Secured panelists include:

Andrew Furrer, corporate director of information technology for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Mr. Furrer is directly responsible for the day-to-day operation of the information technology systems at Kimpton. He was in the computer business for 12 years before coming on board at Kimpton. In his business, he lead of a group of 12 employees into the development and service and support of single user systems to complex systems incorporating numerous systems and sites. From that position, Mr. Furrer joined Kimpton supporting the Pacific Northwest and was subsequently promoted to his current role. 

Nicholas Malcolm Price, CIO/CTO for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Limited. Mr. Price is responsible for a broad range of digital, or soon-to-be digital technologies and services, including traditional hotel IT, enterprise networks and infrastructure, Internet presence, PABX and telephony, hotel networks, in-room technologies and audio visual systems. He joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in January 2000 as director of technology. With more than 19 years experience in IT and emerging technologies, Mr. Price brings to Mandarin Oriental, an in-depth understanding of current and emerging technology trends and their commercial application.

Tim Stanley, senior vice president and CIO for Harrah�s Entertainment, Inc. Mr. Stanley is responsible for all of Harrah�s world-class information technology functions including their award-winning Total Rewards®, program leading an organization of over 500 employees. Prior to Harrah�s, he was a partner with consulting firms USWeb and marchFIRST, the CIO for Las Vegas based National Airlines, and has held various leadership positions with Intel, Optima/KPMG, InnovaTech and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, both in the U.S. and abroad. 

The session moderator, Lalia Rach, Ed.D., associate dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, and HVS International Industry Professor at New York University in New York City, is a nationally recognized tourism educator and industry leader. Dr. Rach consults with organizations in the U.S. and abroad, is a highly skilled and successful facilitator, a well-known speaker, and an expert in curriculum development in hospitality and tourism higher education.

HITEC 2005 is June 20-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles. In addition to Thursday's CIO Panel session, HITEC 2005 will offer more than 35 education sessions presented by the world's foremost hospitality technology experts. This year's sessions have a range of topics such as the Club Technology Boot Camp, Emerging Technologies, Future of Systems Integration, What to Look for When Purchasing High Speed Internet Access, Property Management, VoIP and Customer Relationship Management.

HITEC, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is the most comprehensive meeting of its kind in the hospitality industry. It addresses the use of technology in the industry and brings together buyers and sellers of technology under one roof. About 4,500 hospitality executives and exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend this four-day conference and three-day exposition. The exposition includes companies providing technology equipment, services and products in the hospitality industry. 

About HFTP:
Based in Austin, Texas, HFTP is the professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, resorts, clubs, casinos, restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses. 

HFTP®, HITEC® and ONHTEC® are registered service marks of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals.