Recognizing the important roles chapters play in the association, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)) recently honored several chapters for their contributions. The Chapter of the Year awards were given to the chapters that do the best showcasing HFTP principles throughout the year, while the Chapter Choice Award was given to the chapter with the best chapter success story. The chapters were honored during the HFTP 2008 Annual Convention & Tradeshow, held in Nashville, Tenn. last month.
"With over 70 chapters around the world, HFTP relies on chapters to provide a local connection to HFTP's ideals of offering education, networking and support to members," said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. "HFTP gives special recognition to those chapters that go the extra mile in chapter activities and those that provide unique ideas. Their hard work and dedication is appreciated throughout the entire organization."
2008 Chapter of the Year
HFTP's Chapter of the Year Awards recognize chapters that further the goals of HFTP by providing quality educational and professional opportunities to their members, along with involvement in the local community. This year the Chapter of the Year program was restructured into three tiers based on the number of members per chapter, allowing chapters of all sizes to be recognized for their dedication to the association.
2008 Chapter of the Year winners included:
• Tier A (1-35 members): Southern Alberta Chapter
• Tier B (36-70 members): Florida Treasure Coast Chapter
• Tier C (71+ members): Mid-Florida Chapter
Chapter Choice Award
The Chapter Choice Award winner was chosen during the Leadership Academy, HFTP's chapter leader seminar held in conjunction with the Annual Convention. Implemented in 1996, the HFTP Chapter Choice Award rewards and recognizes a chapter that had success with one of the following: membership recruitment/retention, special education programs and seminars, publicity, newsletters, community service, social activities or volunteer involvement. Attendees voted, and the winner was Mid-Florida's Ambassador Program, which had the chapter's membership committee working hard to retain current members and increase the number of new members.
By assigning a membership committee member to each current member, the chapter was able to assess why people were not renewing their membership and sway some to renew, a feat that isn't easy in the current economy. Potential members received a free meal during the meetings and received an 'Ambassador' that introduced them to other members and helped them feel at home. Results from the program included a 90 percent retention rate and 44 new members (12 percent). Visit the Chapter Choice Award web page to learn more about the award and see previous winners.
For more information about the chapter awards, contact the HFTP Membership Department at membership@hftp.org or +1 (512) 249-5333.
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 4,800 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 www.hftp.org.
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