Hospitality Net

MCLEAN, VA | Resort industry executives will come together May 3 – 5, 2009 for the Ninth Annual Resort Conference at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The conference, sponsored by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the University of Denver’s School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management, is the only event planned by resort executives for resort executives.

“Executives receive ready-to-use take-home information that can be put into action right away at their resort” said 2008 Resort Conference attendee Perry Goodbar, vice president, hospitality sales and business development, The Resort Collection of Colonial Williamsburg.

The Resort Conference draws high-level executives including general managers, directors of sales and other department heads, such as those in revenue management, human resources and online marketing, and includes valuable networking opportunities for attendees. The 2008 conference, held at The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, saw record attendance and featured a conference program focused on resort marketing, operations and sustainability.

“The greatest value of attending the Resort Conference is the ability to walk away with at least one new idea that helps improve your business, from a marketing, development or operations point of view,” said Peter Yesawich of Y Partnership. “I suspect most people walk away with many.”

The 2009 conference will feature the latest best practices in resort marketing that have a high return on investment, and operations best practices that save money while continuing to provide exceptional customer service. It will be held at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., a 339-room resort which offers 90 holes of championship golf, including the famed Champion Course, new home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic and past host of the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship, and many others. The resort, which recently completed a $40 million make-over, also includes, a 42,000 square foot European Spa, the exclusive Waters of the World outdoor mineral pools, a world-class health and racquet club, 39,000 square feet of self-contained conference space and seven on-site restaurants and lounges.

Conference sessions, breakout meetings and speakers will be announced later this year.

For more information about the 2009 Conference, or a recap of previous events, visit www.resortconference.com. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Lesa Faris at (703) 506-3271 or lfaris@hsmai.org.

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®. 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 www.hsmai.org.

About HTRM | 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 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, visit www.daniels.du.edu/HRTM.aspx or contact Barb Pemble at (303) 871-4473 or e-mail: bpemble@du.edu.