Dr. Daniel Connolly - Executive Advisor

Dr. Daniel Connolly is associate dean of undergraduate programs for the Daniels College of Business School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and an associate professor. Connolly joined the College in 2001 as an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and the Department of Information Technology and Electronic Commerce. Previously, he held academic positions with Michigan State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Cornell University and Concord College. He received his Ph.D. in 1999 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. When working with the media, Connolly is able to discuss the impact and use of information technology in the hospitality industry. He resides with his wife Sarah and three sons in Centennial, CO.

Jane Durment - Executive Advisor

Former Chief Information Officer, The Marcus Corporation
Former Director and Secretary/Treasurer, HTNG

Jane Durment was the Chief Information Officer for The Marcus Corporation. The Marcus Corporation is comprised of Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Marcus Theatres, Inc. Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and manages independent and franchised full service City Center and Resort Hotels throughout the US. Marcus Theatres, Inc. owns and manages the 9th largest Movie Theatre circuit in the US. Jane joined Marcus 10 years ago to take responsibility for a completed refresh of enterprise and property systems and networks, and to develop and launch the company's new E-Commerce, Distribution and Business Intelligence plans. Jane's staff participated in the first HTNG Work Group and is now working as members of the In Room Technology Work Group. As an HTNG Director, Jane has been working with The Open Group on the implementation of the HTNG Certification program.  Prior to joining Marcus, Jane had 20+ years of experience working for Technology Vendors, including 10 years in management with Tandem Computers, who brought fault tolerant computers to the market for mission-critical applications. Jane has a Computer Science Degree from the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana and an MBA in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Fraser Hickox - Executive Advisor

Until recently the General Manager of the Peninsula Group's research Lab in Hong Kong, Fraser in retirement remains a consultant to Peninsula and other companies around Asia and in the Middle East as well continues to develop specialized electronics for different companies. A keen advocate of HTNG and the participation of hoteliers within this organization for a common good. Fraser was inducted into the HFTP Hall of Fame in 2008 and is the recipient in December 1993 of the Personnalite de Lannee Distinction International Hotellerie. He holds a number of degrees in Engineering and Sciences and has had a diverse career spanning broadcasting, civil aviation, banking and manufacturing.

Ted Horner - Executive Advisor

After graduating with formal qualifications in Catering & Hotel Management from Victoria University in 1976, Ted was involved in the establishment of several companies specializing in supplying technology for the hospitality industry. In 1989, he launched a Consulting Practice specializing in Technology Consulting to the Hospitality Industry which is now recognized as the leader in the Australian market. In 2005 he was awarded his first consulting assignment in Dubai with Jumeirah. In 1995, he launched the first newsletter dedicated to technology in the Hospitality Industry, HTR this was then replaced in 2002 with the launch of Australia's first hospitality technology portal site. In August 1996, he launched the first dedicated Australian Hospitality Technology Conference and Exhibition held in Sydney. In 2004 he was the first non US person to be elected to the HITEC Technology Hall of Fame for his contribution to the advancement of technology in the hospitality industry. In 2002 he was one of the founders of HTNG and is now an executive advisor.

Jon Inge - Executive Advisor

Jon Inge is an independent consultant in hotel technology. He has over 35 years experience with hotel systems, gained through working with both vendor and hotel companies and, for the last fifteen years, through his own consulting practice. Based in Seattle, WA, Mr. Inge works with clients from 8-room hotels to international chains on all aspects of selecting and using property systems. He compiles a bi-weekly e-newsletter on hospitality technology, and his articles appear frequently in the trade press. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences, a former member of the AH&LA Technology Committee and HFTP HITEC Advisory Council, a founder member of the HTNG initiative and a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. In June 2006, he was inducted into the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame.

Jim Peterson - Executive Advisor

Jim Peterson is Senior Vice President, Information Resources, Technology Strategy and Enterprise Architecture for Marriott International, Inc. In this role, Jim provides strategic leadership in the establishment of and adherence to a comprehensive strategy and framework and approach to the development of our information technology based products and services to support all of Marriott International's businesses. Working both as an independent consultant and a corporate technology executive, Jim has led the development of information technology plans, systems and processes to meet the strategic, global business objectives of large corporations including Georgia-Pacific, Pillsbury/Grand Met's U.S. and European based businesses, Target Corporation, Tyco International and Fortune 100 level multi-national companies. He is a former partner and CPA for Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers). Jim is a graduate of St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Business Administration.

Nick Price - Executive Advisor

Nick Price is CEO of NetSys Technology a software development and technology consulting company focussing on the hospitality and travel sectors. Prior to starting NetSys in mid-2011, Nick worked for twelve years as Chief Information and Technology Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group where he was instrumental in moving the hotel industry’s technology focus from the front desk to the guest room. Nick is an inductee in the HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals) Hall of Fame, a co-founder and past-president of HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation) and a board member of Swisscom Hospitality Services. Nick, a UK national, is a global traveller and has lived in Hong Kong since 1995.

Terence Ronson - Executive Advisor & Regional Coordinator (Asia-Pacific)

Terence Ronson launched his diversified hospitality career as a Chef, from where he held various general management positions with prominent hotels in the UK and Asia. In the mid 80's he developed his penchant for technology, and in 2000 started Pertlink, from where he became the Technology Editor for HOTELS Asia Pacific and authored numerous industry related articles. CNN's eBizasia program featured him in 2001 for his innovative work at Rosedale Hong Kong, and helped Langham Place Hong Kong win many accolades for its technology deployment. Terence has spoken at several key industry events and currently sits on the Advisory Boards for HOFEX and HITEC 2010, as well as holding a Visiting Lecturer position at HKPOLY U. Terence moderates an online discussion group for in-room technology at: www.wiwih.com and also runs a Hotel Technology Blog. Terence is currently involved in several exciting China based projects to include TANGULA the luxury train that will run from Beijing to Lhasa, Thistle/Guoman Hotels projects located in Malaysia and China, and Zendai Himalayas Hotels (Shanghai) scheduled to open in 2010.

Riko van Santen - Executive Advisor

VP Digital Strategy and Distribution, Kempinski Hotels
Former Director and Vice-President, HTNG

Riko is based at Kempinski's headquarters overseeing the Distribution, E-Commerce, Revenue Management, and Loyalty disciplines. From 2009 to 2012 Riko oversaw 1,100 properties under 7 brands, as Vice President Distribution and E-Commerce at Louvre Hotels Group, a Starwood Capital company based in Paris. Accomplishments include the first hotel brand website to use RSS technology, Mobile-Device distribution and pioneering the implementation of modern GDS functionalities and channel management solutions. He was appointed Director of Electronic Distribution in 2003 and VP of Electronic Distribution & ICT for the Golden Tulip & TOP International Group in 2007.  Early in his career, after working in various rooms division functions, Riko joined Pegasus Solutions in 2000 as Golden Tulip Group Revenue Manager. Riko speaks at various hotel schools and industry events on Electronic Distribution and Revenue Management, and has served on HTNG Board of Directors, HFTP EHTEC Advisory Council, Pegasus Solutions Customer Advisory Board, and HSMAI Europe's Digital Marketing Advisory Board. Riko graduated with an honours degree in Hospitality Management from Middlesex University, London, and holds a degree in Japanese business studies and various software administration qualifications. A Dutch national, Riko was born in Tokyo but has lived over 20 years abroad, he now resides in Geneva, Switzerland with wife Christel and two sons.

Prakash V. Shukla - Executive Advisor

Former Senior Vice President, Technology and CIO, Indian Hotels Company Ltd (Taj Hotels)
Former Director, HTNG

With over 20 years experience in the information technology industry, Prakash Shukla brings valuable expertise to the expanding network of Taj Hotels. He is currently responsible for total IT deployments at the Taj Group and is on MD's management committee. With a background in some of the industry's most venerable corporations-Unisys / Sperry and IBM-Prakash has provided IT solutions for numerous clients: Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Solomon Smith Barney. An American national, Mr. Shukla is a graduate of Rutgers University with degrees in Electrical Engineering and English, and New York Polytechnic University with a Master's degree in Computer Science. Mr. Shukla attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Barry L. Shuler - Executive Advisor

Barry has over forty-one years of wide ranging Information Technology experience. He joined Design Management Associates in 2008 to lead the IT Consulting Practice, and also plays the role of Chief Information Officer. From 2011-2012, Mr. Shuler was also VP Revenue & Partner Technologies for Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) as well as managing REVolution, a project to replace IHG's Central Reservation System with new Global Reservations Service, executing in the Cloud. For thirteen years, prior to joining DMA and IHG, Mr. Shuler was SVP IT Strategy and Chief Technology Officer for Marriott International, Inc. In his last two years at Marriott Mr. Shuler was also SVP and Chief Information Officer of Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC., a Marriott subsidiary. Barry has won numerous awards for excellence in Information Technology including: 2005 InformationWeek Top 25 CTO; 2005 Hospitality Technology Visionary for leading the industry towards innovative business intelligence solutions; and 2007 Computerworld Premier IT Leader. A graduate of The University of South Carolina, Mr. Shuler holds a B.S. degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering. He has authored and been featured in numerous articles, and has contributed to many books on information technology, including his own book, Virtual Travel: Embrace or Expire.

Bryan Steele - Executive Advisor

Bryan is the founder and Managing Director of Jireh-Tek Limited, an IT consultancy with a strong focus on the hospitality sector. He has 19 years of international IT and business experience gained in a number of sectors: FMCG, Speciality Chemicals, Internet and Hospitality.  Bryan joined the HTNG Board in the organisation’s formative years and continues to support HTNG as an Executive Advisor and through active participation in the Integration and Device Forum. He has chaired a number of workgroups specifying standard industry solutions focused on technology and service delivery to guests. Bryan is a Council member and Chairman of the IT Committee of HOSPA, the Hospitality Professionals Association and was a founding member of the Micros Fidelio Opera User Group, which he chaired from 2002 to 2006. Bryan was the Director of IT and a member of the Senior Management Team from 2002 to 2006 at Thistle Hotels where he had responsibility for all Information and Communication Technology. Before joining Thistle Hotels, Bryan was the European IT Director of CMGI Inc. which incubated a number of .com companies including Alta Vista. Prior to that, he held a number of senior IT and engineering management roles, including international assignments, within Unilever plc.

Todd Thompson - Executive Advisor

Todd Thompson is the former Chief Information Officer at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, a role he left on March 30, 2012. In this role, Todd was responsible for company-wide information technology projects and operations, spanning all systems, networks, servers, datacenters, desktops, and devices. Prior to joining Starwood in November, 2006, Todd was CIO for JetBlue Airways where he was responsible for companywide IT projects and operations and led improvements to all major customer- and "crewmember"-facing systems. Earlier in his career Todd led Intermountain West consulting practices for both SBI.Razorfish and Arthur Andersen Business Consulting and was an IT Director at Nu Skin and a Senior Consultant for Andersen Consulting. Todd has more than 20 years of IT experience with expertise in technology, business processes and project/program management. Todd has applied this experience to a variety of industries and areas. Todd received a BS, Computer Science in 1992 and an MBA in 1999 from Brigham Young University. He lives in New Canaan, CT with his wife Julie and six children.

Wibecke Vinke

As a senior executive with 27 years of both operational and management experience in international Hotel Information Technology, Wibecke is a recognized expert and speaker in her field. After a solid hotel management education in the Netherlands and M.Sc. from FIU, Wibecke worked 10 years putting IT on the map of Hilton International. She is an active participant in HFTP's and other industry educational and business forums. In her most recent position, as Senior Vice President for Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, Wibecke project managed the company's IT requirements for Emirates Palace, implemented several major corporate IT and S&M system projects and in general headed IT for this organization for 8 years. Since 2008 Wibecke offers her services as IT & Systems Consultant for Hospitality, assisting a range of hotel companies with designing and planning effective IT business strategies and appropriate governance processes.