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Chris Garland – Image Credit HFTP
Garland was selected for his role in guiding hotel finance reporting and best practices through HFTP leadership roles.
Christopher Garland was selected as the 2025 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) Paragon Award recipient for his significant contribution in guiding industry professionals in financial reporting for hotel companies through leadership roles with the association. Garland is an active participant in the Global Finance Committee (GFC), the group behind the recently-released 12th revision of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry. Garland will be recognized at the upcoming HFTP Annual Convention on October 22 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
“I am truly honored to receive the Paragon award from HFTP,” said Garland. “Following in the footsteps of hospitality legends is humbling and I am grateful for this recognition.”
Garland started his four-decade career as a night auditor at a Howard Johnson Motor Hotel and subsequently over the course of those years, he specialized in the luxury hotel field, working in four countries on two continents. In 2016 he retired from his role as the SVP of Operations and Finance for Four Seasons Hotel Ltd. He followed up with his own consulting companies, first was Mission Hospitality Solutions LLC, working closely with Auberge Resorts Collection, and later C. Garland Consulting. He is an expert at operations finance with a focus on management and development of resources, policy and procedure adherence, and compliance of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI).
Throughout his career, Garland continually volunteered to share his field expertise in support of applying best practices within the broader hotel industry. As a member of the AHLA Financial Management Committee he participated in the development of the 11th Revised edition of the USALI. And now as a member of the GFC, he serves on its Communications subcommittee which oversees the 12th revised edition’s educational and promotional activities. Garland also served as chair of the HFTP Hospitality Finance Advisory Council (2015–2020) and as a director on the HFTP Global Board (2014–2017). He was also treasurer and CFO of 1907 Foundation International, Inc. and 1907 Foundation Canada from 2019–2024 and is a former chair of the cabinet for the Centennial College School of Hospitality Impact Campaign.
Established in 1999, the prestigious HFTP Paragon Award recognizes individuals each year who have made a significant and lasting contribution to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related associations, societies or trade publications; leaders from hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related disciplines. A panel of industry experts selects the award recipients who are traditionally recognized at HFTP’s Annual Convention.
Previous Paragon Award winners include: Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry “Buddy” Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP (2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE (2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); George Glazer (2008); Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE (2009); Stephen LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. (2009); and Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP (2010); Frank Agnello Jr., CMA, CHAE (2011); Howard Field, FBHA, FCA (2012); Joseph McInerney, CHA (2013); Evelyn Adams (2014); Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE (2015); Raman (R. P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE (2016); Kris S. Shoemaker, CMA, CGFO, CHAE, CHTP, CPFIM (2016); Mary Gerdts (2017); Anna McFarland, CPA, CFE, CHAE, CHTP (2018); Thomas Smith, CHAE (2019); Ian Millar, CHTP (2020); Tanya Venegas, MBA, MHM, CHIA (2021); Sanjay Nadkarni, Ph.D. (2021); Daniel Conti, Jr., CHAE+ (2022); Geneva Rinehart (2023); and Robert Mandelbaum (2024).
The HFTP Annual Convention is October 22–24, 2025 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. USA. Register to attend. For more information about HFTP events, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org, +1 (512) 249-5333. For more information on the Paragon Award, contact the HFTP Communications Department at publications@hftp.org or +1 (512) 249-5333.
