HITEC 2007 | Interview With HFTP 2007 Hospitality Technology Award of Merit Recipients Ed Hollinshead and Joseph A. Marko

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is proud to announce Joyce Christmas, William Duncan, Ed Hollinshead, Joseph Marco and William Sullivan as the 2007 Hospitality Technology Award of Merit recipients. The award, presented every five years, recognizes individuals who have made a significant innovation or breakthrough that established a path for others in hospitality technology. The five individuals were recognized at the Opening Session of the 35th Annual Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) on June 26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

• Joseph A. Marko was recognized for his work in sales automation. While at Sheraton, in conjunction with David Troy, VP of sales and marketing, Marko conceived, designed and implemented (with the help of many) one of the industry's very first Sales Office Automation Projects (SOAP), introducing a high level of automation, including both word processing and sales account database management. As director of hotel systems for Sheraton's North American Division, Marko defined a new position of systems manager to support all hotel technology products within Sheraton's corporate properties in North America. Marko also introduced Fidelio to the Americas as founder, chairman and president of Fidelio USA. He was also influential in promoting the spread of hotel systems as product manager/sales manager for Micor and sales director for Philips Hotel Systems.
• Ed Hollinshead was recognized for his contributions to hospitality automation systems development. As co-founder with Jack Morgan and Jerry Freedman of Morgan International, which became Micor, in 1969 he designed the first automated room status reporting system to use a CRT display, followed by the first successful PMSs, the Micor II and Micor III which were adopted by Marriott and Hyatt in the early 1970s. He continued to provide technical leadership and guidance at Galler Hospitality Systems, CompuSolv, HIS, Fidelio USA and RezSolutions, and as an independent consultant.

About HFTP | HFTP, Austin, Texas, USA and Maastricht, The Netherlands, founded in 1952, is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses. HFTP provides first class educational opportunities, research, and publications to more than 4,600 members globally including, the premiere hospitality technology conference HITEC--founded in 1972. HFTP also awards the only hospitality specific certifications for accounting and technology ---the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP) designations. HFTP was founded in the USA as the National Association of Hotel Accountants. For more information, visit .