• Registration Pace Skyrockets for Event in Orlando, June 25, 2007;
  • Attendance Reflects Top Execs from Leading Hotel & Travel Companies

MCLEAN, VA | Reflecting the growing importance of Revenue Management in the hotel and travel industry today, pre-registration for the upcoming Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Revenue Management Strategy Conference in Orlando on June 25, 2007 has more than doubled compared to prior events. Much of this excitement has been fueled by HSMAI’s development of the Revenue Management Special Interest Group (SIG) and a long list of recent activities that have spurred additional attention.

“We’ve seen an enthusiastic and growing interest to the discipline of Revenue Management, and HSMAI is fully committed to support that movement by being the lead provider of education and information to further the industry and those engaged in the practice,” notes Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

“HSMAI’s Revenue Management SIG leadership has done a remarkable job of supporting that initiative, from outstanding, content-rich annual conferences and the development of a Revenue Management certification program to ongoing chapter activities, outstanding webinars, the publication of special reports and the debut last week of a cutting-edge simulation on Revenue Management,” he adds.

The impressive line-up of attendees to-date covers a wide range of professional responsibility, from presidents, CEOs, corporate directors of revenue management and chief marketing officers, to corporate operations managers, directors of marketing, sales and/or revenue management managers, regional directors, account executives and consultants. Last year, over two-thirds of the attendees were in corporate or regional management positions.

A cross section of companies will be present at the fourth annual conference, including hotel companies such as Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, to individual properties including Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, Millennium Bostonian Hotel, Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort and Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples.

Held in conjunction with HITEC and presented by HSMAI’s Revenue Management Advisory Board, the HSMAI Revenue Management Strategy Conference will feature a keynote address from Dr. Garrett van Ryzin, Professor of Business, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, on “The Future of Demand Modeling.”

The breakout sessions will include Primer Sessions featuring overviews of “Condo Hotel Revenue Management” and “Casino Hotel Revenue Management,” as well as Technical Sessions on “Advanced Group Revenue Management” and “Incorporating CRM in the Revenue Management Process.”

A highlight on the agenda will be a presentation by Dr. Jeffrey Beck, Professor, Michigan State University, on the findings of the “Updated Survey of the Revenue Management Profession in the Hospitality Industry.” The program will also include a Sponsor Showcase, lunch, cocktail reception, opening and closing remarks, and Speed Networking – a dynamic format whereby attendees will meet with peers to gain an understanding of the revenue management issues confronting them.

A bonus, pre-conference opportunity to learn the ‘critical thinking’ skills required in today’s revenue management environment will be offered to participants. “Critical Thinking in Revenue Management: An Introduction to Revenue Management Simulation Programs” is designed to be interactive and will provide an overview of the recently-launched HSMAI Revenue Management simulation exercise. It has been structured so that attendees can participate in small group simulation exercises as well as pose questions to a panel of senior revenue management professionals. The session will be held from 9-11 am at HITEC, just before the start of the HSMAI Revenue Management Conference, and is also open to HITEC attendees.

The cost to attend the conference is $275 for HSMAI members and $435 for non-members, which includes a one-year membership to HSMAI.

Sponsors of the event are Amadeus, IDeaS, Incite Response, SECURE-RES, American Express, EasyRMS, PROS, Rainmaker, SoftBrands, TIG Global and TravelCLICK.

In other Revenue Management activities, HSMAI has developed a prestigious certification in revenue management – the CRME. Individuals working in revenue management in the hospitality industry, and who meet the minimum qualifications, can take an online examination offering them a chance to confirm their knowledge, experience and capabilities in their field. More than 20 industry professionals achieved the designation since the program launched in the fall of 2006. For more information, go to www.hsmai.org/resources/certification.cfm.

The HSMAI Revenue Management Special Interest Group (SIG) was created to advance the revenue management discipline through education, certification, participation, resources and guidance, enabling leaders to optimize revenue and performance within their own organizations. Ongoing initiatives include strategy conferences and webinars, online community and Web site of resources, in-depth reports, networking opportunities and Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) certification. For more information, 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 annual events, including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings®. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 39 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 .

Richard S. Kahn
(516) 594-4100
HSMAI

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