HFTP Research Institute

Know Your Benefits!

Q & A

• Where is the HFTP Research Institute located?– University of Houston

• In what year was the HFTP Research Institute established?– 2001

• How many people work at the HFTP Research Institute?– Just Me!

Introduction

• The RI was established in January 2001• Purpose– Help HFTP reach its Big Audacious Goal of

being the primary resource on hospitality finance and technology

• Basic Responsibilities– Answer questions from the membership– Conduct the HFTP Compensation and

Benefits Survey

• Published Literature– University Databases/Resources• Journals• Magazines• Textbooks

• Internet• Industry Professionals• HFTP Members

Resources

• Types of Questions – Accounting

• What is the common practice for accounting for chargebacks at hotels?

– Finance• Do you have any reports or financial data on golf clubs or golf courses?

– Technology • I am working on an IT strategic plan. Do you have any resources to help guide

me through the process?

– Tax• What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a 501c(3) vs. a for profit

corporation?

– Legal• I am researching Whistle-Blower companies for my company. Could you

provide a list of companies that work with the hospitality industry?

– Human Resources• Can you provide a sample job description for a hotel controller or director of

finance?

Member Questions

• Vendors– Can you recommend …?

• Published Literature– What is the turnover ratio for items in the hotel gift shop?

• Tax– If our club, in Florida, only offers valet parking is the fee

you charge for the labor of the valet parkers taxable?• Legal

– Can you provide advice on …?• Pricing

– We need to purchase a new PMS. Can you tell us how much it will cost?

Limitations

• How are research initiatives chosen?– Multiple questions over time– Benefit a large section of the HFTP

membership– Easily researched

• How is the research conducted?– Survey Research– Literature Review

• How many projects per year?– Typically 3 projects by the RI

Research Projects

• Traveler Technology Survey– What technologies are travelers using/bringing to

hotels?• Hotel Transition Checklist

– Developing a master checklist for hotel operators• IT Managers

– What they wish others knew/understood about IT which would make their jobs easier.

• Compensation and Benefits Survey– Salary and compensation survey of the HFTP

membership

Recent Research

• Distribution– March 2013– HFTP Membership

• Responses– 59%: Accounting/Finance Positions– 11%: Technology Positions

• Location:– 78%: USA– 10%: Canada– Others: Australia, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Spain, St. Maarten, and The

Netherlands• Industry

– 33%: Lodging– 24%: Clubs

• Age Range:– 5%: Under 24– 13%: 24 to 33– 20%: 34 to 43– 50%: 44 to 63– 13%: 64 to 73

Traveler Technology SurveyRespondent Information

64 to 73

54 to 63

44 to 53

34 to 43

24 to 33

under 24

13%

25%

25%

20%

13%

5%

• What are the top deciding factors for hotel guests when they are choosing a place to stay?– 82%: Free WiFi– 62%: Free Breakfast– 32%: In-room Technology

• What technologies would guests prefer to see in their hotel guest room?– 95%: WiFi (reliable)– 88%: Television– 43%: Alarm Clock– 30%: iPad or Tablet PC

• What type of television should I be investing in to put into our hotel guest rooms?– 80%: HDTV– 65%: Flat Screen– 32%: Smart TV/Internet TV?

• How many mobile devices are guests carrying with them and utilizing while staying in our hotel? 3 devices or More– 95%: Mobile/Smartphone– 67%: Laptop Computer

• Should we provide each guest room with an iPad or tablet computer for the guests use? – 55%: Yes

Traveler Technology SurveyGuest Technologies

iPad or Tablet PC

Laptop Computer

Mobile or Smartphone

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

WiFi

Television

Alarm Clock

iPad or Tablet PC

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

HDTV

Flat Screen

Smart TV/Internet TV

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

• How many applications do you have installed on your mobile phone?– 64%: 40 or less mobile apps– 25%: 40 to 80 applications – 11%: More than 80 applications

• What mobile apps do you use the most?– 62%: Facebook– 47%: Google Search– 40%: The Weather Channel– 29%: LinkedIn– 22%: Pandora – 15%: Twitter

• What social media websites do travelers utilize when determining where they will stay while traveling?– TripAdvisor– Expedia– AAA– Orbitz

Traveler Technology SurveyMobile Technology and Social Media

Faceb

ook

Google Se

arch

The W

eather

Channel

Linke

dIn

Pandora

Twitter

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

HFTP Compensation and Benefits Survey

• Biannual Survey• Sent to HFTP

Membership• How many of you have

filled the survey out in the past?

• Regional Surveys/Reports Available

• Chapters– Staff Advisor for the UH Cougar Chapter– Greater Houston Chapter Board Member

• Work on various HFTP Initiatives– NCA Technology Project– Global Accounting Project– USALI Research

• Research Request Evaluations• Q&A for The Bottomline

Other Duties as Necessary

• Topic: Presenting Financials• Speakers: Tanya Venegas and Arlene

Ramirez• November 5th • Time: – 10 pm Central or – 9 am Hong Kong!

ProLinks Session

• We Need Your Help!• Compensation and Benefits Survey– Please complete and return

• Research Ideas– Please write down an idea on the cards

provided

Future Research Initiatives

Than you for your time!

Questions?