In Brief: HITEC 2026 welcomed more than 6,100 hospitality technology professionals to the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.
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More Than 6,100 Attend HITEC 2026 at Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio – Image Credit HFTP
HITEC 2026, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), brought together more than 6,100 hospitality technology professionals at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio. The event featured an 85,000 net-square-foot exhibition floor with over 400 companies showcasing technologies spanning AI, data analytics, property management systems, guest engagement platforms, payment technologies, and cybersecurity solutions.
The four-day conference offered educational programming and expert-led sessions on artificial intelligence, automation, cloud-based technology, cybersecurity, revenue optimization, digital guest engagement, payments, and data-driven decision-making. The event opened with a Headliner panel featuring hospitality leaders discussing industry trends, challenges, and opportunities.
A new feature, Workforce 20X: AI Innovation Lab, hosted by HFTP’s AI Collective, provided an interactive space for attendees to explore emerging AI tools, attend expert presentations, and learn about AI’s role in hospitality workflows and operational efficiency.
Keynote speaker James Taylor delivered Tuesday’s Headliner presentation, focusing on the intersection of human creativity and emerging technologies. Taylor shared strategies for fostering innovation, adapting to technological change, and leveraging artificial intelligence within organizations.
The Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) startup pitch competition highlighted new concepts and solutions from hospitality technology companies. Stayfull was named Judges’ Choice Winner, and Abra Hospitality received the People’s Choice award.
Three individuals were recognized during the event: Bob Gilbert received the HFTP Award of Merit, Mary Gerdts was inducted into the Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, and Steven Gay was named CHTP of the Year.
Sessions and discussions throughout the event addressed the growing impact of artificial intelligence on hospitality operations and guest experiences, including guest communications, personalization, predictive analytics, revenue optimization, and operational efficiency.
The next HITEC North America will take place June 28–July 1, 2027, in Orlando, Florida. Upcoming events also include HITEC Paris at EquipHotel Paris from November 2-5, 2026, and HITEC Tokyo at the Hospitality Tech EXPO from December 2-4, 2026.
