Jim Villa
National Account Manager
Pacific Palms Resort
Phone: 626-854-2408

How did you hear about HSMAI?
Through Exhibiting at HSMAI West and National

Why did you join HSMAI?
Initially to get the better rate for the tradeshows. I am also looking forward to networking with other members and plan on attending local events.

Job duties:
Sales and Marketing in the Association and Government Markets.

Other organization I'm involved in:
CalSAE (California Society of Association Executives), ASAE (American Society of Association Executives), and SGMP (Society of Government Meeting Professionals)

Hobbies and/or Special Interests
Bicycling, Music – Guitar, History.

Tell us about your immediate family:
My wife Christy and I have been Married for 7 years – we have one 2 yr old.

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FEATURED ARTICLE

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Not As Great in 2008 for U.S. Hotels | PKF Reports
ATLANTA | PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) is reaffirming their forecast for a modest slowdown in U.S. lodging industry performance in 2008. For the year, PKF-HR is projecting occupancy levels to experience a slight decline (-0.7 percent), while average daily room rates (ADR) should grow 5.3 percent. The net result is a 4.5 percent gain in revenue per available room (RevPAR), the slowest pace of RevPAR growth since recovering from the 2001 to 2003 industry recession. While the PKF-HR forecast calls for a deceleration in the pace of revenue growth, it should be noted that the 4.5 percent RevPAR growth rate is still above the Smith Travel Research long-term average of 3.4 percent. These findings come from the recently released fourth quarter edition of Hotel Horizons(SM), the quarterly lodging forecast report produced by PKF-HR.
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ECONOMIC INSIGHTS

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Weekly U.S. Lodging Performance 12/23/07 - 12/29/07 | Smith Travel Research
4 January 2008 | Smith Travel Research (STR) is the recognized leader in providing accurate, actionable information and analysis to the lodging industry. Since 1985, the company has served the industry operating on the key principals of integrity, confidentiality and customer service. STR provides timely information and analysis to all major North American hotel chains and a growing number of chains in Europe and Asia.
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Global Lodging Performance Report | November 2007 | STR & The Bench
28 December 2007 | Smith Travel Research (STR) is the recognized leader in providing accurate, actionable information and analysis to the lodging industry. Since 1985, the company has served the industry operating on the key principals of integrity, confidentiality and customer service. STR provides timely information and analysis to all major North American hotel chains and a growing number of chains in Europe and Asia.
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Industry, academic leaders mostly bullish on hospitality real estate: Supply-side called biggest concern at panel led by Cornell School of Hotel Administration
20 December 2007 | Ithaca, NY | Industry and academic leaders struck a mostly optimistic tone for the hotel and resort real estate market during a panel presented recently by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration at the Cornell Club in New York City.
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World Travel Trends Report: Europe Continues To Exceed The Long-term Growth Forecasts
13 December 2007 | With a 4% increase in international tourist arrivals from January through August 2007, Europe looks set to achieve another record year in terms of tourism growth, according to the World Travel Trends Report of ITB Berlin and IPK International.
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HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS & OPENINGS

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Top Hotels From The Top Travel Magazines | usatoday.com
3 January 2008 | NEW YORK (AP) | Two of the most influential travel magazines —Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler— are out with their annual lists of best hotels. Travel + Leisure's January issue lists 500 of the "world's best hotels," ranked according to the results of the magazine's readers' survey.
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Pleasure Without Guilt: Green Hotels With Comfort | nytimes.com
2 January 2008 | “HEY there’s no schwag!” my wife, Nina, exclaimed from the bathroom of our room at the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel. The Gaia, which advertises itself as “Napa Valley’s first fully environmentally sustainable hotel,” has eschewed the tiny plastic bottles of lotion, shampoo and conditioner, instead using wall-mounted dispensers.
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Barron Hilton Contributes $1.2 Billion from Sale of Hilton Hotels & Harrah’s to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
31 December 2007 | LOS ANGELES | The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has announced that its Chairman, Barron Hilton, is building on the philanthropic legacy of his father by contributing approximately $1.2 billion of proceeds from the sale of Hilton Hotels Corporation and the pending sale of Harrah’s Entertainment into a charitable remainder unitrust that will eventually benefit the foundation.
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The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester Debuts
28 December 2007 | The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester and BLT Steak are scheduled to open on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 in downtown White Plains, New York, bringing a new level of luxury and guest service to this fast-growing, cosmopolitan suburb located a mere 32 minutes from Manhattan -- yet miles from ordinary.
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Morgans Hotel Group Names Fred J. Kleisner as President and CEO
11 December 2007 | Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) (“MHG”) today announced that Fred J. Kleisner has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Kleisner has served as MHG’s interim President and CEO since September and has been a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since its initial public offering in February 2006.
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Le Méridien Introduces LM100™ | A Group of International Creators That Will Transform Le Méridien Hotels into Creative Hubs and Reinvent the Hotel Guest Experience
4 December 2007 | Today Le Méridien introduced LM100™, a group of international creators of mixed generations and interdisciplinary artistic fields, chosen from the fields of art, architecture, cuisine, design and fashion by Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator. LM100 members will offer their creativity and develop original and interactive programs for Le Méridien hotels worldwide that will transform the guest experience.
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BUSINESS/MEETINGS

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Hotel’s Prime Audience: Sitting in a Meeting, Dreaming of the Greens | nytimes.com
2 January 2008 | THE Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts chain, which caters squarely to business travelers, has signed up a celebrity spokesman whose specialty is near and dear to the guests’ hearts: golf.
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"Cuddle Pillows" For Lonely Solo Travelers | By Kitty Bean Yancey - Hotel Hotsheet
10 December 2007 | Do you find it hard to fall asleep on the road without being in the arms of your mate? Travelodge in the United Kingdom has created a "Cuddillow," billed as the UK’s first cuddling pillow. In a survey of 2,000 solo travelers, Travelodge found that 57% felt lonely without partners by their side; 16% had difficulty falling asleep; 9% felt afraid sleeping on their own. The "Cuddillow" is about 2 feet long, with two arms to wrap around you.
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New York: Council Plans Heftier Fines for Apartments Used as Hotels | nytimes.com
4 December 2007 | Many New Yorkers complain that landlords are fleecing them with excessive rents. But some landlords have quietly found a way to make more money each month: They have illegally turned units in their apartment buildings into hotel rooms, said lawmakers, housing advocates and tenants at a City Council meeting yesterday. A committee of council members introduced a bill that would significantly raise fines against those landlords.
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Results of 2007 China Business Travel Survey | American Express Business Travel
4 December 2007 | American Express Business Travel today announced the results of its 2007 China Business Travel Survey (The Barometer) at the third American Express China Business Travel Forum (CBTF). Fifty-three percent of companies surveyed expect an increase of business travel expenses in 2008, due to an increase in the development of business and trade in China and within Asia Pacific.
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Top Five Reasons for Meeting Planner Site Selection
29 November 2007 | Salisbury, MD | From unique meeting needs to prestigious reputations, Knowland reveals the top five reasons behind the ‘why’ of site selection. The results may not be what you think!
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INTERNATIONAL

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UK Hotel Industry Achieves Growth Of 6.9% In 2007 | Deloitte Reports
4 January 2008 | 2007 was a good year for the UK hotel industry with double–digit growth in revenue per available room (revPAR) in the capital and a healthy increase across the regions. Latest results from the HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte¹ show that during 2007 revPAR in London increased by 10.8%.
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Hotel Room Rates In India Rise 40% But Market To Be Handled With Care, Say Experts
3 January 2008 | Dubai | Demand for upscale hotel rooms in India is on the rise, and so are prices, according to Jonathan Worsley, co-organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), now in its fourth year.
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Langham Hotels International In Double First As It Officially Opens First Managed Property And Resort
2 January 2008 | Langham Hotels International has officially opened its first property under a management contract, Langham Place, Eco Resort + Spa marking the first of six scheduled openings in the next eighteen months. The Thai property which was signed in the autumn of 2007 with the Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Company, is also the first Langham Hotels International resort.
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Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts To Open Two Shanghai Hotels In 2011
2 January 2008 | Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, will open two luxury hotels in Puxi, Shanghai in 2011. The hotels will be the focal points of the new Jing An Kerry Centre, Shanghai on famous Nanjing Road -- a new business, retail, entertainment, dining and conference complex designed to become a city landmark in the heart of the prestigious Jing An District.
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Carlson Hotels Worldwide Adds Eight New Properties to its Global Portfolio in November
24 December 2007 | MINNEAPOLIS | Carlson Hotels Worldwide today announced the addition of eight new locations to its global portfolio during November 2007. The new hotels include one Radisson SAS property in the United Kingdom’s Channel Islands; five Country Inn & Suites By Carlsonsm hotels in the United States; and two Park Inn® hotels –one in the Sheffield, England, and one in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
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UK Chain Hotels Market Review November 2007 | TRI Hospitality
21 December 2007 | Profit and average room rate at the UK’s chain hotels continued to increase in November, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. Across the total UK sample of 462 hotels, income before fixed charges (IBFC) – also known as gross operating profit – rose by 5.6 per cent to £52.81 per available room.
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Tourism can help in Global Action on Climate Change and Poverty | UNWTO Reports
19 December 2007 | The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Francesco Frangialli, addressing the UN Climate Change Conference committed the sector to the common cause of climate change response, linking it closely with the fight against poverty.
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FEATURED DOWNLOAD

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Hitwise Monthly Travel Category Report - November 2007
39.34% of all visits to the online 'Travel' industry went to the top 10 websites for the month of November, 2007. 48.14% went to the top 20 websites and 69.19% went to the top 100 websites.

Adobe PDF Document (Download Acrobat Reader) | File Size: 218 Kb

TRAVEL INTERNET MARKETING FOCUS

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Hotelier’s 2008 Top Ten Internet Marketing Resolutions | By Max Starkov and Jason Price
20 December 2007 | In 2008 approximately 40% of all hotel bookings will be generated from the Internet (one-third in 2007, 29% in 2006). At least another third of all hotel bookings will be influenced by the Internet, but done offline (call center, walk-ins, group bookings, etc). By the end of 2010, over 45% of all hotel bookings will be completed online (Merrill Lynch).
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Worldwide Electronic Hotel Revenue Up 16.4 Percent In Q3 2007, According to TravelCLICK
21 December 2007 | CHICAGO | TravelCLICK's quarterly eMonitor results indicate continued steady health for the hotel industry based on electronic distribution performance for the third quarter of 2007.
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Academic Research | Participate in Study around Web-based Marketing Strategies in the Lodging Industry
28 December 2007 | The primary objective of this survey is to assess the web-based marketing strategies in the lodging industry. You will be asked questions about your lodging property’s Web-based marketing practices such as technology features of your property Website, Website promotion techniques, and Website performance measurement strategies.
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AH&LA Launches Interactive ‘web 2.0’ Website And New Executive Blogs
4 January 2008 | Washington | Live today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) launches a new, interactive Web 2.0 section of its Website featuring two blogs updated weekly by influential AH&LA executives. The new Web 2.0 section offers association members the unique opportunity for candid dialogue and idea exchange with their industry peers, and provides an organized roadmap to making sense of the rapidly-evolving online community.
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Why RSS Matters - One Resorts Success Story
3 January 2008 | Randy Russell no longer questions the viability of RSS. Since developing a partnership with Travelscream Technologies to establish an RSS button and begin serving feeds from the Couples Resorts website, the company witnessed a huge increase in awareness, exposure and sales - to the tune of over 500,000 page views during a six-week period from the end of October to the middle of December, 2007.
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TripAdvisor Furnishes Funniest Traveler Comments of 2007
27 December 2007 | TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced the ten funniest traveler posts of 2007, as chosen by TripAdvisor editors. Many of these gems and more can be found on our humor blog, http://tripadvisor.typepad.com/.
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Top Trends Impacting the Travel Industry Revealed at HEDNA's December Conference
7 December 2007 | PHOENIX, ARIZONA | Attendees at HEDNA's December Conference, held December 3-5 in Phoenix, Arizona, discovered the top trends facing the hotel distribution industry and how to benefit from them.
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REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOCUS

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Carlson Hotels Worldwide Completes Initial Phase of JDA Software’s Enterprise Demand Outlook for Chain-Wide Revenue Optimization
20 December 2007 | Scottsdale, Ariz. | JDA® Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS), the leading provider of hotel revenue management solutions, announced the completion of its Demand Forecasting Solution rollout to Carlson Hotels Worldwide. Each of Carlson’s 615 North American hotels are now using JDA Demand following an eight-month implementation to provide a robust demand outlook for better decision making.
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TravelCom 2008 conference: Headline Speakers Include Executives From YouTube, Priceline,Travelocity, TripAdvisor and InterContinental Hotel Group
19 December 2007 | A highly impressive group of leading industry speakers will provide valuable insight into the latest trends in ROI, technology learning and development at the Travel Industry Association’s (TIA) TravelCom 2008 conference, to be held April 8 – 10 in Chicago, IL.
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More Social Media Chatter…a Hotel Marketing Tool | By Neil Salerno
17 December 2007 | After my last article about social media, I heard from many hoteliers who are genuinely interested and excited about the potential use of social media to promote their hotels. There is no question that articles about social media are popping-up everywhere. I agree that the benefits could be enormous; maybe in the not-so-distant future for hotel franchises but, less likely for individual hotels.
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The OpenTravel Alliance Publishes Specification Version 2007B
14 December 2007 | WASHINGTON, DC | The OpenTravel Alliance (OpenTravel), the travel industry’s leading specification development organization, has published the latest version of its specification. It is the latest addition to the OpenTravel library of specifications adopted by travel companies worldwide.
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Hitwise Monthly Travel Category Report - November 2007
14 December 2007 | 39.34% of all visits to the online 'Travel' industry went to the top 10 websites for the month of November, 2007. 48.14% went to the top 20 websites and 69.19% went to the top 100 websites.
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Cornell Study Explains Electronic Explosion in Packaged Travel
11 December 2007 | Ithaca, NY, December 10, 2007 – The packaged-travel business continues to change dramatically as distribution migrates to the internet, according to a new report from Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research. The report, “Travel Packaging: An Internet Frontier,” by William Carroll, Robert Kwortnik, and Norman Rose, is available at no charge from the center at hotelschool.cornell.edu.
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IDeaS Revenue Optimization Releases Hospitality Industry’s First Web-based Client Portal with Social Networking
5 December 2007 | IDeaS, the leading provider of
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RESORT MARKETING FOCUS

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7 Deadly Sins of Email Marketing for Luxury Hotels | By Madigan Pratt
14 November 2007 | When email first bounded onto the scene hospitality marketers called it the “killer app”. Email would revolutionize marketing, allow luxury hotels to economically reach out and touch each customer and prospect, create a dialogue, build relationships and ultimately provide a steady stream of loyal guests immune from competitive pressure.
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World’s First Condo-Hotel for the Gay Community Opens in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
13 December 2007 | PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico | Excited crowds turned out Saturday for the inauguration of The Private Residences at Casa Cupula, the world’s first fractional condo-hotel developed exclusively for the gay community.
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Capella Hotels and Resorts Announces Capella Ixtapa
12 December 2007 | One of Mexico’s most exclusive resort destinations will soon have its crown jewel, when Capella Ixtapa opens in Summer 2008. This intimate Capella property will cater to the world’s most discerning travelers, with 59 expansive suites, a pampering spa and world-class dining in a secluded cliffside setting of profound natural beauty.
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Kerzner International Introduces the Reef Atlantis and Blue Tourism
12 December 2007 | In December, 2007, Kerzner International will conclude its $1 billion Phase III development with the opening of its newest tower, The Reef Atlantis. The new 497-key tower will offer guests home-like accommodations and amenities – with the beach as a backyard – while instigating conservation and protection of the world’s oceans.
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HOTEL DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

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Hotel Owners and Operators Expecting Higher Yield from Increases in More Personalized, Direct Selling Expenses | By David M. Brudney, ISHC
4 December 2007 | While sales and marketing-related labor costs have experienced moderate growth and advertising has declined, more dollars are being directed to “Selling” expenses, according to a recent article by PKF Consulting (“Focus of Hotel Sales Personnel to Shift from Selling Room Nights to Capturing More Dollars”, by Robert Mandelbaum and Viet Vo).
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The Hotel Room Of The Future Is Here At UD | By Rachel Kipp, The News Journal
28 December 2007 | NEWARK | In Room 114 at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel at the University of Delaware, it takes more than reaching over and pressing the snooze button to silence the alarm clock. In addition to bleating an ear-splitting tune at the designated wake-up time, the gadget jumps off the dresser and hides in a corner, forcing sleepy users to get out of bed.
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How Diverse is Your Hotel Company? | By Christian Anklin | HVS
14 December 2007 | It is hard to imagine an industry more international than hotels. By its own nature, the hotel industry accommodates the avid traveller by offering hotels in the farthest reaches of the world. Thus there is hardly a location or destination left that is not host to several hotels. Increasingly, these hotels are branded and managed by global hotel management companies.
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Fresh Ideas on Making a Great First Impression | By Gary Pelton
13 December 2007 | As a hotel manager turned assisted living administrator, I have a unique perspective on what it takes to make a good first impression in both the assisted living and hotel industries. When I joined The Hamister Group, Inc. in 2006 as an assisted living administrator, I had 24 years of hospitality experience, most of which was spent in management positions at full- and select-service hotels across the country.
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SALES & MARKETING FACULTY

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Call To Action For Caribbean Hospitality Employees, Professors, And Students
4 January 2008 | The Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF), the non-profit subsidiary of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), announced the launch of its 2008/2009 Scholarship Program for Caribbean hospitality employees, educators, and students wishing to pursue studies or professional development courses related to the tourism industry. This year, the Foundation introduces a new online mentoring resource for applicants.
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PolyU hosted the First International Forum on Tourism Education and the Fourth China Tourism Forum
2 January 2008 | With the strong support of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently hosted the First International Forum on Tourism Education and the Fourth China Tourism Forum with peer institutions in China. Each of the forum attracted over 200 attendance, including participants from around the world and Mainland China.
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Career Development Conference 19 to 21 October 2007 | «César Ritz» Colleges Switzerland
31 December 2007 | Another successful career-related event for “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland was the 5th Career Development Conference (CDC) that took place at University Centre "César Ritz" in Brig. A diverse group of recruiters from different parts of the world interviewed a large number of students over three intensive days.
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Paul Howard Named Director of Hospitality Industry Relations at Penn State School of Hospitality Management
27 December 2007 | Paul Howard has been named the new Director of Hospitality Industry Relations in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management, starting January 1, 2008 according to Hubert B. Van Hoof, Director and Professor, School of Hospitality Management, Penn State University
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25th EuroCHRIE Conference - Leeds - UK
21 December 2007 | As part of this year's 25th anniversary celebrations, "César Ritz" Colleges Switzerland (CRC) sponsored the Gala Diner at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, England. This prestigious gala event was the highlight of the 25th EuroCHRIE Conference.
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140 New Graduates Meet The Challenge: First Lausanne, Then Worldwide
19 December 2007 | The graduation ceremonies of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) took place at the Chalet-à-Gobet campus on Thursday 13 and Friday 15 December. The 140 graduates of the “International Hospitality Management” and “Management of Hotel Operations” programmes were awarded the School’s diploma. respectively after four and a half and one and a half years of study. Almost one thousand people took part in the two ceremonies.
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HFTP Charters Asia Student Chapter at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Singapore Campus
17 December 2007 | AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA | With the aim of providing a channel for students in Asia to connect and learn from hospitality professionals, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) recently chartered a new student chapter in Singapore. The new HFTP Asia Student Chapter will be based at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Singapore Campus and will have strong ties with the HFTP Asia Chapter.
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COLUMNS

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Hotelier’s Confession: Second Voyage Confirms There is a Difference in Cruise Experiences | By David M. Brudney
21 December 2007 | When I wrote an article following Karen and my first ever cruise to Alaska this summer, several readers admonished me not to judge the cruise experience based on a single voyage... I agreed... So did the strategic marketing director for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. After reading my article, Regent offered to host Karen and me on any seven day Regent cruise if I would write a follow up “comparison” piece identifying Regent as the cruise line.
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Why smart managers still fail, IQ or EQ ! | By Bert van Walbeek
3 January 2008 | Evil Erik is in trouble again, he needs a new F & B Manager basically to do his job, the last one lasted 4 months, although he was heralded as the biggest gift to F&B Management on earth, it soon turned out to be a wrong choice.
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What Was The Year That Is? | By J. Ragsdale Hendrie
2 January 2008 | Year end summaries are marvelous, allowing pundits to espouse their expertise and awe within their industry nooks and crannies. They analyze tirelessly; they assess vigorously. They note laboriously the trends, the winners and the losers. But, the big Hospitality secret is nothing really changed and has not changed dramatically since HO JO’s and Holiday Inn represented the Hospitality landscape.
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Why Doctor Oppenheim Isn’t Rich | The Life of a Hotel Doctor | By Mike Oppenheim
27 December 2007 | Being a fulltime hotel doctor isn’t fulltime work, so I have plenty to leisure during which I’ve become a successful writer. I’ve written five popular health books plus several hundred articles for major magazines – about 35 in Woman’s Day, for example, more than any other doctor. So why haven’t you heard of me? More important, why aren’t I rich? Part of the answer is that I’m not a media personality.
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2008 Top Hotel and Restaurant Trends To Watch | By Andrew Freeman
21 December 2007 | San Francisco, CA | Today, Andrew Freeman & Co. (AF&&Co.), a leading hospitality and restaurant consulting firm, released its 2008 Trend Watch list. Tapping into the pulse of the hospitality and restaurant marketplace for the coming year, the Trend Watch lists the top restaurant/bar and top hotel trends to expect in the New Year.
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Extended Competition Leads To Extended Recovery | By Robert Mandelbaum
20 December 2007 | An analysis of supply change within the extended-stay lodging segment certainly illustrates the appeal of this property type among hotel developers. According to Smith Travel Research, the overall industry has averaged annual changes in supply of 0.9 percent from 2000 to 2006, while the number of new extended-stay rooms has been growing at a 5.1 percent annual pace.
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The Chameleon In Us All | By J. Ragsdale Hendrie
17 December 2007 | Sometimes we must look to nature to appreciate not only the dilemma but also the response to the “Green” Movement in Hospitality. Some are confused, our Guests, Visitors and Patrons are often flummoxed, and the easiest strategy is to do nothing. The Old World lizard, the Chameleon, has some interesting traits, which pertain to our state of stagnation.
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Social Media (web 2.0) and the Hotel Sector | By Hilary Murphy and Julia Holzgreve
11 December 2007 | Despite the hype of the social media phenomena, there is little evidence of the impact of the collective thoughts and publishing of the social media communities on hotel buyer behaviour. A recent survey at EHL was conducted through an online questionnaire link sent out by e-mail and published on several social networks, receiving 512 fully completed responses. This study focused on the impact of pre- purchase (i.e.
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THE LATEST ENTRIES FROM TOP HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BLOGS

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Tourism INTERNET Marketing Blog 2.0 is live!
After over 200 blog posts in 365 days, I am very excited to announce the launch of Tourism INTERNET Marketing 2.0. Thanks to my readers, to my fellow bloggers, to the travel...

Saturday, January 5 - Posted on Tourism Internet Marketing - Jens Thraenhart

Websites with a cause
Back in June of 2007, I wrote about the extraordinary concept of Kiva.org. Now I came across an interview with Bill Clinton that explains the mission very accurately...as we...

Saturday, January 5 - Posted on Tourism Internet Marketing - Jens Thraenhart

We are very fortunate...
...be appreciative....

Saturday, January 5 - Posted on Tourism Internet Marketing - Jens Thraenhart

Update on The Plaza renovation
I expected to tour the renovated Plaza hotel in Manhattan in December. But that walk-through has been pushed back, and there's no word from Plaza PR people as to when the red...

Friday, January 4 - Posted on USA Today Hotel Hotsheet | Kitty Bean Yancey

Airlines Get On Board With Concierge Trend
No summary...

Friday, January 4 - Posted on KWE Blog | Karen Weiner Escalara

What hotel stories would you like to see?
Happy new year again, readers. I've been slow posting because I've been helping out with editing duties. But tomorrow I'll be back in the reporting saddle, and ready to look ...

Thursday, January 3 - Posted on USA Today Hotel Hotsheet | Kitty Bean Yancey

Hundred dollar oil - LCCs and network airlines face up differently
Thursday, 03 January 2008 Oil prices hit USD100 for the first time yesterday in New York trading. The psychological barrier was touched; market feeling is that prices will h...

Thursday, January 3 - Posted on Revenue Management Forum

Are customer comment cards worth the effort? Part 1
Do customer comment cards deliver useful benefits to tourism and hospitality businesses? Tourism and hospitality businesses have long been urged to use customer comment cards...

Thursday, January 3 - Posted on Tracking Tourism | Vicky Brock

Underground Dining Experiences
Still interested? Take Zingara Cucina, Melbourne, Australia's biggest culinary mystery. It's a fine-dining experience with no fixed locations. It's housed in obscure location...

Wednesday, January 2 - Posted on KWE Blog | Karen Weiner Escalara

Vancouver’s Crooked Shangri-La Hotel
I’m quite sure there is absolutely nothing “crooked” about the Shangri-La organization, but one of our savvy readers in Vancouver sent me an email yesterday highlighting an i...

Tuesday, January 1 - Posted on Vacant Ready | Chris Clarke

All Blogs


ECONNECT RSS FEEDS

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Stay on top of what's happening in your city and the industry. As an HSMAI member, you can now customize your eConnect news and information to include daily news from your choice of more than 40 city Business Journals. The HSMAI Foundation's eConnect research and resource site now gives you the choice of adding news feeds (via Real Simple Syndication, or RSS) that are updated throughout the day from Business Journals as well as the top hospitality industry and consumer publications. Just click here, log in to eConnect if you aren't already, and choose from the list of available feeds. Click here to learn more...

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HSMAI Announces 25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds in Hospitality and Travel
27 December 2007 | The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International pays tribute to the best minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing with the release of its “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” for 2007. The “hot list” salutes outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement, and whose work gets great results.
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Recap: HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference, Highlighting Social Media Marketing Trends
12 December 2007 |
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Ian Schrager and Laura Davidson to Receive HSMAI Lifetime Achievement Awards
19 November 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | Recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions and lasting impressions on the hospitality and travel industry, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the recipients of its annual Albert E. Koehl Award for advertising and marketing and the Winthrop W. Grice Award for public relations excellence.
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FEATURED EVENTS

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HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala 28 January 2008
New York, NY

In its 51st year, the Adrian Awards continues to capture and showcase industry achievers and ROI-producing materials from hotels, airlines, attractions, car rental companies, casinos, convention centers, cruise lines, destinations, restaurants, and spas, as well as time share and extended stay properties and industry suppliers.

HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference (at TravelCom) 8 April 2008
Chicago, IL

HSMAI’s Internet Marketing Strategy Conferences bring together leading industry experts to discuss the hottest issues and trends in Internet marketing.

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America 2008 9 - 10 April 2008
Chicago, IL

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is a FREE, two day exposition and conference program which takes place annually in three locations across the country, offering an ideal business and networking forum for meeting planners and hospitality sales executives.

8th Annual Resort Conference 16 - 18 April 2008
San Diego, CA

The resort industry will gather for their annual forum to discuss and explore issues unique to resort marketing and operations when the 8 th annual Resort Conference takes place at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego from April 16-18, 2008. The event is sponsored by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and The University of Denver's School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management.

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West 2008 11 - 12 June 2008
Long Beach, CA

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is a FREE, two day exposition and conference program which takes place annually in three locations across the country, offering an ideal business and networking forum for meeting planners and hospitality sales executives.


All HSMAI Events

All Upcoming Industry Events



FEATURED HSMAI UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

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HSMAI University programs for 2008 are aligned with HSMAI's Special Interest Groups to offer specialized content to support business needs in revenue management, Internet marketing, hotel director of sales & marketing and resort marketing. Every aspect of the content and support material included in the HSMAI University program has been specifically designed and developed for those involved in sales and marketing, including an inventory of subject matter appropriate to individuals with responsibilities ranging from entry-level to advanced.

HSMAI-U offers workshops and seminars in various cities, and "Webinars" incorporating 60-minute presentations conducted "live" via the web with audio conference linkage.

Upcoming HSMAI University Programs:

• The State of the Industry: A Forecast for 2008
  - January 15 : Moderator: Robert Gilbert, President & CEO, HSMAI
  
  
• Internet Marketing Webinar Series
  - January 22, February 28, and March 11 : Presenter: Gordon Liametz, President, Revenue Performance
  
  
• The Travel Marketer’s Guide to Social Media and Social Networks
  - February 07, 2008 - February 12, 2008 : Presenter and Moderator: Cindy Estis Green, CEO, The Estis Group
  
  
• Being Green in Hospitality
  - March 4, March 20, and April 3: Moderator: Barry Giles, CEO, BuildingWise LLC; USGBC Senior Existing Buildings Faculty Member; and Vice Chairman, the LEED for Existing Buildings Core Committee
  
  
• Business Acumen for Business Results
  - March 3-5, 2008 or Sept. 22-24 : Peter Starks Simulation Seminar
  
  
• Revenue Management for Business Results
  - March 6-7, or Sept. 25-26, 2008: Peter Starks Simulation Seminar
  
  

HSMAI University Webinars are recorded and archived. To learn more and purchase archive copies, please click here.