HFTP Inducts Two Hospitality Innovators into Hall of Fame

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is to induct Cindy Estis Green, managing partner of The Estis Group, and A.L. (Tom) Giannopoulos, chairman, president and CEO of MICROS Systems, Inc. into the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame.

The inductions take place at the 2009 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) General Session on Tuesday, June 23 at 08:30.

For over 30 years, Cindy Estis Green has focused her career at the intersection of technology and marketing for the hospitality industry as a leader, consultant, educator, speaker and author. She was selected for induction based on her innovative ways of using technology for marketing in the hospitality industry.

“The International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame is a pinnacle of achievement in our industry. I am deeply gratified to be recognized by my peers for my contributions and honored to join the company of such an esteemed group of industry executives,” said Estis Green.

Estis Green is managing partner with The Estis Group, providing consulting to travel industry firms in the area of sales and marketing best practices, internet marketing, social media, distribution strategy, revenue management and customer relationship management (CRM).

She has been an advocate for automating marketing and sales functions in the industry. While working for Hilton, she worked closely with the Hilton IT department to build an international database that profiled customers and captured transaction information.

Giannopoulos was selected for the induction based on his leadership in expanding MICROS into one of the leading software companies in the hospitality industry.

During his 18 years with MICROS, he has led the company from $35 million in revenue with products servicing only the restaurant industry to a $954 million company that is a leading provider of enterprise applications for restaurants, hotels, casinos, motels, leisure and entertainment and retail operations.

Over 310,000 MICROS systems are currently installed in hospitality and retail operations in more than 130 countries, and on all seven continents. In addition, MICROS provides property management systems, central reservation and customer information solutions under the brand MICROS-Fidelio for more than 25,000 hotels worldwide.

“I am extremely honored, excited, and humbled to be selected for induction into the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame,” said Giannopoulos. “The hospitality industry has given me the unique opportunity to collaborate with some very talented, insightful and innovative people. It has been a true pleasure. I share this honor with all MICROS employees worldwide whose hard work has contributed to this induction.”

The International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame is HFTP’s highest level of recognition in the area of technology. Since its inception in 1989, 31 individuals have received this award as a reflection of their contributions to the hospitality industry. Hall of Fame members have been selected by their peers as representing the best in innovation and application and as leaders in their profession.

Technology Hall of Fame members include such industry pioneers as: Robert S. Bennett; David Berkus; Richard Brooks, CHA; John D. Burns, CHA; Dave Burroughs; John Cahill, CHTP, CHA; Thomas Castleberry; Larry Chervenak, CHAE; John Davis III; Scott Heintzeman; Fraser Hickox; Robert Horgan; Ted Horner; Jon Inge, CHTP, ISHC; Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., CHTP; Carrol Lund; Richard Moore, CDP; Jack Morgan; Richard Nauman; William Oates; Eric Orkin; Raymond Schultz; Penelope Sellers; Jules Sieburgh, CHTP; Richard Siegel; Sal Spano, CHAE, CHA; John Springer-Miller; James Yoakum; and George Zugmier.

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