The Search Is On For The Top 25 Minds In Hospitality And Travel Sales And Marketing

MCLEAN, VA | The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has announced a call for nominations for its sixth annual “hot list” of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. The list, which recognizes the best sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries, is presented in conjunction with HSMAI’s annual Adrian Awards.

“The Top 25 is a 'hot list' that celebrates the sales and marketing leaders and innovators of our industry,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “We encourage all industry professionals to nominate colleagues whose creative strategies, passionate dedication and sharp intelligence have not only made a difference within their organizations but truly raised the bar for the hospitality arena as a whole.”

All hospitality, travel and tourism industry practitioners and suppliers are eligible for nomination, and submissions must pertain to initiatives developed and implemented after September 1, 2007. Nominations for the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing” should be submitted online at www.hsmaitop25.com by September 5, 2008.

The 2007 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing:

• Speros Batistatos, President & CEO, Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Robert Boulogne, Chief Operating Officer, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
• Joel Carver, Senior Vice President of Sales, Vizergy (formerly Secure-Res)
• T. Blake Danner, Senior Vice President of Sales, Morgans Hotel Group
• Tracy Fairman, Chief Operating Officer, E-proDirect/MeetingMart
• John Fareed, Partner, Fareed Zapala Koepke, LLC
• Brenda Fields, Founder, Fields and Company
• Mike Fiorentino, General Manager, The UnConvention Center/Pier 94/ENK International
• Karmela Gaffney, Managing Director, eCommerce, Advertising and Creative Services, Best Western International
• Randy Garfield, President, Walt Disney Travel Company
• David Green, Chairman of the Board, David Green Organization
• Mike Hampton, Ed.D., Dean-College of Hospitality Management, Lynn University
• Kate Harth, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New York
• James Hepple, Tourism Consultant, St. Lucia Tourist Board
• Caryn Kboudi, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Omni Hotels
• Helen Kidd, President, Kidd & Associates
• Brad King, Senior Director, Travel Category, Yahoo!
• Shannon Knapp, Director of Platinum Travel Services, American Express
• Gerardo Murray, CEO, Casa Grande Hotels Group
• Christopher Perry, Vice President, Hotel Sales and Marketing, Mohegan Sun
• Lalia Rach, Ed.D., Divisional Dean and HVS International Chair, New York University
• Adi Sidhwa, Associate Director of Sales, Grand Hyatt New York
• Michael Tyre, Partner, Guest Relations Marketing
• Cheryl Williams, Director of Sales - Hawaii, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
• Richard Williams, Vice President - The Americas, Barbados Tourism Authority

The “Top 25” recognition program is held in conjunction with HSMAI’s annual Adrian Awards, which honors the “best of the best” in travel and hospitality marketing in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing. Winners will be recognized at the annual Adrian Awards Gala, January 26, 2009, at the New York Marriott Marquis, and featured in an HSMAI Marketing Review article. For more information on the Adrian Awards Competition and Gala, visit .

About HSMAI | HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and bringing together customers and members at annual events, including HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(r). Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va. 22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at .