Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) is pleased to recognize two champions of hospitality technology. Mary Gerdts will be inducted to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame, recognized for the development of game-changing, hospitality payment technology. Gerdts is the founder and CEO of two payment processing companies, POST Integrations, Inc. and EboCom, LLC. Bob Gilbert will be posthumously recognized with the HFTP Award of Merit, which recognizes individuals who have made a significant innovation or breakthrough that established a path for others in hospitality technology. Gilbert, was the president and CEO of HSMAI Americas for more than 30 years.

Forget flagships. Forget concept stores. Forget polite rails of neatly folded jackets under warm lighting. Vollebak has built a 1,000kg aluminium spacecraft-shop and sent it on tour.

After two decades shaping some of the UK’s most recognisable live music environments, Kim O’Brien is evolving her work within the live music sector, expanding beyond large-scale festival systems into a new international hosted experience focused on intimate, music-led cultural connection.

WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been launched to connect the global travel industry with one of the world’s fastest-evolving tourism markets, as Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 ambitions across destination development, aviation, hospitality and infrastructure. According to Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, the new event is designed as a focused, curated platform that reflects both sides of the Kingdom’s tourism opportunity: its rapid rise as an inbound destination and its growing influence as a high-value outbound market. Bringing together more than 450 exhibitors, over 6,500 regional and international visitors, and 150 hand-selected international hosted buyers, the inaugural edition aims to move brands beyond interest into practical business development through pre-scheduled meetings, targeted networking and market insight. With Riyadh positioned at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s transformation, the event will provide direct access to local buyers, decision-makers and stakeholders, while encouraging deeper conversations around premium travel, market access, resilience, visitor confidence and long-term collaboration.