Jake Buckstead

Vice President of Hospitality Sales
INTELITY

Immersed in the Internet from its earliest days, Jake Buckstead is the consummate sales professional. In the 1990s, he led marketing teams at two regional companies offering hosting, development, eCommerce and network security. When he joined LodgeNet as director of business development and partner marketing in 2000, Jake drove the launch of its interactive HDTV platform.

His feet were now firmly planted in hospitality technology. He managed sales and marketing of the LodgeNet product overseeing the majority of its sales including several large worldwide hotel brands. Jake attended college at the University of South Dakota and the University of Wisconsin. He joined Intelity in April 2010 where he leads a growing international sales team.

James Costello

National Manager –
Hospitality Segment Clipsal Integrated Systems

James Costello has over 20 years experience working in the electrical and controls industry. His industry experience with a building automation company looking after supervisory and access control systems in multi storey buildings gave him sound expertise for his current role.

James has worked for the past 13 years at Clipsal, now owned by Schneider Electric. His current role is sales and project focused with integrated systems solutions and covers the Hospitality sector.

Some of the major achievements include working on energy saving integration systems such as Clipsal C-Bus with the facilities management team of major hotel groups. James believes Clipsal’s comprehensive energy saving solutions and exceptional service make it a market leading provider to the hotel and hospitality industry.

His satisfaction comes from problem solving and providing solutions where the client’s requirements are filled by working from concept to reality.

Hannah DeMilta

Social Media Specialist
Switched On Media

Hannah DeMilta is a Social Media Specialist at Switched on Media. When it comes to building, managing and engaging with online communities, Hannah is your go-to girl. She has worked with brands such as Westfield, Cambridge Hotel, Stockland, Wendy Wu Tours, and The Caravan & Camping Industry Association, NSW. She also specialises in working with bloggers to help bridge a link between brands and these online influencers. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Hannah’s previous experience includes working as the Site Manager for SportsNetworker.com and Community Manager for a paid membership community for sports executives.

Ted Horner

Managing Director – E. Horner & Associates

In 1989, he launched a Consulting Practice specializing in Technology Consulting to the Hospitality Industry  and  he is  now widely respected as Australia's leading consultant in this area.

Over the last 22  years he has consulted to a variety of clients from developers and international operators of large resorts, boutique hotels golf clubs, convention center ‘s and  licensed clubs covering the full range of technology namely:

• PMS
• POS
• Sales & Catering
• Food & Beverage
• PABX
• In Room Guest Entertainment including Digital Video on Demand
• Broadband & Wireless
• Golf & Spa Systems
• Club Membership

In 1996 he launched Australia’s first dedicated hospitality technology exhibition and conference and today this event is still going and it now called Hotel Operations Technology (HOT)

In 2002 he was a founding member of HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation) a not for profit body  which was established in the US  to promote open systems integrations between vendors in the industry and today he is an Executive Advisor to HTNG.

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.

Since the early 90's he has travelled extensively throughout the world to speak at many hospitality technology conferences  and has written many articles on technology that have been published all over the world.

In 2011 he established an alliance with  jba consulting  engineers  a company started in Las Vegas  in  the 60’s and  now has 7 offices worldwide with multi discipline  expertise in electrical design, security, AV, fire and safety, data centre design and systems integration.

Grant Wilkins

Product Manager - In Room Entertainment
DOCOMO interTouch

Grant has been a part of the DOCOMO interTouch management team since 2005.

For 15 years, Grant held positions within IT, Rooms Division, Finance and Regional Procurement for hotel chains. Following the Y2K, Grant aligned himself with the Dot Com era. He was instrumental in introducing on-line technologies to the Australian Hospitality Market working with the hotel associations, hotel chains and buying groups. Grant then ventured into IT Enterprise Sales, spending 5 years selling on-line software services to Government and Corporate sectors.

Grant held the roll of State Manager for Queensland, Northern Territory and Fiji for 5 years before taking on his current role; heading up the Global Product Team for In-Room Entertainment at DOCOMO interTouch.