HFTP India Hospitality Eyes APAC Certification Expansion

New Delhi, May 2026: The latest signals from industry bodies suggest the talent gap in hotel tech and finance is no longer a side issue, it’s now front and centre, and Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) is moving fast to claim ground in India.

The association is sharpening its focus on India as a strategic base for Asia-Pacific, pushing deeper into certification programmes, leadership hiring, and on-ground industry engagement.

It’s a clear play: build the talent pipeline where hotel growth is accelerating.

India positioned as regional growth centre

India’s hotel sector is expanding at pace. And with it, the need for sharper finance controls and stronger tech systems.

HFTP sees that shift and is treating India as a launchpad for APAC expansion. The groundwork isn’t new, the India Chapter, set up in 2021, has already been laying connections across finance and tech professionals.

Now the push is bigger. More certifications. More presence. More influence across emerging markets.

And it lines up with what hotels are doing on the ground, spending more on systems, compliance, and digital infrastructure.

Focus on hospitality technology and finance certifications

HFTP’s core playbook hasn’t changed. It’s doubling down on certifications like CHAE and CHTP, credentials that carry weight in hotel finance and IT circles.

These aren’t just badges. They standardise how finance teams report, how systems are managed, and how revenue gets tracked.

And demand is rising.

Hotels are rolling out cloud PMS platforms, tightening cybersecurity, and leaning on automation. That means they need people who actually understand the tools, not just operate them.

Leadership expansion strengthens APAC strategy

To back the push, HFTP has brought in Dennie Matthews as Chief Operating Officer for India/APAC.

That’s not a routine hire. It signals intent.

Matthews comes with experience in workforce development across Asia-Pacific. His brief is clear, build partnerships, expand certifications, and get closer to the industry.

And HFTP is stepping up its event game too. More summits. More CIO forums. More face time with decision-makers.

Industry demand driving professional education growth

The pressure is coming from hotel operators themselves.

They’re investing heavily in tech and finance systems. But the talent pool isn’t keeping up.

So training is no longer optional, it’s becoming part of the growth strategy.

Industry bodies, hotel groups, and tech providers are now working together to close that gap. Certifications are turning into a filter for hiring, not just a bonus line on a CV.

HFTP is scaling its learning ecosystem to match, virtual programmes, professional courses, and targeted education for hotel tech roles.

Technology-led hospitality operations gain momentum

Hotel operations are changing fast. AI tools, analytics dashboards, automated finance systems, they’re all moving from pilot phase to daily use.

And that shift needs structure.

HFTP is trying to provide that through knowledge-sharing platforms and global standards. Earlier this year, it even set up an AI Council to guide how hotels adopt and manage artificial intelligence.

India sits right in the middle of this transition.

As APAC markets scale up, the expectation is clear, India won’t just supply rooms. It will supply the talent that runs the systems behind them.