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   Luncheon Program
Date: May 20, 2008 Topic: Why GDS is still a Viable Revenue Channel Location: Hyatt West Hollywood Social Event Date: June 17, 2008 Topic: Summer Mixer Location: TBA 
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Panel Discussion 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM 
Luncheon ProgramSpeaker: Panel DiscussionJoin us for another insightful panel discussion on the Global Distribution System (GDS). With so many people focusing their pricing strategies on the Internet, is the GDS still a viable revenue channel? The answer is YES! By attending you will learn how to effectively utilize the GDS to reach both leisure & corporate travelers.
Dennis Hollingdrake
Broughton Hospitality G'Nell Abracosa Custom Hotel Sheila Rotunno Norwalk Marriott Tim Wildey Hilton Woodland Hills Justin Ornellas Extended Stay Hotels Kevin Anawati Travel Bug Sherry Rigor Hilton Pasadena Paul Aghilipour Hilton Universal City Ryan McCormick Sheraton Gateway LAX  Teri Pegorari How did you hear about HSMAI? Why did you join HSMAI? Job duties: Other organization I'm involved in: Hobbies and/or Special Interests Tell us about your immediate family: Awards: Other comments: 
FEATURED ARTICLE
 Boutique Hotels | Good For The Good Times | By Robert MandelbaumBoutique hotels have been all the rage in the lodging industry. Developers want to build them. Guests want to stay in them. Travel writers want to wax on about their virtues. But, are boutique hotels popular with their owners? How has boutique hotel financial performance stacked up to industry-wide benchmarks as the lodging industry has progressed through the ups and downs of the recent business cycle? To answer these questions, PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) has analyzed the revenues, expenses, and profits from a group of boutique hotels that provided their year-end financial statements to PKF-HR for the firm’s annual Trends in the Hotel Industry survey. The sample consisted solely of properties that provided data for each year from 2000 to 2006 (most current data available). View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend ECONOMIC INSIGHTS  Monthly U.S. Lodging Performance March 2008 | Smith Travel Research23 April 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. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Travel Industry Association (TIA) Announces PowerofTravel.org24 April 2008 | Dear Travel Colleague: I am pleased to introduce to you a first-of-its-kind, interactive website created by the Travel Industry Association that details the economic power of travel. .PowerofTravel.org presents all of the available economic impact data on travel in an easy-to-navigate format that enables the user to see the benefits of travel from the international level down to individual congressional districts. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend International Airfare Surged As Domestic Airfare Leveled Off In 2007 According To American Express Business Travel17 April 2008 | American Express Business Travel today released analysis of North America based domestic and international air, hotel and car rental rates for the full year 2007. Using data from its Business Travel Monitor, the industry's pricing benchmark, international rates experienced price increases across the board while domestic airfare and hotel rates remained stable. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Political Headwinds For U.S. Hotels | forbes.com17 April 2008 | Turnout was good this week for a legislative conference organized by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, a trade group. But as they took in cherry blossoms and sunny weather in Washington, hotel execs weren't treated to a favorable political outlook. "Under the usual rules of political gravity, we Republicans are cooked," said Michael Murphy, founding principal of government relations outfit DC Navigators, on Monday. View Article | Send to a Friend USA Luxury Consumer Confidence Plummets, as over 70 percent of Affluents Feel the Economy Is on the Skids22 April 2008 | The doldrums in the U.S. luxury market are expected to continue for at least the next six months based upon the latest survey of luxury consumer confidence conducted by Unity Marketing. The Luxury Consumption Index (LCI) dropped 9.1 points at the close of the first quarter 2008 to a historic low of 54.4 points. This follows a precipitous drop of 23.8 points at the close of the fourth quarter 2007. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Overview of the San Francisco Lodging Market | By Jaime Law | HVS International18 April 2008 | Over the past few years, the San Francisco lodging market has enjoyed strong growth. This article gives an overview of the San Francisco lodging market including a review of hotel supply and demand trends, and current economic conditions. San Francisco is one of the most popular leisure destinations in the country. View Article | Send to a Friend Orlando Watches Horizon for Downturn | globest.com9 April 2008 | The world’s theme park capital, and second-largest US hotel market, has yet to see signs of an economic downturn. However, its biggest hotel operators are watching the horizon as new guestrooms are unlocked in years to come. View Article | Send to a Friend A Tactical Turn to Green for Marriott | washingtonpost.com8 April 2008 | Marriott International announced a broad strategy yesterday to reduce its impact on the environment, pledging $2 million to protect the Brazilian rain forest and promising that by the end of the year its guests will be able to offset greenhouse gas emissions from their hotel stays. View Article | Send to a Friend Kayak.com User Survey Reveals Consumers Still Traveling Despite State of the Economy 23 April 2008 | Kayak.com, the world's largest travel search engine, asked more than 3,800 users how the struggling U.S. economy has influenced their summer travel plans. Kayak.com found that while the economic downturn has caused an overwhelming 79% of travelers to alter their vacations, users still intend to get away this summer. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend   NEW! HSMAI is offering a prestigious new professional certification, the CHBA - Certified in Hospitality Business Acumen. Pre-qualification requirements include experience in the industry as well as a certificate of completion of these two unique training courses offered by HSMAI University and Lynn University, "Managing Business Results" and "Managing Revenue." Click Here for more information HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS & OPENINGS Thomas Storey appointed President of Fairmont Hotels &
Resorts23 April 2008 | Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (“FRHI”) today announced the appointment of Thomas Storey as President of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. With 56 hotels in the portfolio today and an additional 20 properties to open over the next several years in destinations such as Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and South Africa, Mr. Storey will move into this role to lead Fairmont during an exciting period of global growth. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend AH&LA Green Assessment Survey Identifies Eco-friendly Hotel Operations 23 April 2008 | The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is distributing a Green Assessment Survey to approximately 9,500 members, from which the association will evaluate and quantify current initiatives and determine a baseline for eco-friendly action. For each Green Assessment Survey returned, AH&LA will donate $1.00 to the National Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of Arbor Day on April 25. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Starwood Hotels & Resorts Names Simon Turner President, Global Development 22 April 2008 | Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today the appointment of Simon Turner as President, Global Development. In this role, Turner will be responsible for the company’s global development activities including hotel and resort development, property acquisitions and dispositions, franchise and management pipeline expansion and real estate investment management. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend The Water Club, A Signature Hotel By Borgata Opens July 1st22 April 2008 | The Water Club, A Signature Hotel By Borgata, a joint venture between Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) and MGM MIRAGE (NYSE:MGM) , began accepting hotel reservations today. The $400 million boutique-lifestyle hotel, which will open this June, will feature 800 guestrooms and suites. Guests can reserve a variety of rooms or packages at The Water Club by calling (800) 800.8817, or visiting www.thewaterclubatborgata.com for stays, starting July 1st. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Conde Nast Traveler Unveils Its Annual Hot List 22 April 2008 | Conde Nast Traveler's 12th annual May "Hot List" issue is the insider's guide to the newest, hottest, sexiest hotels, restaurants, spas, and nightclubs opened all over the world in the past year. To develop the list, the magazine's editors checked out hundreds of new properties around the globe, rigorously evaluating each one on a standard set of criteria. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Starwood Hotels’ ELEMENT Brand to Mandate LEED Certification in All Hotels Brand-Wide 22 April 2008 | In an industry first, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its newest brand, ELEMENT hotels, will require all hotels brand-wide to pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification. With its first hotel debuting this summer and more than 20 hotels set to open by the end of 2009, ELEMENT will make history as the first major hotel brand to commit to LEED certification. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend FEATURED REPORT  Monthly U.S. Lodging Performance March 2008 | Smith Travel ResearchSmith 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. Individual hotels, management companies, appraisers, consultants, lenders and other lodging industry analysts also rely on STR data for the accuracy they require.
BUSINESS/MEETINGS Findings Of The World Travel Trends Report 2008 Now Available On The Internet17 April 2008 | Rising fuel costs and aviation taxes, fluctuating exchange rates, the continuing threat posed by terrorism in various parts of the world, and natural disasters: despite difficult background conditions there has been substantial growth on the world travel market. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Planners pack HSMAI’s AFFORDABLE MEETINGS® Mid-America17 April 2008 | An estimated 1,100 meeting planners flocked to the Eighth Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings Mid-America Exhibition and Conference at Chicago’s Navy Pier to take advantage of the educational programs offered, seek fresh location and venue options, destinations, and related products and services for their upcoming meetings and events. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend MEETINGMAX Licenses Online Housing System to Greater Madison CVB17 April 2008 | MeetingMax Systems, a division of MeetingMax Planning Inc., announced today that the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau in Wisconsin will join its growing list of CVB clients utilizing their online housing system. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend INTERNATIONAL MKG Hotel Groups World Ranking 2008 | IHG towards 600 000 rooms capacity | MKG Reports1 April 2008 | The world first 10th group ranking has not changed in 2007. However, the past year, has given to the major groups the occasion to settle their positions on the world scene. With an increasing park of 5.2%, IHG stays on top and reinforces its position by extending the lead on Wyndham Worldwide (+1.4%), despite a sustained growth of its offer with such brands as Days Inn, Super 8 and Ramada. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Hospitality India - Growing Pains | By Achin Khanna18 April 2008 | The fast growing Indian hospitality industry faces several roadblocks. Inflexible FSI norms, high land costs, inadequate parking spaces, relatively poor urban infrastructural planning and political inadequacies are briefly discussed in this article. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend The French Hotel Industry Keeps Warm! | First Quarter Results 2008 |MKG Reports18 April 2008 | The first quarter 2008 displays the good health of the French hotel industry with growth in the RevPAR by 7.1%. The fear of a slackening off has not affected activity at hotel properties. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Europe Chain Hotels Market Review | February 2008 | TRI Hospitality Reports10 April 2008 | Berlin enjoyed the strongest growth in average room rate in February according to the latest HotStats survey of ten European Cities by TRI Hospitality Consulting. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend UK Chain Hotels Market Review | February 2008 | TRI Hospitality Reports7 April 2008 | Despite the continuing turmoil in the financial markets London’s chain hoteliers enjoyed a doubledigit rise in profit during February thanks to continuing increases in room rates, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Marriott International Expects to More Than Double its Middle East Hotels with New Development Announcements 23 April 2008 | In Dubai during a whirlwind trip including high-level meetings, visits with company employees and a major speech, the head of Marriott International, Inc (NYSE:MAR) also took the next steps to ultimately more than double the company’s hotels in the region as he signed four development transactions in three countries. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend FEATURED DOWNLOAD  A Home For The Modern Nomad: Extended Stay Hotels | HVS ReportsAs extended stay hotels gain in popularity across Europe – a few pioneer properties are nearing completion or are already in operation – guests, developers and operators are excited about the prospects for this new class of hotel. HVS analyses the supply and demand patterns that govern the serviced apartment sector in Europe and ultimately answers the question: extended stay – where are the opportunities?
TRAVEL INTERNET MARKETING FOCUS HSMAI's Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference Sparks Diverse Discussions On Convergence10 April 2008 | After a day full of discussions and industry insights at the 10th Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, the more than 200 hospitality and travel professionals in attendance agreed there is a need for integration amongst disciplines and critical understanding of a hotel or destination’s value opportunities. Communication was also a key component highlighted by the panelists to help drive revenue. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Hitwise Monthly Travel Category Report - March 200810 April 2008 | 36.09% of all visits to the online 'Travel' industry went to the top 10 websites for the month of March, 2008. 45.54% went to the top 20 websites and 67.20% went to the top 100 websites. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Advice for Managing Negative Reviews of Hotels | marketingpilgrim.com18 April 2008 | If you’re a small business–or one that operates only in a particular geographic region–you might be forgiven for seeing “online reputation management” and think it doesn’t apply to you. You’re not a big brand, you don’t have to worry about the Wall Street Journal or Newsweek writing about your business, so why worry? View Article | Send to a Friend Some Say Travel Agents are Dinosaurs, Destined for Extinction. PhoCusWright—and about $110 Billion in Travel Sales—Say Otherwise!18 April 2008 | The last 12 or so years have not been kind to travel agents. The meteoric rise of online travel coupled with a debilitating erosion of supplier commissions had all the ingredients of a classic recipe for disintermediation. While the number of agency locations has declined and their market share has slipped, the story certainly does not end there. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Canadian Travel Internet Marketing Conference Presents Industry Experts from Yahoo!, Travelocity, and Ice Portal at the 3rd Annual Event16 April 2008 | 14 April 2008 -- Toronto, Ontario—Online Revealed Canada, the essential Canadian View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Hotels.com, ICHG, Hyatt and Priceline Convene to Discuss the Latest Online Marketing Trends in Chicago this Summer16 April 2008 | No summary available. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend REVENUE MANAGEMENT FOCUS Why The Tourist Doesn’t Really Care About Ethical Consumption – All They Want Is A Low Price And Convenience | By Ian Yeoman17 April 2008 | Much has being said about the tourist, climate change and ethical consumption, but do they really care? While many trends have encouraged the growth of ethical consumption in recent years, there are some trends which have a negative or at least limiting influence. Ethical tourism is fashionable and is encouraged by the current dynamics of demographic change. However, it sits uneasily with many aspects of modern lifestyles. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend All Marketers Are Liars | By Carol Verret 23 April 2008 | Seth Godin gets your attention in the first part of the title of his 2005 book, “All Marketers are Liars – The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low Trust World”. While he goes on to state “… marketers aren't really liars... they're just really good at telling stories that customers want to believe”. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Stairway To Heaven | By Ian Graham22 April 2008 | There can be no one way to maximise profitability – and hotel operators around the world increasingly start with the premise that optimising RGI (room revenue generation index = the relative share of the market for room revenue that the subject hotel enjoys compared to its competitive set) is a pretty good way to start. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Online, Hotel Rates Define the "Quality" of Your Facilities
& Service | By Neil Salerno 17 April 2008 | "He, who reduces his rate, is the only one who knows what his product is really worth". The traveling consumer today is well informed. In the absence of first-hand knowledge of your facilities and service, your rates define your hotel in the marketplace. If you reduce your rates, you could be reducing consumer perception of your hotel. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Ostrich Attitudes To A Recession | By Ian Graham15 April 2008 | Despite the financial markets being in melt-down, few politicians are yet admitting that their countries are in, or are even entering, recessionary times. There seems little doubt however that the western world (and perhaps other regions) is going to experience a period of slowdown and this must impact hotel businesses sooner or later. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend RESORT MARKETING FOCUS American Resort Development Association Celebrates Industry Leaders19 April 2008 | The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) honored the 2008 ARDA Circle of Excellence (ACE) award winners at a gala ceremony and dinner during the Annual ARDA Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas. “The ACE awards are an honor we bestow as an industry on the highest level of excellence,” said Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of ARDA. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend HOTEL DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Lessons from the Field | A Common Sense Approach to Success in the Hospitality Industry | By Dr. John Hogan, CHA MHS CHE19 April 2008 | Several years ago, my friend and colleague Howard Feiertag and I co-authored a book titled “Lessons from the Field – A Common Sense Approach to Effective Hotel Sales”. When we were first considering the approaches for this book, we tried to picture the probable audience. We both had written columns and articles for industry publications and wanted to offer to-the-point, practical messages. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Best Practice Due Diligence -- a 20|20 Skills™ Case Study18 April 2008 | The Goal… HVS Executive Search’s forward-thinking approaches have established it as a premiere executive search and compensation consulting firm specializing in the Hotel, Chain Restaurant/Retail and Gaming industries. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Super-size Me: Why Everyone Gets Upgraded but You | By Daniel Edward Craig11 April 2008 | Upgrades are less frequent these days now that hotels have implemented sophisticated revenue management practices, but they’re still common. They tend to occur when a hotel is sold out because hotels often oversell lower-rated inventory and must upgrade in order to fill all rooms. If you travel frequently and never get upgraded, you might want to take a good hard look at your travel habits. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend SALES & MARKETING FACULTY Al Gore, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Former Vice President of the United States of America, visits the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne17 April 2008 | On April 15 the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne had the immense honour of welcoming Mr Al Gore to its campus to address the students and the members of the Swiss French Speaking Chapter of the Family Business Network on the challenges and opportunities linked to Sustainable Development for future generations. Mr Gore spoke before an audience of 500 people which included nearly 300 students. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Cornell Restaurant Research Study of Guest Complaints Underscores Importance of Personal Contact17 April 2008 | If a restaurant’s food or service is not right, you might expect guests to complain immediately to the server or to a manager. That’s not always the way it goes, however, according to a new report from Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Florida International University Graduates First Class in China with Hospitality Degree at the First U.S. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management 17 April 2008 | Twenty-nine students are graduating on May 5, 2008 from Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management school in China, located in Tianjin, the third largest city in China and the seaport of Beijing. The program, a joint venture between the government and an FIU, is lauded as the first of its kind in China, and FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is the first American university for this venture. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend UT Study: Tourism Industry to Benefit from Tax Rebates10 April 2008 | Many of the tax rebate checks coming soon to individuals and families across the country likely will be spent on summer and fall vacations. That is the finding of a study by the Tourism Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Hard Slog Cafe | Unprecedented Demand for TAFE's Ryde Campus | smh.com.au22 April 2008 | The silence was deafening. "Who can name a restaurant or a cafe," probed the teacher, "that they visit regularly and believe is doing a good job?" From the 11 assembled students, not a groan nor a whimper; just some scratching of heads and shuffling of feet. Definitely not the most promising of signs from a class full of would-be restaurateurs. View Article | Send to a Friend Geoff Gray ’08 is first student general manager of the Statler Hotel at Cornell University3 April 2008 | Geoff Gray, a senior at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, is completing his term as the first-ever student general manager of the university’s Statler Hotel. One of 40 students in the school’s Statler Leadership Development Program, Gray was named to the position last fall. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend COLUMNS The Changing Meaning of Luxury | By Ian Yeoman22 April 2008 | There is a growing tendency among consumers to believe they are entitled to have it all, and to live life by consuming what we might call ‘luxury-snacks’. As Yeoman and McMahon-Beattie point out luxury has now become so democratic that it is ubiquitously for rent. You can rent a luxury car from Avis, but how about renting the latest couture and designer handbags from www.bagborroworsteal.com. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend ‘Blend’ Your Training Investment | By John R. Hendrie23 April 2008 | The trickle of our alarm during recessionary times soon becomes a veritable rumble. Everything is at risk, as we attempt to advance revenue and cut costs. We see evidence of our wariness across the landscape: development on hold, support departments, like Marketing and Human Resources, punctured, Operating Budgets slashed, projections diminished – everything on hold, under review or just erased. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend THE LATEST ENTRIES FROM TOP HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY BLOGS This Blog consolidator provides summaries of entries from Blogs by industry insiders and publications, including USA Today Hotel Hot Sheet, HotelChatter, Revenue Management Forum, and Tourism Internet Marketing. It will appear in each issue of the eConnect Industry Trends Update and is always accessible on the HSMAI Foundation's eConnect site. If you have a Blog to recommend for inclusion, please use the online form to do so or to provide feedback on this new feature. Cariari: Doubletree Cariari's Not-So-Green Green GetawayDown in Costa Rica the Doubletree Cariari by Hilton San Jose has been open a few months now since its renovations, and now they're trying to drum up some extra business by ju...  Tuesday, April 29 - Posted on HotelChatter Study: Vistors like Atlantic City over VegasAccording to a a press release I received, an independent study surveying more than 35,000 visitors to Atlantic City and Las Vegas showed that visitors preferred Atlantic Cit... Tuesday, April 29 - Posted on USA Today Hotel Hotsheet | Kitty Bean Yancey What's the most you've ever paid for a hotel room?I was just looking at room rates for new luxury hotels -- you're lucky if you can get one for under $300; expect to pay $1,000-plus daily at a ritzy resort. It got me thinkin... Monday, April 28 - Posted on USA Today Hotel Hotsheet | Kitty Bean Yancey You could be in Pennsylvania next ad campaignNo summary available... Saturday, April 26 - Posted on Les Explorers | Claude Bernard Should Atlantic City casinos be smoke-free?Donald Trump is firing back at the Atlantic City Council, which has approved a measure that would ban smoking on casino floors (but allow owners to install non-gaming smoking... Friday, April 25 - Posted on USA Today Hotel Hotsheet | Kitty Bean Yancey New look for ViaMichelinNo summary available... Friday, April 25 - Posted on Les Explorers | Claude Bernard Cubeless, SABRE Enterprise 2.0 community : interview with Toby CunninghamNo summary available... Friday, April 25 - Posted on Les Explorers | Claude Bernard Lexus and Fairmont Strategic AllianceThese earth-friendly suites will be decorated from top to bottom with green furnishing and accessories, from organic candles to all natural fabrics and bedding. An added bonu... Thursday, April 24 - Posted on KWE Blog | Karen Weiner Escalara Get more from Google Analytics by tomorrow morningDitch default - it’s all in the set-up baby! The majority of the tourism businesses that I speak to who are measuring their online activity use Google Analytics to track thei... Thursday, April 24 - Posted on Tracking Tourism | Vicky Brock Tripadvisor’s Top-10 Dirtiest Hotels in the US and the UKCheck out TripAdvisor’s 2008 top 10 Dirtiest Hotels, chosen by their members—all rated as “beyond scummy”. These traveller reviews fall anywhere between “totally brutal” to “... Wednesday, April 23 - Posted on Vacant Ready | Chris Clarke All Blogs ECONNECT RSS FEEDS  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...
HSMAI UPDATE
HSMAI Foundation Partners with PhoCusWright and Sustainable Travel International for Groundbreaking New Study on Green Travel25 April 2008 | As the green movement continues to influence consumer travel decisions, travel industry professionals seek a greater understanding of the potential impact on buyer motivation. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Planners pack HSMAI’s AFFORDABLE MEETINGS® Mid-America17 April 2008 | An estimated 1,100 meeting planners flocked to the Eighth Annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings Mid-America Exhibition and Conference at Chicago’s Navy Pier to take advantage of the educational programs offered, seek fresh location and venue options, destinations, and related products and services for their upcoming meetings and events. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend HSMAI's Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference Sparks Diverse Discussions On Convergence10 April 2008 | After a day full of discussions and industry insights at the 10th Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, the more than 200 hospitality and travel professionals in attendance agreed there is a need for integration amongst disciplines and critical understanding of a hotel or destination’s value opportunities. Communication was also a key component highlighted by the panelists to help drive revenue. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend Eighth Annual Resort Conference Goes Green8 April 2008 | Planners of the Eighth Annual Resort Conference, the only conference planned by resort executives for resort executives, are educating attendees about ways to incorporate sustainable practices into their own day-to-day operations while taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. View Article | Print Article | Send to a Friend FEATURED EVENTS  HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West 2008 11 - 12 June 2008Long 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.  HSMAI Revenue Management Strategy Conference 16 June 2008Austin, TX Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 5th Annual HSMAI Revenue Management Strategy Conference on June 16, 2008 in Austin, Texas (just prior to HITEC 2008), and be sure to take advantage of the early-rate discount by registering early. Program planning is in full swing and your input is needed!  ASIAConnect 2008 | by HSMAIA Premier Sales & Marketing Event for Hospitality Professionals 9 September 2008 Singapore, Singapore ASIA CONNECT is positioned as learning and networking forum to address specific needs and concerns of professionals in the mid-level and senior management positions. Where applicable, Special Interest themes like: Sales & Marketing Trends, Revenue Management and Internet Marketing will be featured.  HSMAI Hotel Sales Strategy Conference 9 September 2008Washington, DC The HSMAI Hotel Sales Strategy Conference is organized by HSMAI and HSMAI’s Hotel Directors of Sales & Marketing Special Interest Group (HDOSM SIG) Advisory Board. The HDOSM SIG provides information, leadership development, and resources relevant to hotel directors of sales and marketing. ASIAConnect 2008 | by HSMAIA Premier Sales & Marketing Event for Hospitality Professionals 11 September 2008 Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR) ASIA CONNECT is positioned as learning and networking forum to address specific needs and concerns of professionals in the mid-level and senior management positions. Where applicable, Special Interest themes like: Sales & Marketing Trends, Revenue Management and Internet Marketing will be featured. All HSMAI EventsAll Upcoming Industry EventsFEATURED HSMAI UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS  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:
HSMAI University Webinars are recorded and archived. To learn more and purchase archive copies, please click here. HSMAI's eConnect Industry Trends Update twice-monthly newsletter is an exclusive benefit of membership in HSMAI. It is a compilation of news briefs from around the media on the state of the hospitality, travel and tourism industry, with access to in-depth articles, columns, reports and multimedia on eConnect: a one-stop portal to global information and resources on hospitality sales and marketing topics provided by the HSMAI Foundation. Click on item headlines below to read the entire article. We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding this newsletter at info@hsmai.org, or use the online form.
The old saying goes you can't get a free lunch. Surprise customers with a truly free item or service. It is a terrific way to get new prospects and leads that can initiate long term sales and business relationships. Back in 1996 when I was starting my business on the Internet, I offered a free report on how to promote your business. While I haven't offered that report in years, I still get requests for it almost every day. People LOVE free stuff. Your free product or service should be something that relates to the things you sell. If you sell advice, give away a report. If you sell a service, give away a free check-up or consultation. Or give away a small item that compliments the kinds of products you sell. Give it away with no strings attached. Make it clear that accepting your gift will never lead to any obligation. It's not a discount or an introductory offer, but a completely free gift.
By default, Outlook highlights unread messages in your Inbox with a bold font. You can change this to use a color, a bigger font, or even a completely different font. Change the Way Unread Messages are Highlighted in Outlook To change the way unread mail is highlighted in Outlook:
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