Recognizing the continued opportunity for growing travel business via digital marketing, including social media, distribution, and e-commerce, the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will offer a half-day workshop, Digital Strategy for Travel Marketing & Distribution, on Monday, Dec. 7 at The Wynn in Las Vegas, Nev.

“Employing digital resources is top of mind. With the adoption of various social media and distribution changes, there has been a revolutionary change in the digital space in the last few years,” said workshop leader David Atkins, principal of Digital DNA Infusion. “Everyone is asking, ‘how do I staff these programs, how do I get ROI, what are the tactics.’”

Geared towards business operators, sales and marketing professionals, e-commerce and distribution executives, and those responsible for an organization’s web content, this digital workshop will provide travel industry professionals with several tactics they will be able to implement right away. Attendees will also leave with key thoughts for their long-term business planning with regards to the strategic use of digital resources and the maximization of their results.

“In this workshop, we will focus on three or four core pieces and how to use them, how to monetize them, how to distribute them and how to make them social,” said Atkins. “We will really get into the nitty-gritty of ‘what can I do?’ and ‘how I can take them home and implement them?’”

The program includes six modules focusing on strategies and tactics to ensure maximization of return in customer relationship management (CRM), digital marketing, distribution, e-commerce and revenue management programs. Modules include:

• Section 1: What is digital? What is e-commerce? What does it all mean for our industry in 2010 and beyond?
• Section 2: Blocking and tackling in digital – OTAs, online marketing, and performance marketing (non-social media)
• Section 3: SEO - What can you do to help your properties get the best possible placement within search engines even if you do not control or own your websites?
• Section 4: How to use social media - What is it all about? What can you do with social media? Who are the players that might matter?
• Section 5: Video - How can you maximize your assets? How can you enable your employees, guests and prospects to adopt your video?
• Section 6: Distribution, marketing, sales, revenue management, and digital – All session leaders will offer their input on how to put it all together.

Key subject matter experts will join workshop leader, David Atkins for the sessions. Additional speakers include:

• Eric Richmond, Managing Director, Expert SEO Consulting
• Mike Crosson, Social Media and Interactive Advertising Industry Veteran, and Publisher, Insweb Corporation
• An industry-leading video professional

Sponsors for the workshop include Pegasus Solutions, Inc., Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Vizergy, HEDNA, and media partner Hsyndicate.

To register for “Digital Strategy for Travel Marketing & Distribution,” or for more information, visit .

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Commercial Strategy Conference, Sales Leader Forum, and Adrian Awards. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.

Rachel Rosenberg
+1 404-832-7711
HSMAI