Emmy Award-winning Ross Shafer To Host HSMAI's 16th Annual Adrian Awards Gala

MCLEAN, VA | Emmy award-winning TV show host, writer and comedian, Ross Shafer, will emcee the 16th annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala – an evening of honor and tribute to marketing excellence in hospitality and travel.

The black-tie networking extravaganza will be held on Jan. 30, 2006 at the New York Marriott Marquis, with an anticipated 800 industry executives in attendance to celebrate and honor their peers.

“Ross is funny, quick-witted and entertaining, and will be a fresh and exciting addition to a show that pays tribute to our industry’s best,” said Melanie Penoyar, director of development and Adrian awards competition, HSMAI.

In the five seasons he was at the helm of “Almost Live with Ross Shafer,” the show collected over 35 Emmy Awards; six going to Shafer for his work as host, actor and writer, as well as the prestigious IRIS award for the “Best Local Entertainment Series” in the United States. He was a regular contributor to Dick Clark's “TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes,” and the USA Network hired Ross to host their game show, “Love Me, Love Me Not.”

Shafer took over for Joan Rivers when she departed as host of FOX network’s “The Late Show,” and he co-hosted with Matt Lauer and Spencer Christian “Days End,” a nightly ABC entertainment magazine. He had a successful run as the host of ABC-TV's “New Match Game,” which still airs mornings on the Game Show Network, and he has made frequent appearances on “Evening at the Improv,” “The A-List,” “Comic Strip Live” and “Caroline’s Comedy Hour.”

As a keynote speaker, Shafer performs for corporate audiences worldwide, and Successful Meetings magazine named him one of the “hottest speakers for 2006.” Among his published work is the critically acclaimed book, “Nobody Moved Your Cheese!” and his latest release, “The Customer Shouts Back!”

The Adrian Awards evening will pay tribute to the coveted Platinum Award winners in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing, and one in each category will take home the highest honor of Best in Show. Platinum winners are chosen from all the Gold winners in the 49th Annual Adrian Awards, the largest, global travel-related marketing competition of its kind, embracing every segment of the industry, including: hotels, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, destinations, credit card companies, and more. This year’s competition drew over 1,200 entries from 35 countries.

The evening line-up includes Platinum winners presented on stage; the DEPARTURES Magazine Luxury Marketing Award; the TravelCLICK E-Marketer of the Year Award; and Lifetime Achievement Awards for advertising and public relations will be presented to Barry Sternlicht, chairman & chief executive officer of Starwood Capital Group and Peggy Bendel, senior vice president of travel marketing for Development Counsellors International (DCI), respectively. Also, HSMAI’s “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” will be acknowledged; American Express will present student scholarships; and a silent auction will be held to benefit the HSMAI Foundation.

For more information, table sales or to donate auction items, contact Melanie Penoyar at (703) 245-8037 or [email protected]. You can also visit .

Tickets and table sales for the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis are available at $2,850 per table of 10 ($285 an individual seat) if reserved prior to Jan. 20, 2006; seats cost an additional $25 after that date. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Cass Bullock phone: (609) 628-2348; fax: (609) 628-2819; e-mail: [email protected]; or visit .

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 .