HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National Announces New Enhancements For Planners, Exhibitors

“We have enriched the National program across the board – for both planners and exhibitors,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president & CEO of HSMAI. “We like to keep the program fresh and innovative by adding new elements, and we believe this year’s show will be a huge success,” he added.

New features for ALL ATTENDEES (exhibitors and planners) are as follows:

• Welcome Reception: The HSMAI DC Chapter will hold a fundraising reception at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, located in Washington’s Chinatown, just a few blocks from the convention center on Tuesday evening, Sept. 4, 2007. Additional information about the event can be found at .
• Two Networking Luncheons – 11:45 am – 1 pm: HSMAI will host two networking luncheons for meeting planners, exhibitors, speakers and other attendees. On Wednesday, humorist Scott Friedman, whose goal is to touch hearts, minds and funny bones, will be the luncheon speaker. On Thursday, attendees will be treated to a presentation by Alan Ovson, a former character actor whose television commercials have been seen and heard by millions of people in the United States and Japan.
• Two General Sessions: On Wednesday, an engaging and entertaining speaker, Tom Deluca, president, DeLuca Enterprises, will captivate attendees with an exciting program that teaches how to seed your imagination with your goals and then turn them into reality. On Thursday, Joan Eisenstodt, chief strategist, Eisenstodt Associates, and Marsha L. Rhea, CAE, senior futurist, Institute for Alternative Futures, will conduct a lively and fascinating session that paints a clear picture of what the meetings industry will be like in years ahead and what core competencies planners will need in the future to be considered a successful meeting professional.
• New Trade Show Exhibit Hours – 1 – 4:15 pm: Featuring extended hours on both days.
• Daily Newsletter: The A.M. Access newsletter will be distributed to all exhibitors and attendees each morning, featuring newsworthy items such as local restaurant favorites from staff members, weather forecast, prize drawings featured during that day, exciting seminars, and much more.

New features and benefits afforded to PLANNERS for the 2007 National program include:

• Win a 2007 Mini Cooper: During both show days, HSMAI will give attendees the chance to test their luck and win a 2007 Mini Cooper during trade show hours. Qualified attendees will have one chance to “crack the six-digit code” of the prize vault to gain access to the car keys inside.
• “Planner’s Choice Booth Awards” & Apple iPhone Giveaway: Throughout the show, meeting and event planners will get their chance to vote for their favorite booths, and one lucky planner will be chosen at random to win a brand new Apple iPhone. Votes will be cast at the Internet café, located on the trade show floor.
• Complimentary Tour of Washington’s Monuments: The Convention Store, an exhibitor at the Affordable Meetings® National Show, will invite the first 110 attendees (two buses, 55 seats each) who visit their booth on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 to enjoy a FREE 90-minute bus tour to Washington’s famous monuments.
• The Scene: Providing a resting place for attendees, The Scene will be located in the center of the trade show floor, complete with a lounge, coffee bar, speaker’s corner and bookstore.
• Speaker’s Board: A special Speaker’s Board will be set up to give planners the opportunity to leave their business cards for those speakers who they wish to contact.
• Special Session: The Society of Government Meeting Professionals will host a special session on the topic of Government Per Diems on Thursday morning, Sept. 6, 2007.
• 28 Educational Opportunities: Impressive line-up of seminars and sessions presented by renowned speakers and educators.

New features and benefits afforded to EXHIBITORS for the 2007 National program include:

• Exhibitor Welcome Breakfast – Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 9 - 9:30 am: Taking place on Wednesday morning before the show opens, a complimentary breakfast will be served.
• Exhibitor Seminar on the Importance of Follow up – Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 9:30 - 11:15 am: Presented by Theresa Syer of Syer Hospitality Group, Oakville, ON, Canada.
• Exhibitor Toolkit: Exhibitors will receive a toolkit providing the essentials for a successful show, increasing the opportunity for greater ROO (return on objective). The toolkit will be sent to every exhibitor prior to the show and consists of pre-show marketing and promotional tools, booth display information, sales tips for use during the show, and post-show follow-up tools.
• Green Recognition Program: HSMAI will recognize exhibitors that are actively protecting the environment through the institution of a valid sustainability program, giving them a green symbol to display in their booth throughout the show.
• Best Booth Awards Program: For the second year in a row, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® will be conducting its “Best Booth Awards Program” to acknowledge those vendors who show exemplary efforts in targeting and enticing attendees. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded during the show.

To view a highlight video of the Affordable Meetings® series, please visit .

There is still time to register for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National, which is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners. Additionally, there is still limited space for companies who want to exhibit at one of the most highly-acclaimed hospitality trade events.

For exhibitor information, contact Stephanie Leon-Santiago, sales coordinator, 914-421-3213, fax-914-421-2918, e-mail: [email protected].

Attendee information is available by calling 1-800-272-SHOW. Additional information and a complete program schedule can be obtained by visiting .

Hotel Sales Strategy Conference

HSMAI’s Hotel Directors of Sales and Marketing Special Interest Group (HDOSM SIG), will present the first annual Hotel Sales Strategy Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007 at the Washington Convention Center (one day prior to the show), highlighting innovations in sales leadership, e-commerce for sales and marketers, a “voice of the customer” panel discussion, and a special report on “Social Media and Travel.”

Registration for the Hotel Sales Strategy Conference is $295 for HSMAI members and $455 for non-members. For more information, please visit .

HSMAI’S AFFORDABLE MEETINGS®

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).

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 .