HFTP Announces 2026 HITEC North America Advisory Council

Austin, Texas — Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producer of HITEC, is pleased to announce the 2026 HITEC North America Advisory Council. This esteemed group of hospitality technology leaders will guide the educational planning and program development for the 2026 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) in San Antonio, Texas, taking place June 15–18 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

HITEC is the world’s largest and longest-running nonprofit event of its kind, hosting more than 370+ exhibiting companies and a comprehensive education program featuring over 50 sessions designed to address current and emerging technology challenges within the hospitality industry.

Each year, HFTP leadership assembles members to serve on the HITEC North America Advisory Council based on their expertise and contributions to the hospitality and technology industry. The HITEC Advisory Council plays an essential role in shaping the world’s largest and most influential hospitality technology event — ensuring the program reflects the latest innovations, challenges, and strategic insights impacting the global hospitality technology landscape.

2026 HITEC Advisory Council

• Chair: Lyle Worthington, CHTP│ CEO │ Worthington Tech BV
• Vice Chair: Cameron Hammond │ Senior Vice President – Global Field Technology Services │ Hyatt
• Executive Committee Liaison: Barry Thomas, CHTP │Senior Vice President – Hospitality Technology, Luxury & Lifestyle │ Accor
• Board of Directors Liaison: Bryan Hammer │ Vice President – IT │ Belmond Hotels
• Past President Liaison: Scott Campbell, CHTP │ Principal Advisor │ Integrated Resort Advisors
• Christus Gill, CHTP │ IT Manager │ Zoetry Marigot Bay St. Lucia
• Danny Dang │ Director of Technology │ Amacon & Wentworth Hospitality Group
• David Lindahl │ Director of Business Intelligence │ Silverton Casino, LLC
• Denise Walker │ CIO │ SH Hotels and Resorts
• Jody Jacobson │ President │ Integrated Hospitality Consulting
• Katie Lee │ CIO │ AKA Hotels + Hotel & Residences
• Leroy Prout │ CIO │ HRI Hospitality
• Mike Blake │ Vice President of IT │ Kemper Sports
• Prakash Shukla │ Managing Partner │ Wayfare Ventures LLC
• Rao Kasibhotla │ Senior Vice President and CIO │ Ryman Hospitality Properties
• Ron Strecker, CHAE+, CHTP++ | Hospitality ERP and Back-Office Consultant | RW Consulting
• Ryan Schlimpert  | Senior Vice President and CIO | Drury Hotels
• Samuel Yalley , CHTP  | Director of Resorts & Lodging Technology | Herschend Family Entertainment
• Sanovnik Destang , CPA, CA, CFA  | Executive Director | Bay Gardens Resorts
• Ted Horner | Owner | E Horner & Associates
• Stephen Walker , MBA | IT Manager| InterMountain Management
• Steven Kahn , CHTP | Group General Manager – IT | Singita
• Harikrishna (HK) Patel | Past Board of Directors | AAHOA
• Darrin Pinkham | CIO | Rosen Hotels & Resorts | Millenium Technology Group
• Jeff Parker CHTP | Vice President of Property Technology | Sage Hospitality Group
• Tanmay (Tony) Patel | Managing Partner | SG Hotels LLC
• Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH | CEO | HFTP
• Bryan Wood | Chief Meetings & Events Officer | HFTP
• Alison Lockett | Meetings & Events Manager | HFTP
• Geneva Rinehart | Senior Vice President, Media Division | Hospitality Upgrade/HFTP

HFTP extends its gratitude to these dedicated professionals for contributing their expertise and industry leadership to advance hospitality technology education on a global stage. More details will be announced in the coming months at www.hitec.org.