative and engaging session!

• Sandy Angel, Senior Director, Technology and Information, AHLA

Workgroups are the heart and soul of HTNG. Over the last 20+ years, our members have tackled hundreds of topics, developing technical specifications, white papers, webinars, and buyers' guides. In this session, Sandy Angel, HTNG's Senior Director of Technology and Information, will review current workgroups and highlight two recently completed efforts - HTNG Express and Next Generation Infrastructure.

• Mike Blake, CTO, AHLA
• Jai Govindani, CTO, Honest

It is becoming more common for technology leaders in hospitality to come from other industries. It is also common for them to leave again. New to the hotel industry, Jai Govindani joined Red Planet Hotels as CTO in 2014 and left five years later for fintech. During his time in hospitality, he developed a reputation as an outspoken lover and critic of hospitality technology. Join us for Jai's reflection on everything right and wrong about our corner of the world.

• Ted Horner, Managing Director, E. Horner & Associates Pty Ltd (Moderator)
• Floor Bleeker, CTO, Accor
• Chin Lee, VP, Global IT Engagement, Melco Resorts & Entertainment
• Monika Nerger, Global CIO, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

The hotel industry is going through a rapid transformation, driven in large part by advances in information technology. From online bookings and mobile check-ins to smart room technologies and personalized guest experiences, hotels are embracing technology to enhance their operations and better meet the needs of their guests. Yet with these opportunities come new challenges and complexities. In this panel discussion, we bring together some of the industry's top IT leaders to discuss the current state of hotel technology, the challenges they face, and the opportunities that lie ahead.