The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the dates of its 2009 Affordable Meetings® Conference & Expositions, a trio of highly-acclaimed events that attracts more than 3,500 motivated planners from all sectors who attend looking for quality resources and education to enhance their meetings and events.

Due to the overwhelming response from attendees and exhibitors at the debut Event Technology Expo™ (ETE) at the 2008 Affordable Meetings National, ETE will return in 2009, and will be expanded to include an ETE component on the show floor and educational sessions at all three shows. HSMAI's Event Technology Expo addresses all aspects of technology as it relates to tradeshows, meetings, and special events. Also, HSMAI's Hotel Sales Strategy conference is being held March 31, 2009, in conjunction with Affordable Meetings Mid-America.

The 2009 HSMAI Affordable Meetings series schedule is as follows:

Affordable Meetings® Mid-America

April 1 – 2, 2009
Navy Pier
Chicago, Ill.

Affordable Meetings® West

June 10 – 11, 2009
San Jose McEnery Convention Center
San Jose, Calif.

Affordable Meetings® National and Event Technology Expo (ETE)

September 9 – 10, 2009
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.

"In today's economic climate, planners are seeking affordable options that still offer great value for their meetings," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The 2009 series will offer a diverse selection of vendors and a strong educational component to help planners stay in tune with the changes in the industry while meeting their goals and staying within tightened budget guidelines."

For exhibitors, HSMAI's Affordable Meetings offers the opportunity to connect with an exclusive group of planners. More than 56% of Affordable Meetings planners do not attend any other trade show.

Margarita G. Muselli of InterContinental Hotels Group, Latin America, a new division created exclusively for Latin America, attended Affordable Meetings Mid-America with a blank database in 2008. "My mission was to find new clients with potential for Latin America. At the show, we were able to zero in on prospective clients, leaving with a solid list of contacts for immediate follow-up after the show."

Planners note that in addition to finding quality resources to enhance their meetings and events, value comes out of the broad range of educational sessions offered at each conference. 2008 sessions focused on green options and new techniques to incorporate technology into meetings.

Attendees represent meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations, with a majority representing corporate, association and independent sectors, and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious and medical/healthcare organizations, trade show management and the military. Attendance at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.

Attendee information for HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is available by calling 1-866-470-6605, emailing [email protected], or visiting www.affordablemeetings.com.
For exhibitors interested in booth space, please contact Craig Baker, account manager, exhibition sales, J. Spargo & Associates, (703)679-3942 e-mail: [email protected], or visit www.affordablemeetings.com.
For more information on the HSMAI Hotel Sales Strategy Conference, visit www.hdosm.org.

About HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® |
HSMAI's Affordable Meetings offers attendees the opportunity to meet and do business with exhibiting companies during a unique exposition that showcases venues, products and services to help produce various types of meetings and events. Year-after-year, the highly-acclaimed trade exposition is a main attraction for attendees looking to meet and network with knowledgeable suppliers who are determined to help produce valuable meetings and assist with purchasing decisions. Exhibitors represent hotels and resorts, university conference centers, unique meeting sites, convention and visitor bureaus, transportation companies, trade publications, software and audio/visual businesses, and other meeting and convention suppliers. HSMAI's Affordable Meetings is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by J. Spargo & Associates. Visit www.affordablemeetings.com or email [email protected] for more information.

About HSMAI |

HSMAI is the hospitality industry source for knowledge, community, and recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales growth, revenue optimization, marketing, and branding. 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.

Rachel Rosenberg
+1 404-832-7711
HSMAI