Critical Issues On Tap At 5th Annual Resort Management Confab Set By HSMAI, University Of Denver April 3-5, 2005 In Phoenix

MCLEAN, VA | A comprehensive, solutions-driven agenda, ranging from the Internet and distribution to business development, the latest research engines and cutting-edge trends will be presented at the Fifth Annual Resort Management Conference sponsored by The University of Denver’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, AZ from April 3-5, 2005.

The two-day conference also features general session speakers Peter Yesawich, president and CEO of Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, and Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research.

The preliminary agenda is as follows:

Sunday, April 3, 2005

• 6-8pm: Welcome Reception

Monday, April 4, 2005

• 7:30-8:30am: Continental Breakfast
• 8:30-8:45am: Welcome from Peter Rainsford, director, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver.
• 8:45-10:15am: General Session A: Travel Trends | A look at the most recent research about travel trends. Peter Yesawich, president and CEO of Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, presents business and leisure travel trends. An expert panel reacts to the data and provides thoughts about strategies to move forward. Panelists: Ed Mace, president and CEO, Vail Lodging and RockResorts; Pedro Mandoki, president, Plantation Resort Management, Inc.; Charles Peck, president and CEO, Destination Hotels & Resorts; moderated by Peter Rainsford, director, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver.
• 10:15-10:45am: Networking Break
• 10:45-12:15pm: General Session B: De-Mystifying Distribution to Maximize Revenue | An overview of resort product distribution based on the special report, “De-mystifying Distribution,” authored by Cindy Estis Green, published by HSMAI and produced by TIG Global. This session will be moderated by Mike Pusateri of TIG Global. Further research will be presented with discussion of practical applications of distribution strategy. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on Electronic Distribution and what individual companies are doing to compete and maximize revenue. Panelists: Scott Brodows, vice president of hotel & car distribution, Sabre Travel Network; Bill Peters, vice president of reservations, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts; Michael Reichartz, Expedia; moderated by Mike Pusateri, executive vice president, TIG Global.
• 12:15-1:30pm: Resort Executive of the Year Luncheon with industry executive roundtables sponsored by the University of Denver and Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell.
• 1:30-3pm: Concurrent Breakouts
• Session 1: Operations Track – Spa Trends | Speaker: Greg Hagin, contributing writer, Resort + Recreation Magazine. Panelists: William Kelley, general manager, The Grove Park Inn; Lorraine Park, contributing writer, Resort + Recreation Magazine; Diane Trieste, contributing writer, Resort + Recreation Magazine; Deborah Waldvogel, director of spa operations and resort activities, Mii Amo Destination Spa at Enchantment Resort.
• Session 2: Ownership/Real Estate Track – Fractional Ownership | Speaker: Ed Watkins, editor, Lodging Hospitality.
• Session 3: Marketing Track – Internet Marketing: Cash in Your Own Backyard | Learn about the tools to start increasing online revenue from your own resort and website. Gain insights into the successful outcomes of online marketing in the resort setting through illustrations and case studies presented by the panelists. Speaker: Mike Pusateri, executive vice president, TIG Global. Panelists: Scott Dahl, Sunstone Hotels; Loren Gray, Ocean Properties.
• 3-3:30pm: Networking Break
• 3:30-5pm: Concurrent Breakouts
• Session 4: Operations Track – Building Business Health | A blueprint for developing a resort’s service culture, management effectiveness and maximizing ROI. Management tools that support continuous improvement and build competitive edge are presented. Industry norms are referenced, benchmarks developed, and best practices identified. Case studies include resorts outlining their successful comparative performance figures for growing profits and developing their human capital. Speakers: Gene Ference, president, HVS/The Ference Group & Werner Graef Associates; Werner H. Graef, principal, HVS/The Ference Group & Werner Graef Associates.
• Session 5: Ownership/Real Estate Track – Resort Renovations | Speaker: Steve Higgins, CEO, Higgins Purchasing Group
• Session 6: Marketing Track – Best Practices: HSMAI Provides the Answers | Results of the Best Practices Initiative being conducted by the Resort Marketing Committee under the auspices of HSMAI. John Washko, co-chair of the Resort Marketing committee, will give an overview of the study, followed by a presentation of case studies which represent successful practices and strategies employed by resorts today.
• 5-7pm: Networking Reception

Tuesday, April 5

• 7:30-8:30am: Continental Breakfast
• 8:30-10am: General Session C: Resort Operating Research and Statistics | Mark Lomanno, president of Smith Travel Research will present his latest findings on operating statistics for resorts as well as research about the size and the scope of the industry, facilities, amenities, demographics and compensation. Panelists: John Evans, COO, East West Partners; Pedro Mandoki, president, Plantation Resort Management, Inc.; Charles Peck, president and CEO, Destination Hotels & Resorts; moderated by Peter Rainsford, director, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver.
• 10-10:30am: Networking Break
• 10:30am-12pm: 3 Concurrent Breakouts
  
• Session 7: Operations Track – Program Utilization (golf, tennis, children’s programs, water parks) | The marketing and management of compelling recreation experiences. Resort leaders will discuss the creation and evolution of an array of recreational experiences that have transformed the Pointe South Mountain into one of Arizona’s leading full-service resorts. Speaker: Charles Naberhaus, general manager, Pointe South Mountain Resort. Panelists from Pointe South Mountain Resort: Jim Ferguson, director of tennis; Jim Fossenkemper, director of golf; Bill Price, athletic club manager; Laurel Reynolds, marketing communications manager; Angela Shaughnessy, director of reservations; Mike Smith, Oasis Water Park manager.
• Session 8: Ownership/Real Estate Track – Capital Investments in Technology | Speaker: Dan Connolly, associate professor of information technology, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver. Panelist: Bill Peters, vice president of reservations, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.
• Session 9: Marketing Track – Meeting Planners to Resorts: What We Need to Select You!Hear from the client’s perspective what they need from planners. Experienced meeting planners, representing corporate, association and third party organizations will answer questions regarding what they seek out when choosing their next resort destination: location, venues, facilities, services, requirements, lead time and contacts plus more. Panelists: Susan Molinich, Intel; Nancy Nachman, independent planner, The Meetings Concierge; Jill Soth, Avent; Dr. Ralph Rabin, Maryvale Medical Center; moderated by Frank Fredericks, director of sales and marketing, Wild Dunes Resort.
• 12-1:30pm: Lunch Break
• 1:30-4:30pm: Property Tours

Registration is $545 for HSMAI members and members of allied industry associations ($645 after March 1, 2005) and $595 for non-HSMAI members ($695 after March 1, 2005). Go to for a full program and registration information.

Established in 1946, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management (HRTM), part of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, prepares both graduate and undergraduate students for senior management positions in the fast-changing and competitive hospitality industry. As one of the most prominent hotel programs in the nation, the HRTM program enjoys a superb reputation for innovative educational programs. The student-oriented faculty members are internationally recognized for their contributions to teaching, research and publications in various hospitality fields. For more information on the HRTM program, contact Nicci Crowley at 303-871-4266 or [email protected], or visit .

At last year’s conference, a charter committee was formed to establish a Resort Marketing Special Interest Group under the auspices of HSMAI. Comprised of resort sales and marketing executives, it addresses the interests of those within the resort industry and provides a forum to exchange best practices and maintain close tabs on hot issues that affect resort revenues such as distribution, Internet marketing, revenue management, CRM and other evolving topics. This new group is an ideal solution for the resort executive who wants to be connected to others for quick updates on current topics and quick idea exchange for dealing with the issues unique to resort marketing.

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 15 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 .