NEW! LA Chapter Member Benefit

It gives us great pleasure to introduce a new benefit for members of the Los Angeles chapter. Starting with our March program, active members in attendance will receive a list of all attendees that will include contact information.

- Your Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors

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Bob Marx
President/CEO - Bakersfield CVB
(661) 616-5651 phone (661) 325-7074 fax

How did you hear about HSMAI?
I have been actively involved with HSMAI for many years participating in every local chapter where I have lived, which, including Bakersfield, is 10 different cities. Each city I lived in I have actively sought out HSMAI.

Why did you join HSMAI?
I joined HSMAI for two very important career reasons: to interact and meet my peers and colleagues and to learn valuable marketing insight and strategic direction from those who know more than me.

Job duties:
As a destination marketing organization my main responsibility is to actively and innovatively market Bakersfield to the local population, as well as the regional and national meetings market. I also manage, train, motivate and guide our staff of 10 persons. What I believe my most significant daily task to be is to continuously advocate the positive affects of tourism to the local economy and motivate those who have never been to Bakersfield to give us a trail use.

Other organization I'm involved in:
I actively participate in the American Marketing Association, Travel Industry Association of America, and the National Speakers Association and am hoping to reinvigorate a Bakersfield Ad Club. Of course I participate in a number of charitable organizations and functions such as Boys & Girls Clubs, American Cancer Society and others.

Hobbies and/or Special Interests
I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano and as soon as I buy a home in Bakersfield I hope to move a piano in as well. I enjoy writing and before I collect my social security I hope to complete my book on strategic marketing. I am an avid baker and maybe some day I will learn how to cook real food to go with my cakes, etc.

Tell us about your immediate family:
Now the family is Lucy and she has four paws, a cold wet nose and licks everyone – that would be my 10-year old Springer Spaniel.

Awards:
In my previous life I owned a pretty successful ad agency and we won numerous local and regional Addys as well as a Gold Pencil and PR campaign awards from PRSA.

Other comments:
I was on the organizational committee for the highly successful Palm Beach Marathon plus I chaired the marketing committee for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta; I have been an adjunct college professor for several years in the marketing department and was the faculty advisor to student ad club at Northwood University where they won a state competition award for the first time – ever – in 2006.

I have served as chapter president for three different HSMAI chapters. Anxious to get involved in the Greater Los Angeles Chapter as well!

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FEATURED ARTICLE

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Seventh Annual HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-america To Take Place April 11-12, 2007 At Chicago’s Navy Pier
MCLEAN, VA | Designed for meeting planners looking to enhance their professional career and organize high-caliber events, and exhibitors seeking to target quality planners, the seventh annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show will take place April 11-12, 2007 at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
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ECONOMIC INSIGHTS

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Ernst & Young | Hospitality Industry Top Ten Thoughts for 2007
15 February 2007 | The lodging sector is anticipated to approach a stabilization phase in 2007, with accelerated supply growth and modest demand. Lodging Econometrics forecasts approximately 1,100 new projects in the U.S. in 2007 (116,00 rooms), representing a 2.5% supply increase compared to a 1.8% increase in 2006.
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Global Travel & Tourism To Grow At A Steady Annual Rate Of 4.2 Per Cent Over The Next Ten Years | WTTC Reports
2 February 2007 | London , UK & Lisbon Portugal | In line with most expert predictions, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) research suggests that global Travel & Tourism will continue to grow at a steady annual rate of 4.2 per cent over the next ten years.
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Choice Hotels Reports Full Year 2006 Results
14 February 2007 | SILVER SPRING, Md. | Choice Hotels International, Inc., (NYSE:CHH) today reported the following highlights for the fourth quarter and full-year 2006:
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Wyndham Worldwide Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2006 Results
13 February 2007 | PARSIPPANY, N.J., Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) today announced results for the three-months and year ended December 31, 2006. Financial information discussed in this press release include both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, which include or exclude certain items, or reflect pro forma adjustments, related to the Company's spin-off effective July 31, 2006.
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Four Seasons Enters Into Agreement To Be Taken Private At Us$82.00 Per Share In Cash
12 February 2007 | TORONTO, Four Seasons Hotels Inc. (TSX Symbol "FSH"; NYSE Symbol "FS") announced today that it has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement to implement the previously announced proposal to take Four Seasons private at a price of US$82.00 cash per Limited Voting Share. Following completion of the transaction, Four Seasons would be owned by affiliates of Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (an entity owned by William H.
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Marriott International Reports Robust 2006 Fourth Quarter Earnings
9 February 2007 | Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) today reported adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.52 in the fourth quarter of 2006, up 13 percent from the fourth quarter 2005 adjusted earnings. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $219 million, a 7 percent increase over the prior year. Adjusted EPS and net income exclude the results of the company’s synthetic fuel business.
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Hilton Reports Strong Fourth Quarter, Fiscal 2006 Results
1 February 2007 | BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. | Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. Fourth quarter highlights compared to fourth quarter 2005 are as follows:
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Starwood Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2006 Results
1 February 2007 | WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. | Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today reported strong fourth quarter 2006 financial results, driven by double-digit worldwide REVPAR increases and higher operating margins.
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HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS & OPENINGS

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Market Metrix Announces 2006 Hospitality Index Results
9 February 2007 | SAN RAFAEL, Calif. | Market Metrix, LLC, the leading provider of market research services for the hospitality industry, today announced the 2006 annual results of the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI). Based on 140,000 consumer interviews conducted from January through December 2006, Drury Inns, JetBlue Airways and Enterprise Rent-a-Car ranked number one in hotel, airline and rental car industry customer satisfaction, respectively.
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Why are Bill Gates and a Saudi Prince | By Jim Butler, Hotel Lawyer
14 February 2007 | Hotel lawyer on the future of the hotel industry. Another milestone has been laid. The Board of Directors of Four Seasons Hotels Inc. — a public company — has formally accepted a $3.4 billion ($82 per share) purchase offer which surfaced on November 6, 2006 by a group of investors whose principals include Bill Gates, the Prince, and Isadore Sharpe, CEO of Four Seasons. It's a fascinating deal! But what does it really mean?
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Shangri-La Appoints Brian Windle Vice President Sales And Marketing, North America
13 February 2007 | Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has appointed Brian Windle vice president sales and marketing, North America. Mr. Windle will assume this newly created, New York-based position June 1, 2007, reporting directly to Chief Marketing Officer Martin F. Waechter.
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W San Diego Welcomes New Year With New Executive Team Members
12 February 2007 | San Diego, CA | W San Diego— San Diego’s urban lifestyle leader, credited for kick-starting downtown’s nightlife evolution— today announced two new key members of their executive team. Named as one of the nation’s 100 “Sexiest” hotels, W San Diego is extends a warm welcome to Bill Cheek and Pedro Irizarry as director of operations and director of human resources, respectively.
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Nikki Beach Expands Internationally With Launch of Luxury Hotel and Resort Division
9 February 2007 | MIAMI, NIKKI BEACH, one of the world's leading lifestyle and entertainment brands, has announced its plans for expansion into the luxury hotel and resort industry.
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Mike Leven of US Franchise Systems Retires from Hospitality Industry
7 February 2007 | ATLANTA | Mike Leven, founder and Chairman of Atlanta-based US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS) - an affiliate of Global Hyatt with more than 400 hotels open or under construction including the award-winning Microtel Inns & Suites brand, five-time recipient of the J.D. Power award - has retired from the company and from the hospitality industry as of December 31, 2006. Leven, 69, has spent his entire 45-year career in the hotel industry.
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[MULTIMEDIA] Marriott Makes Sweeping Move To Eliminate Trans Fats from Food At Over 2,300 Hotels in North America
6 February 2007 | Beginning February 15, the more than six million pounds of French fries* served in Marriott International hotels annually will no longer be prepared using partially-hydrogenated oils, a primary source of trans fats.
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Hyatt Place Achieves Major Milestone, Five Hotels Set to Break Ground in February
2 February 2007 | CHICAGO, IL | Hyatt Place™, Hyatt’s innovative approach to the select service hotel concept, is making brand history with five hotels breaking ground throughout February near Seattle, WA; Orlando, FL; South Bend, IN; Reno, NV; and Jackson, MS.
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FEATURED REPORT

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Ernst & Young | Hospitality Industry Top Ten Thoughts for 2007
The lodging sector is anticipated to approach a stabilization phase in 2007, with accelerated supply growth and modest demand. Lodging Econometrics forecasts approximately 1,100 new projects in the U.S. in 2007 (116,00 rooms), representing a 2.5% supply increase compared to a 1.8% increase in 2006.1 The nations lodging markets, most of which are past their post-9/11 recovery phase, are absorbing the additional supply. Nonetheless, the economic conditions in 2007 may lead to more moderate lodging demand.

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BUSINESS/MEETINGS

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Seventh Annual HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-america To Take Place April 11-12, 2007 At Chicago’s Navy Pier
1 February 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | Designed for meeting planners looking to enhance their professional career and organize high-caliber events, and exhibitors seeking to target quality planners, the seventh annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show will take place April 11-12, 2007 at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
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MPI and American Express Study Reveals Planners Expect to Manage More Meetings and See Larger Budgets
14 February 2007 | DALLAS, According to FutureWatch 2007, the definitive market trends study for the global meetings and events industry, the industry is expected to grow for a fourth consecutive year, signaling an economy that is strong, thriving and moving quickly to meet a variety of internal and external challenges.
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Top 10 Group Events – January 2007 Total, San Antonio, Denver
5 February 2007 | Square Footage Meeting Space Occupied, Square Footage Catered, Estimated Number of Attendees | Data derived from reader board reports covering hotels in 55 metropolitan areas across 39 states and provinces* | Total number of events surveyed for time period: 31,035 Total Number of Subscribing Properties: 418
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INTERNATIONAL

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Youtourist | The Social Network Platform For The Tourism Industry
13 February 2007 | Madrid, UNWTO and WISeKey announced an agreement today to expand the use of traveller identification and authentication technologies in the multibillion dollar tourism sector. This collaboration builds on the Public Private Partnership agreement signed by UNWTO and Microsoft in 2006. The partners will seek to deliver YouTourist as a unique e-Tourism Social Network.
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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Grows Thailand Portfolio With New Luxury Resort In Hua Hin
15 February 2007 | Singapore | InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG; NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] today announced the signing of the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2008.
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Rezidor Hotel Group AB Reports Year End Financial Report 2006
14 February 2007 | Revenue increased to MEUR 707.3 (587.0). • Profit after tax of MEUR 29.0 (23.2) • Earnings Per Share amounts to EUR 0.19 (0.15) (1) • Equity per share amounts to EUR 1.18 (1.00) • EBITDA before IPO related costs improved by 39.6% to MEUR 61.0 (43.7), with EBITDA margin before IPO related costs increased to 8.6% (7.4) • RevPAR (for leased and managed hotels) up by 7.5% to EUR 72 (67), and occupancy increased to 69% (67)
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Tourism-Real Estate Investments in Brazil | New Findings | HVS International
14 February 2007 | In November 2005, Diogo Canteras, Managing Director of HVS International’s Brazilian Office, was invited to proffer a lecture at the Lisbon Real Estate Exhibition - 2006 (SIL) on the perspectives of foreign investment in the Brazilian tourism-real estate market – the topic theme of a whole day in the event.
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Hilton Hotels Signs Agreement to Manage Second Hotel in Jordan
14 February 2007 | CAIRO, Egypt | The international arm of Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) has signed an agreement with Aqaba Gate for Hotels and Tourism Projects LLC to manage the Hilton Aqaba. The hotel will be part of a landmark development in the city of Aqaba, Jordan.
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Accor sells 30 hotel properties in the United Kingdom for €711 million and signs a development partnership with Land Securities
12 February 2007 | Paris | As part of its asset management strategy, Accor said today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell 30 hotel properties (5,000 Ibis and Novotel rooms) in the United Kingdom to Land Securities for €711 million.
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FEATURED DOWNLOAD

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Market Metrix Hospitality Index | 2006 Annual Results
The Market Metrix Hospitality Index©, based on 35,000 consumer interviews conducted each quarter, includes a variety of measures about the hotel reservation experience – both online and offline. This data provides special insight into the growing popularity of website usage and the satisfaction with the online experience. The growth of online booking as a percentage of overall reservations continues to grow dramatically. More people are booking online and less people are booking through central reservations telephone numbers and offline travel agencies. For example, over the past 3 years, Best Western has seen online bookings grow from between 10 percent to 15 percent of overall traffic to around 40 percent today. At Choice hotels nearly 60% of reservations now come from online bookings.

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TRAVEL INTERNET MARKETING FOCUS

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HSMAI Launches Travel Internet Marketing Online Community; Valuable Tool For Members To Share Ideas And Discuss Trends
13 February 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | In a significant move to generate discussion, connect members and share knowledge, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) just launched the newest of its online communities. The HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Online Community, which debuted last week (Feb.
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Travel Industry Association Announces TravelCom Res-Expo Innovators Award for Outstanding Achievements in Travel Technology and Distribution
15 February 2007 | WASHINGTON, The Travel Industry Association (TIA) announces the first annual TravelCom Res-Expo Innovators Awards to recognize those special companies whose outstanding innovations in the areas of technology, e-commerce and distribution have transformed their business and had a broad impact across the travel industry.
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Online Revealed Canada – The Canadian Online Travel Conference Announces 2nd Annual Event this May 28th-29th in Toronto
6 February 2007 | Online Tourism Marketing and what it means to the Canadian Tourism industry will be addressed at the second annual Canadian Online Tourism Marketing Conference, which will take place this year in Toronto May 28 & 29 at The Sheraton Centre.
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OpenTravel Alliance Specifications Lower Costs and Improve Processes
14 February 2007 | The OpenTravel Alliance (OTA), the travel industry’s leading specification development organization, sets the standard in providing real value to its members who implement OTA messages, including hospitality reservation and property management system providers.
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HTNG 2007 Members' Conference Program Announced
12 February 2007 | CHICAGO | Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) today announced the preliminary agenda and speakers for its acclaimed annual members’ meeting and conference, to be held from March 5-7, 2007 at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Hotel Web Sites Now Score Higher In Satisfaction Than Popular Travel Sites | Jonathan Barsky
9 February 2007 | The Market Metrix Hospitality Index©, based on 35,000 consumer interviews conducted each quarter, includes a variety of measures about the hotel reservation experience – both online and offline. This data provides special insight into the growing popularity of website usage and the satisfaction with the online experience.
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Five Rules of Viral Marketing | By By Sean Carton | clickz.com
7 February 2007 | If you live in Boston, you may finally be done cursing the Cartoon Network for causing a city-wide terrorism scare with its viral marketing campaign gone awry last week. Apparently, the geniuses in charge of marketing "Adult Swim" thought it'd be a peachy idea to hire (the now incarcerated) Peter Berdovsky to place LED panels featuring "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" characters Ingingokt and Err in obscure locations around the city.
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REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOCUS

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Building a De-Commoditization Strategy in Hospitality | By Max Starkov and Jason Price
7 February 2007 | In 2007, over one-third of all hotel bookings will be generated from the Internet in North America. This dramatic channel shift has created unprecedented price transparency and price-driven marketing in hospitality, thus further commoditizing the hotel product. How are hoteliers handling the increased commoditization of the hotel product, especially in the current rate parity and best rate guarantee environment?
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RESORT MARKETING FOCUS

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What a Resort Experience Can Become When You Have a Daring Mission and Vision Statement | By Peter McAlpine
14 February 2007 | This article is about what a 5-star resort guest experience can become when the leaders dare to create a mission and vision statement, which breaks with board room tradition; which the rational mind says is impossible to achieve; and which the walking dead who are lacking in passion and dreams laugh at.
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How Ritz-Carlton Maintains its Mystique | businessweek.com
14 February 2007 | The luxury hotel chain reinforces customer-service values among employees by investing in daily training that revolves around storytelling. When you think of luxury hotels, a few brands come to mind. Among them is the Ritz-Carlton (MAR). The hotel has established a worldwide reputation for treating guests like royalty. Walk into any Ritz-Carlton hotel in the world and you will be greeted by a staff that works at making customer service an art.
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Outrigger Enterprises Group Announces the Opening of Outrigger Regency on Beachwalk
14 February 2007 | HONOLULU, WAIKIKI, HAWAII - The newest addition to the Outrigger Condominium Collection, the Outrigger Regency on Beachwalk, opens February 16, 2007. This new property brings contemporary boutique-condo style into the heart of the new Waikiki.
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Golf and Country Clubs: Setting Higher Goals for Profitability in Food & Beverage | By Juliette Boone & Darius Hatami
12 February 2007 | There are many opportunities for golf club and country club managers to operate their food and beverage facilities more efficiently while providing better products & services, conserving resources, keeping customers happy and delivering more to the bottom line.
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Jumeirah Announces New Global Spa Brand ‘Talise’
9 February 2007 | Dubai | Jumeirah Group, the dynamic and rapidly growing luxury hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has revealed ‘Talise’ - a pioneering spa concept set to revolutionalise the industry. Talise will be available in selected Jumeirah hotels and resorts with the first spa now open at Madinat Jumeirah – The Arabian Resort, Dubai.
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HOTEL DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

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Turn Front Desk Clerks Into Front Desk Salespersons | By Doug Kennedy
7 February 2007 | Despite the continuous increased focus on improving revenue management processes at most hotels these days, more often than not the job of working the front desk is still viewed as primarily being an operational position. While many hotels and hotel companies have focused training efforts on hospitality and guest-service efficiency, few have provided the more comprehensive sales training that the position calls for.
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It’s 2007. Do You Know Where Your Hotel Sales People Are? | By Brenda Fields
5 February 2007 | This past year proved to be another exceptional year in the hotel industry. The strong domestic economy coupled with record numbers of foreign travelers into the US, have impacted both the business and leisure segments, and all success indicators (occupancy, average rate, and RevPAR) are at record numbers in most urban markets.
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Job Applications Talk. Managers Are You Listening? | By Joseph M. Gravish
2 February 2007 | It’s that time again, Mr. or Ms. Manager. Time for you to suck it up and wade through that stack of job applications. You’ve lost more staff – again. You’re frustrated watching newly hired employee after employee come and go. No sooner do you get them trained and they leave. What can you do?
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NBTA’s Top 10 Industry Travel Stories of 2006
2 February 2007 | What a year for business travel! In 2006, corporate travel managers saw a number of changes in the industry, including the rebound of the airline industry, the increased globalization of travel programs and developments in the global distribution marketplace.
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SALES & MARKETING FACULTY

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Temple Students To Get Real Life Sales Experience At Holiday Inn | bizjournals.com
14 February 2007 | The Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management will team up with a Fort Washington hotel to sharpen students' sales skills. About 40 students will work with the Holiday Inn Fort Washington on the project. The goal is for them to come up with a way to "reintroduce" the hotel. It coincides with the hotel's takeover by Intercontinental Hotel Group, a conglomerate with its U.S. base in Atlanta.
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Epicurious.com & The Culinary Institute of America Launch First Behind-the-Scenes Web Video Series About CIA Student Experiences
6 February 2007 | NEW YORK, Epicurious.com, the premier food Web site, in conjunction with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), today launched a new web-only video series, "Inside the CIA," a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous culinary education of four ambitious student-chefs. The 15-week-long series follows four CIA students as they work toward earning their bachelor's and associate degrees at the world's premier culinary college.
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Marriott Scholars Program to Award up to $500,000 Annually to Minority Hospitality College Students
9 February 2007 | WASHINGTON, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation announced today the launch of the Marriott Scholars Program at both the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The Marriott Foundation will award grants of up to $500,000 annually to HCF and UNCF in support of scholarships for students pursuing degrees within the hospitality management, hotel management, culinary and food and beverage fields.
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COLUMNS

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Hotel Lawyer: As goes the economy, so goes the hospitality industry — the ineluctable elasticity of demand! | By Jim Butler
13 February 2007 | Hotel Lawyer on hotel fundamentals. One of the things that has fascinated me about the hospitality industry for more than 20 years now, is the close — almost intimate — relationship of industry performance to the U.S. economy’s performance. Some might say this is intuitive, that when the economy does well, all business does well. But that is not always true.
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When Should I Use an Assessment in the Recruitment Process? | By Jim Houran
9 February 2007 | In this monthly column Jim Houran honestly and candidly answers your questions about any and all psychological and psychometric topics related to the service-hospitality industry. He does not tell you what you want to hear – he tells you what you need to hear. Dr. Jim is committed to offering you guidance based on responsible clinical and business practices and hard data from the latest scientific studies.
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How To Restore Your Lost Passion | By Mark Hamister
5 February 2007 | The German poet Hebbel wrote that 'Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.' Those are inspiring words when you're already inspired, but what do you do when your enthusiasm has dried up? There are four things that help me restore my passion when it's on the wane...
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Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer | Know Your Hotel Competition: Lesson #4 | By David M. Brudney, ISHC
1 February 2007 | Had Don Vito Corleone been a hospitality Sales professional, you could be certain he would have kept a very close eye on his primary competition - - who are their clients, what are they planning and where are they vulnerable?
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Notable quotables from hotel industry thought leaders 2007 | By Jim Butler | Hotel Lawyer
1 February 2007 | Hotel Lawyer on what the top names in the industry are saying now.
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FEATURED RSS FEED:
HOTELMARKETING.COM

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Asia next battleground in online travel
U.S. Internet travel companies, well entrenched at home and in Europe, are preparing to slug it out for dominance in Asia, where economic growth and increasing Web usage make the region a tempting target.

Orbitz launches online travel store
Building off the online travel agency’s heritage of innovation and proactive care, the new site features travel tools, original editorial content and other business-specific resources geared toward making business travelers’ life on the road easier and hassle-free.

It’s a win-win-Wyndham situation
In its first full quarter since becoming a stand-alone company, Wyndham Worldwide Corp. reported Tuesday that revenue grew in each of its business segments, leading to higher-than-predicted earnings.

Priceline rises on European growth
A growing European customer base allowed Priceline to lift guidance for 2007 and announce a tripled fourth-quarter profit. The strong quarter was again heavily driven by Booking.com, Priceline\'s European business.

Yahoo launches mobile ads in 19 countries
Yahoo has introduced display advertising on its mobile-specific Web sites in 19 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The move, which follows a year of aggressive expansion in the wireless space, marks Yahoo\'s first formal rollout of graphical ads on its sites around the world.

Expedia and Hertz renew preferred partnership
Under the agreement, Hertz will maintain its preferred partner positioning on Expedia.com and Expedia.ca, and Expedia customers will continue to receive the best rates available through the site on Hertz rentals.

Online travel sites go multilingual
The USA\'s travel giants are racing to become multilingual. Big hotel chains and major airlines are launching foreign-language websites to expand their international appeal and to boost e-commerce.

Page view losing currency as online metric
The development of Ajax and RSS are forcing sites and marketers to think beyond page views as a measure of success. Instead, they should consider harder-to-track elements like user loyalty and responsiveness to ads, says Yahoo!\'s chief of insights, Peter Daboll.

Female influence in hospitality on the rise
After many years of male domination, the luxury hospitality market is now experiencing a new trend - luxury hotels, resorts and villas owned and designed by women.

Starwood CRM focuses on guest recognition
The hospitality industry should invest in technology that looks at where customers go, why they go there and when they prefer to go, according to Rachel Ryerson, director of field marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts\' Hawaii/French Polynesia division.

More RSS Feeds


NEW ECONNECT RSS FEEDS NOW AVAILABLE!

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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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New Report On Groups & Meetings Industry Performance And Online Behavior Projects Strong Growth
26 January 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | A groundbreaking study that reveals the enormity of the groups and meetings market, online behavior, trends and opportunities, has just been released by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Foundation and PhoCusWright Inc.

HSMAI Releases Schedule Of Events For 2007
15 January 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | From strategy conferences, educational sessions, and webinars, to an extensive line-up of business-to-business forums for buyers and suppliers of hospitality, travel and tourism, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has on tap a comprehensive line-up planned for 2007.

HSMAI University Kicks Off 2007 With New Webinar Schedule; Delivers Innovative Source Of Online Education & Learning
12 January 2007 | MCLEAN, VA | Focusing on quality, convenience, and innovation, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) University is offering an exciting and diverse line-up of webinars designed specifically for sales and marketing professionals in travel and hospitality.

Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds In Sales & Marketing Named By HSMAI In 4th Annual Survey
9 January 2007 | MCLEAN, VA |The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognizes and salutes the greatest minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing with the release of its “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” for 2006. The “hot list” pays tribute to outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement.



FEATURED EVENTS

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HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala 29 January 2007
New York, NY

Celebrate the winners of HSMAI’s Adrian Awards for Advertising, Public Relations and Web Marketing at a special black-tie dinner and dazzling production.

7th Annual Resort Management Conference 25 - 27 March 2007
Colorado Springs, CO

Save the date for the 7th Annual Resort Management Conference sponsored by The University of Denver’s School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), March 25-27, 2007, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO.

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America 2007 11 - 12 April 2007
Chicago, IL

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® is a unique, FREE trade show and conference for cost-conscious meeting planners, which takes place annually in three locations across the country.

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West 2007 19 - 20 June 2007
San Jose, CA

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® is a unique, FREE trade show and conference for cost-conscious meeting planners, which takes place annually in three locations across the country.


All HSMAI Events

All Upcoming Industry Events



FEATURED HSMAI UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

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HSMAI University programs for 2007 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. Go to www.hsmaiuniversity.org for details.

Upcoming 2007 Webinars

- Feb. 1: Prospecting, Profiling and Profiting - Relationship Selling in the 21st Century

- Feb. 8: Taking Your Email Marketing to the Next Level

- Feb. 15: Resort Best Practices: Internet Marketing

- Feb. 22: How To Do Business with the Government Today

- March 1 and 8: 2-PART SERIES: Is the Government Giving You the Business?

- March, 15, 22 and 29: 3-PART SERIES: Market Planning


Webinar Archive Now Available

- Personal Branding

- The State of the Industry - A Forecast for 2007

- Negotiating the Tough Deal - Part 1 of 2-part series with Cindy Novotny

- Improve Your Productivity Skills in a Technology Driven World - Part 2 of 2-part series with Cindy Novotny

- Profits and Pitfalls of Online Marketing

- Customer Intimacy: The Key to Profitability

- The State of the U.S. Lodging Industry: 2006-2007

- How to Use The Smith Travel Research STAR Report

- The Role of Sales and Marketing Professional in the Creation and Management of Demand

- Partnering for Success

- The Leisure Sales Game

- Defining Revenue Management: Top Line to Bottom Line

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