If you’ve ever attended the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) then chances are that the experience turned you into an annual attendee. It’s not uncommon to meet hospitality professionals who’ve been to five, 10 or even 20+ HITECs in their career.
The first HITEC conference took place on April 17–19, 1972, at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Dallas, Texas. It began as a small gathering of technology enthusiasts in the hospitality industry, initially called the NAH-MA Computer Users conference, with just 38 attendees. Over time, it evolved into the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC), becoming the world’s largest and oldest hospitality technology conference.
HITEC 2025, produced by the nonprofit Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), was held June 16-19 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis with more than 360 exhibitors, including a record number of newcomers, and nearly 6,000 industry professionals attending.
Connecting hospitality leaders with the technology shaping the industry’s future, HITEC 2025 featured over 50 educational sessions and numerous networking opportunities. Keynote speakers included Jeremy Gutsche, founder of TrendHunter.com and economist and former White House advisor Todd Buchholz.
I asked several attendees, “Which was your favorite HITEC?” The most frequent response was, “All of them!” The second most frequent response, “The one after the covid pandemic.” Not surprising since HITEC is an industry event where friendships are made and maintained.
Highlights From the Tradeshow Floor
High tech was certainly on display at HITEC! There were robots vacuuming, folding towels and even interacting with attendees in foreign languages at a “concierge desk”.
Here are just a few of the many outstanding companies displaying innovative solutions at HITEC 2025:
- Clear Digital: Unveiled the Evo™ Roll Digital A-Frame, a portable, battery-powered signage solution designed for dynamic messaging in hotel lobbies, events, and F&B outlets. Hoteliers can instantly update promotions or direct guests, improving engagement and operational flexibility.
- Cloud5: Specializes in unified communications, high-speed internet access, voice solutions, and contact center services tailor-made for hospitality. Their managed services and 24/7 support help hotels reduce downtime and optimize guest communications.
- Cobra: Offers security solutions including emergency response systems, staff safety devices, and workplace Panic Button compliance, enabling properties to keep staff safe and meet evolving legal mandates.
- Comcast Business: Provides hospitality-grade internet, video, and voice services. Their scalable bandwidth and managed Wi-Fi platforms address the growing demand for seamless guest connectivity and back-of-house digitalization.
- Dyna Robotics: Showcased autonomous delivery robots and cleaning automation, empowering hotels to streamline food, linen, and supply distribution while freeing up staff for higher-touch guest service.
- Enginuity Power Systems: Delivers distributed energy solutions, such as their combined heat and power generators, which enable hotels to save on energy costs and increase resilience with on-site power generation.
- Enseo: The premiere provider of hospitality technology, delivering hotel TV, managed Wi-Fi, and employee safety devices. Their customer-centric focus delivers exceptional guest experiences, while simplifying management for hotels.
- Hovr: turns static websites into high-converting, immersive experiences by layering actionable video directly over your existing content, no redesign required. Hotels, resorts, and travel brands use Hovr to boost engagement, increase direct bookings, and drive measurable revenue, all with effortless deployment.
- Innova Nanojet Technologies: Demonstrated nanojet disinfection solutions that sanitize spaces rapidly and efficiently, catering to hotels’ heightened needs for cleanliness and safety.
- IntBot: AI-driven guest engagement and automation tools help properties answer inquiries instantly, automate upsell offers, and gather feedback to enhance post-stay relationships in 50+ languages.
- M3: Offers cloud-based accounting, analytics, and payroll solutions purpose-built for the hospitality sector, allowing properties to streamline back-office functions and maximize profitability with industry benchmarks.
- MeetingPackage: is designed specifically for hotel venues, empowering them to significantly boost their Meetings and Events (M&E) and group accommodation sales while cutting operational costs through automated service processes.
- National Battery Supply: Notably the only exhibitor that powered its booth independently, using battery technology. Their innovative battery solutions are designed to power a wide range of applications. From deep cycle batteries for renewable energy systems to portable power packs and industrial-grade solutions, they specialize in delivering reliable, high-performance products tailored to your needs.
- Panasonic Connect: Showcased AV and workflow technology, from interactive displays for meeting spaces to mobile computing solutions that boost staff collaboration in operations.
- Phunware: empowers hospitality leaders to elevate the guest experience while unlocking new streams of ancillary revenue. Their mobile solution includes seamless navigation, personalized messaging, and real-time offers, all designed to enhance the guest journey and drive revenue through targeted upsells.
- Popshap: Offers customizable digital kiosks and touch screen solutions, supporting check-in, interactive directories, surveys, and digital marketing, streamlining front-of-house operations.
- Quore: Provides centralized hotel operations management software, streamlining housekeeping, maintenance, and communications, driving efficiency and guest satisfaction.
- Relay: Delivers push-to-talk voice and data communications for hotel teams, replacing legacy radios and driving faster operational response for security, housekeeping, and guest requests. An added feature: real time translation in over 30 languages!
- RMS: Provides a cloud-based property management system for hotels, resorts, and campgrounds, supporting automation, guest engagement, and powerful integrations.
- Ruckus: Specializes in high-density Wi-Fi and secure networking, enabling properties to manage guest and back-of-house connectivity reliably and securely, even in complex layouts.
- Safety Net Access: Delivers complete network solutions, including design, implementation, and 24/7 support, ensuring worry-free connectivity for guests and robust cybersecurity measures.
- Shift4: Provides end-to-end payment processing and secure commerce solutions for hospitality, helping hotels reduce chargebacks, accept omnichannel payments, and leverage actionable transactional analytics.
- Tangible Robots: Offers hospitality-grade robotics for delivery, cleaning, and routine guest services. Their plug-and-play robots minimize manual labor and maximize cost savings.
- ToDo Robotics: Focuses on AI-driven automation for logistics and facilities, integrating robotics into property management to unlock operational efficiencies and savings.
- The Anything Group (TAG): is a full-service performance, marketing, branding, website development and reputation agency, with a full in-house production and filming studio. TAG performs Emotive Engagement and Connection Marketing services across the hospitality, luxury brands and products, fashion, retail and streamed media worlds.
Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) Innovation Pitch Competition
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) pitch competition took center stage, featuring eight of the most innovative hospitality technology startups across the globe. Participants vied for a $5,000 Judge’s Choice Award and the coveted People’s Choice Award; the latter determined by attendee vote.
According to Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP, “Participating in Entrepreneur 20X is not just about pitching a great idea—it’s about demonstrating your power to innovate and transform the future of hospitality. The startups chosen for E20X are paving the way forward, and this competition provides a vital platform to support and spotlight their progress.”
The 2025 E20X finalists
- Albie by TAG: A brand new booking experience poised to revolutionize the hospitality industry by allowing users to reserve multiple hotels, services and dates in a unified cart.
- Bookboost: Unified guest messaging platform, aggregating communications across channels to drive loyalty and boost upsells through personalized interactions.
- Ediphi: AI + virtual reality training platform for hospitality workforce onboarding, safety and brand‑specific training.
- Eeva by Paradigm Evergreen: A plumbing‑less, in‑room washer/dryer with a built-in water tank for guest laundry.
- Levee: AI housekeeping assistants that use real-time data and room scanning to automate inspections, reduce manual errors, and improve room readiness, helping hotels cut costs and ensure consistent room quality.
- SEE Carbon ZERO: ESG compliance and carbon calculation platform to optimize sustainability metrics across properties.
- Siv: Lead management platform that enables hospitality sales teams to respond to leads instantly and personally, 24/7, 365.
- Vella AI: Streamlines the RFP process and maximizes revenue. Hotels typically take 48–96 hours to respond to RFPs and only respond to 70 percent of incoming requests, with less than 10 percent converting into bookings. Vella AI accelerates response times to under 10 minutes, ensuring no opportunity is missed.
Congratulations to Levee for making history by winning both the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice Awards!
Looking Forward
Excitement is already building for HITEC 2026, scheduled for June 15–18, 2026, at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Organizers have opened early exhibitor registration, and over 65% of booth space has already been sold, including commitments from several new exhibitors.
If you haven’t been to HITEC yet, start your series with HITEC 2026, and if you have been attending, continue to build your record in Texas!
Explore event updates and registration at next year’s HITEC event page.
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