The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces a new member stimulus program that offers a collection of business and professional development tools and resources essential to the hospitality marketing industry

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces a new member stimulus program that offers a collection of business and professional development tools and resources essential to the hospitality marketing industry.

As part of the "Buzz on HSMAI" campaign, newly signed Americas region members* will receive a stimulus package, which includes a complimentary copy of the HSMAI Foundation's The Travel Marketer's Guide to Social Media and Social Networks, a $5 gift card to Starbucks and a choice between:

- A Hospitality Competency-Based Assessment, created in partnership with 20/20 Assessment, a service of HVS

- A list of regionalized meeting planner profiles from HSMAI's Affordable Meetings

"We are pleased to offer this program in these tough economic times. Our stimulus initiative makes these professional and business development member benefits immediately available to our new members to help them sharpen their skills and drive incremental revenues to their business," said HSMAI Executive Vice President Fran Brasseux.

The assessment offers new members the opportunity to evaluate their skills and provides a coaching-development session at no charge beyond the annual HSMAI membership fee. Or new members can choose to receive a list of HSMAI's Affordable Meetings attendees who plan meetings in one of seven U.S. regions. HSMAI's Affordable Meetings® conferences and exhibitions attract motivated planners from all sectors of the industry who attend looking for quality resources to enhance their meetings and events.

Members of HSMAI represent all segments of hospitality, travel and tourism, with sales and marketing professionals from hotels, resorts, conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, car rental companies, railroads, convention and visitors bureaus, area attractions and destinations. In addition, HSMAI members include owners, executives and managers, as well as professionals from supplier organizations, and students and faculty from hospitality degree programs.

*Special promotion applies only to new Americas Region members joining between 10/15/09-12/31/09 and paying regular membership fee ($350.00). New member is defined as someone who has never been a member of HSMAI or whose membership has been expired for six months or more. Other rules and restrictions may apply.

Details on the Buzz campaign can be found at .

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.

Jason Smith
VP communications
HSMAI