I had a great time at this year’s HITEC 2017 in Toronto! As my first HITEC, I found the experience invaluable when it comes to learning about the industry. We received a warm welcome from the Fairmont Royal York Hotel where we were staying. The hotel was conveniently next to the Metro Toronto Convention Center where the show was being held. We had team drinks at the Library Bar in the hotel the first night. This historic hotel has been host to Queen Elizabeth (and now our Percipia team!).
The opening party was a great way to kick off the week and network. The Beach Paris Club was an excellent indoor/outdoor space for this event and featured fun activities like a giant Light Brite, surf simulation, photo wall, drinks, and food stations!
Day two was our first day of exhibiting. Seeing our booth come to life was really rewarding. We had a steady flow of curious attendees coming to the booth all day, and our mobility station was a hit! The Ubiquiti phones, iPads, and tablets hosting our Latitude app were definitely a crowd favorite.
Later that night we were able to see some of the sights in Toronto. Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival style house constructed for Sir Henry Pellatt is a must-see. Krissy, Douglas, and I enjoyed listening to the symphony play in the castle gardens. We also were able to freely tour around the massive castle which has been the host for over 15 movies!
During Day three of the trade show, I ventured out with Douglas to visit some of the other booths on the floor. The show had a diverse collection of cutting-edge hotel technology. We saw everything from cyber-security, to touch-screen mirrors, to fitness centers for your hotel room.
After the show, I went to few more places in Toronto. I visited some public parks, Osgoode Hall, watched part of a Blue Jay’s game at the Renaissance (the bar is right in the stadium!), ate dinner the CN Tower, and saw the Toronto sign.
By the last day of the show, I was really impressed by how far some of our visitors had traveled. I was fortunate to talk to attendees from all over, including the Caribbean, Australia, and India. A common theme throughout the show was how to improve the guest experience. Showcasing how our products improve their guests’ experience and their property’s efficiency was the best part of the show. Whether using demos, videos from our Youtube channel or having a sit-down conversation in the booth, HITEC Toronto was a great opportunity to give our clients the immersive product experience they needed.
