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 9 August 2006
HSMAI & CHA Team Up For 2nd Annual Caribbean Sales & Marketing Conference, Dec. 7-8, 2006
 MCLEAN, VA | With high expectations for a successful repeat of its debut effort last year, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) will present the 2nd annual Caribbean Sales and Marketing Strategy Conference at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Miami, FL, Dec. 7-8, 2006.
Both associations are working in tandem to plan, promote and produce this annual event with the goal of providing sales and marketing professionals in the Caribbean with information on the latest trends and resources in sales and marketing competencies that are necessary for success in growing their business.
“The CHA’s Marketing Committee determined some three yeas ago that we should make available to our members the very latest and the very best in hospitality sales and marketing strategy techniques and technology training, and our joint CHA/HSMAI conference certainly delivers this,” explained Emanuel Schreibmaier, CHA’s Marketing Committee Chairman and senior vice president of sales – the Americas, Sol Meliá Hotels and Resorts.
The two-day dynamic agenda will delve into a wide range of sales and marketing topics and tools, while addressing the differences and nuances for both hoteliers and tourism officials doing business in the Caribbean region. The spectrum of topics will range from Internet marketing (eCommerce, web site design and search engine optimization) to revenue management, affiliate marketing, evolving wholesale models, developing sales strategies and strategic business planning.
“The value of the rich information and ideas that will be packed into this two-day forum is priceless for any sales and marketing professional in hospitality and travel,” stated Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
“The hospitality industry worldwide is in a constant state of flux, with shifting influences that impact the Caribbean significantly. Through this gathering of experts in hospitality sales and marketing we intend to enable our industry to respond nimbly and effectively,” said Alec Sanguinetti, CHA director general and CEO, who will open the conference along with HSMAI’s Gilbert.
On the agenda will be keynote addresses from industry experts including: Chip Conley, founder & CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, speaking on “The Rebel Rules” and Vincent Vanderpool Wallace, secretary general, Caribbean Tourism Organization, discussing “The Most Well-Known Destination Brand in the World.”
The educational breakout sessions will feature four hot topics: Destination Marketing & Branding; Internet Marketing & eCommerce; Communications Management; and Managing Your Mix of Business. The content of each of the sessions has been carefully developed to appeal to a broad range of sales and marketing professionals in the region, with four specific intents: Primer (focusing on fundamentals of the topic); Technical (for those who have experience in the core competencies and wish to further explore and debate the topic); Destination (addressing the challenges of destinations and governments); and Hotel (for individuals engaged in the hotel industry).
Among the many industry professionals involved in these sessions will be: Rob Hatcher, area director of revenue management, Ritz Carlton; Cindy Estis Green, managing partner, The Estis Group; Maureen O’Hanlon, partner, the Prism Partnership; Barry Benjamin, vice president, Peace & Plenty Management; Nina Zapala, Partner, Fareed & Zapala Marketing Partners, as well as many others.
A special pre-conference workshop on “Strategic Planning for Hotels & Resorts” by John Fareed, Partner, Fareed & Zapala Marketing Partners, will be repeated again this year on Dec. 7. Also on the agenda will be a breakfast roundtable discussion, lunches and a networking reception.
Partnership opportunities are available. For information, contact HSMAI director of development Melanie Penoyar at 703-245-8037 or mpenoyar@hsmai.org.
Registration for the two-day event is $295 for members of HSMAI or the Caribbean Hotel Association, and $395 for non-members. Rates increase $100 after Nov. 7, 2006.
For more information and to register, visit www.caribbeanstrategyconference.com or contact Melixa Marrero of the Caribbean Hotel Association at 787-725-9139, ext. 231.
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. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising nearly 7,000 members worldwide, with 38 chapters in the Americas region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA 22102, phone (703) 610-9024; fax (703) 610-9005. You can also visit the web site at www.hsmai.org.
The Caribbean Hotel Association is dedicated to optimizing the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving member needs and building partnerships. The members of CHA represent the entire spectrum of the hospitality industry’s private sector, from over 800 member hotels with more than 126,000 hotel rooms in 35 national hotel associations, to allied members including airline executives, tour operators, travel agents, trade and consumer press, hotel and restaurant suppliers, and others. www.caribbeanhotels.org.
Richard S. Kahn
Phone: (516) 594-4100
Email: R.Kahn@KTCpr.com
 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
www.hsmai.org
1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500
USA
- McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703-506-3280
Fax: 703-506-3266
Email: info@hsmai.org
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