Hot New Topics Head Agenda At HSMAI’s Five-City World Quest For International Meeting Planners

MCLEAN, VA -- Presenting one of the world’s most unique educational and networking events for meeting planners seeking international business partners, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will kick off its third annual World Quest with a five-city tour beginning July 24, 2006.

HSMAI World Quest brings qualified corporate, association and government international planners together with international hospitality industry business partners for a day of learning, roundtable discussions and networking.

“World Quest is a great hands-on educational event that also provides valuable networking opportunities,” states Sylin Bynoe, World Airline Entertainment Association. “I look forward to seeing many of the same faces year after year.”

“What makes World Quest so unique and rare is that it is a potentially lucrative forum for both buyers and suppliers in the international marketplace,” states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

On the educational front, attendees will find a wealth of information, including new business strategies, best practices and provocative presentations of hot topics important to the arena of international meetings, followed by interactive roundtable topic discussions with planners and international business partners.

Among the tailored topics that will be discussed and debated are:

1. International Shipping and Customs: With increased security measures and strict regulations, shipping has become more complex. Know the value of utilizing a freight forwarder or customs broker before shipping the next box.
2. Value Added Tax (VAT)/International Tax Reclamation: A zero risk, no obligation method of reducing the cost of doing business abroad. Learn how to reclaim a major amount of the tax spent abroad.
3. International Security Measures: Security in today’s uncertain global environment is everybody’s business – but especially for international meeting planners. This informative session will help you better understand the increasing complexities of international travel security as well as how to be best prepared for worst case scenarios while abroad.
4. International Legal Considerations: International law is a complex subject, which no international meeting planner can completely avoid. Learn how to carefully chart a course to avoid pitfalls and mitigate liabilities of complex international legal issues.

The World Quest events will be held as follows:

• July 24, 2006 – New York, NY at the Grand Hyatt Hotel
• July 27, 2006 – Washington, DC at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel
• July 28, 2006 – Chicago, IL at the Allerton Crowne Plaza
• July 31, 2006 – San Francisco, CA at the Crowne Plaza Union Square
• August 4, 2006 – Seattle, WA at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

Opening the door to education and networking, HSMAI World Quest, a partnership between HSMAI and Association Management Group and its division Meetings Management Group, brings qualified corporate, association and government international planners together with international hospitality industry business partners for a day of learning, roundtable discussions and networking.

Business partnerships and sponsorships are still available. For more details about the 2006 series of World Quest events, .

For more information about the 2006 World Quest events or additional partnership and sponsorship opportunities, contact Derek Jenks at [email protected] or (703) 610-0223.

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 eight annual events, including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings®, and HSMAI World Quest. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 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, or visit the web site at .