Integration And Innovation.

This article reports on the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) 2005 held in Los Angeles, California in which seamless systems and next generation technology were unveiled. Dilbert creator Scott Adams drew laughs at the conference's opening session as he described his journey from corporate cubicles to comics. That was familiar territory for HITEC attendees, who enjoyed glimpses of his cartoons. Attendance grew and the focus of speakers and exhibitors was how make the good times in the industry even better. Themes that rose out of the conference floor and breakout rooms included the continued importance systems integration and converged networks, group sales and revenue and channels by which it comes in dynamic packaging. Internet marketing and over Internet Protocol continued to get plenty of discussion time, with most in agreement that it is all about search engine optimization and that the last circuit switch phone call is on the horizon as legacy phone systems are replaced by new ways to transmit voice. Attendees asked the experts about wide-ranging topics, but seemed most interested in the best way to wire new-build hotels, the best way to integrate their various systems and what the guest room of the future would look like in terms of technology.