Hospitality Upgrade

What Hospitality Upgrade does

Hospitality Upgrade is a B2B trade media company founded in 1992 that publishes technology news, trends, and product information for hotel, casino, cruise, travel, and foodservice professionals. Its core products include a print and digital magazine, the hospitalityupgrade.com website, the Watercooler and Siegel Sez newsletters, the Definitely Doug blog series, and the HFTP Viewpoint video series. The company produces two flagship invitation-only annual events — the CIO Summit (held every September for C-level hospitality technology executives) and the Executive Vendor Summit (for hospitality technology vendor executives), with the CIO Summit now expanded to a regional EMEA edition launched in 2025 in Barcelona.

The company's revenue model combines event sponsorships (which require annual advertising commitments), digital and print advertising sold to hospitality technology vendors and service providers, and nominal subscription fees ($30/year postage and handling for international subscribers; free for qualified US/Canada subscribers). The business operates a two-sided model linking C-level hospitality technology buyers (major hotels, casinos, cruise lines, management and timeshare companies) with technology vendors seeking access to those decision-makers.

In June 2024, Hospitality Upgrade was strategically acquired by HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals), an international nonprofit association established in 1952 and headquartered in Austin, Texas with offices in Europe and the Middle East. The acquisition brought Hospitality Upgrade, The CIO Summit, The Executive Vendor Summit, and Hotel-Online under HFTP's portfolio. The company operates as a subsidiary of HFTP, with no public listing, no disclosed institutional funding, and a small named editorial team led by President and Publisher Rich Siegel, who has run the publication for over 31 years.

Name

Hospitality Upgrade

Legal name

Siegel Communications, Inc.

Website

https://hospitalityupgrade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hospitality Upgrade is a B2B trade media company founded in 1992 that publishes technology news, magazines, newsletters, and runs invitation-only CIO and Vendor Summits for hospitality technology executives and vendors, now owned by HFTP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Technology Media

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Intelligence, Reporting & Data Platforms (THALACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sales & Catering / Group & Event Management (THALACAM)

Keywords

• Hospitality technology media
• Trade publication publishing
• Executive conference services
• B2B media events
• Industry newsletter publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Roswell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Publishing and Subscriptions: The publication generates revenue through its print and digital magazine distributed to hospitality professionals. Qualified subscribers within the United States and Canada receive the magazine at no charge. International subscribers are billed $30/year for postage and handling.
2. Event Sponsorships and Advertising: The company earns revenue through event sponsorship opportunities at The CIO Summit and Executive Vendor Summits, which require annual advertising commitments. Both events offer exclusive sponsorship opportunities.
3. Digital Advertising: The hospitalityupgrade.com website and digital content carry advertising placements for technology vendors and industry service providers targeting hospitality professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hospitality Upgrade is a B2B media and events company that publishes a print and digital magazine, the hospitalityupgrade.com website, and email newsletters (Watercooler, Siegel Sez) covering technology trends, products, and solutions for hospitality industry professionals. It also produces two flagship invitation-only annual executive events: the CIO Summit (for C-level technology executives at hotels, casinos, cruise lines, and management companies) and the Executive Vendor Summit (for C-level vendor executives, including an Investment Program connecting attendees with investors). Revenue is driven by advertising, event sponsorships, and qualified-subscriber distribution of the magazine.

Product overview

Hospitality Upgrade is a hospitality technology media and events company operating under HFTP since June 2024. The company publishes a print and digital magazine alongside its website (hospitalityupgrade.com), distributes the Watercooler newsletter and Siegel Sez newsletter, and produces the annual CIO Summit and Executive Vendor Summit events. The portfolio also includes the Hotel-Online news portal. The company provides technology coverage including AI, privacy, payment security, guest management solutions, connectivity, IoT, digital signage, self-service and kiosks, property systems, infrastructure, data analysis, marketing, and revenue strategies. Tech Talk content includes blog articles, video content, and the Definitely Doug blog series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospitality Upgrade Magazine Flagship print and digital B2B trade publication covering hospitality technology trends, product information, in-depth analyses by leading consultants, industry insider news, executive interviews, and vendor profiles; distributed free to qualified US/Canada subscribers and at USD 30/year to international subscribers.
• hospitalityupgrade.com Primary digital hub for Hospitality Upgrade featuring technology news articles, vendor listings, blog content (including Definitely Doug), video gallery, magazine content, and event information, with advertising placements sold to hospitality technology vendors.
• Watercooler Newsletter Recurring email newsletter delivering the latest hospitality technology industry news and product updates to subscribers between magazine publication cycles; subscription available via Dragonforms signup.
• CIO Summit Annual two-day invitation-only executive conference for CIOs, CTOs, and senior technology leaders at major hotels, casinos, cruise lines, and management/timeshare companies; offers networking, programming, and social events with sponsorships sold on an annual advertising commitment basis. Includes a North American edition (September) and a regional EMEA edition (2025 debut in Barcelona, 2026 in Amsterdam).
• Executive Vendor Summit Exclusive annual invitation-only event for C-level executives of hospitality technology vendor companies, featuring a dedicated Investment Program for connecting vendors with investors, keynote sessions, and CIO panel discussions on technology investment and strategic leadership.
• HITEC Parties Social events hosted by Hospitality Upgrade in conjunction with HITEC (the hospitality industry's largest technology exposition), targeted at senior technology executives and vendor leaders attending the tradeshow.
• Hotel-Online The hospitality industry's No. 1 news website and daily newsletter of hospitality-related headlines; acquired by HFTP along with the Hospitality Upgrade brand in June 2024 and operated as part of HFTP's hospitality media portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 2025 CIO Summit EMEA debut attracted over 50 hospitality technology leaders
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024In June 2024, HFTP announced the strategic acquisition of Hospitality Upgrade, The CIO Summit, The Executive Summit and Hotel-Online brands. HFTP is an international non-profit association established in 1952 with more than 70-year history of empowering hospitality professionals through education, engagement and professional development. The acquisition expanded HFTP's portfolio to include these leading hospitality technology media brands and events, with HFTP operating Hospitality Upgrade, The CIO and Executive Vendor Summits, and Hotel-Online as part of its portfolio.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Phocuswright: Phocuswright is a travel industry research and media company producing reports, newsletters, and industry events (Phocuswright Conference). It is comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a travel/hospitality-focused media and events business serving senior executives, with a heavier research subscription model.
• Hospitality Net: Hospitality Net is a global hospitality industry portal providing news, articles, vendor directories, and industry resources. It is directly comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a long-running B2B hospitality industry media platform serving hotel technology professionals.
• Skift: Skift is a B2B travel industry media company operating a news site, research subscription products, newsletters, and the Skift Forum events. It is directly comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a vertically-focused travel/hospitality industry media and events business targeting senior decision-makers.
• eHotelier: eHotelier is a hospitality industry news and careers platform covering hotel operations, technology, and industry trends. It is comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a B2B hospitality media outlet serving hotel professionals, though with a broader operational scope beyond technology.
• 4Hoteliers: 4Hoteliers is a hospitality industry news and resources site covering hotel technology, operations, and trends with a daily newsletter. It is comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a B2B hospitality media and newsletter business serving industry professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Hotel News Now (CoStar): Hotel News Now is a hospitality industry news publication now operated by CoStar Group, the dominant commercial real estate data and analytics platform. It is comparable to Hospitality Upgrade as a hospitality industry news outlet, but operates within a much larger data/analytics parent with broader industry coverage.
• HITEC (produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals / HFTP): HITEC is the hospitality industry's largest technology conference and exhibition, now part of the HFTP event portfolio. It is comparable as a major hospitality technology industry event serving CIOs and technology vendors, though it is a much larger trade show format versus Hospitality Upgrade's invitation-only executive summit model.

Emerging players

• HotelTechReport: HotelTechReport is a hospitality technology marketplace and review platform helping hoteliers research and compare technology vendors. It is comparable as a B2B hospitality technology media platform targeting hotel decision-makers, though with a marketplace/review focus rather than editorial magazine model.

Regional players

• AHLA (American Hotel & Lodging Association): AHLA is the US hotel industry trade association representing all segments of the lodging industry through advocacy, education, and events including the AHLA Hospitality Show. It is comparable as a US-based hospitality industry organization producing events and content, though primarily advocacy-focused rather than technology-focused.

Others

• HFTP: HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals) is an international nonprofit association serving hospitality finance and technology professionals through education, certification, and events. It is comparable as the parent organization and a peer in the hospitality technology professional community space, though as a nonprofit association rather than commercial media.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hospitality-upgrade
• Xx.com/HospUpgrade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hospitality Upgrade