How HSMAI Uses Hospitality Net Membership to Advance the Voice of Hospitality Sales & Marketing
About Hospitality Net
For more than 25 years, Hospitality Net has been at the center of the global hotel and hospitality industry. Over this time, it has built a unique and trusted ecosystem where professionals come to share knowledge, insights, and perspectives. As a neutral and independent platform, Hospitality Net is respected by industry leaders worldwide for providing reliable information and a space where diverse voices in hospitality can be heard.
Our role with associations
Professional and regional industry associations play a vital role in the global hospitality sector. They bring together members, represent collective interests, and provide forums for education and networking. Since its inception, Hospitality Net has worked closely with associations by publishing their news, highlighting their initiatives, and featuring their events in the most comprehensive calendar of the industry.
The challenge for associations
Associations face the constant challenge of:
- Giving industry-wide visibility to their initiatives and advocacy efforts,
- Reaching a broader audience of hospitality professionals beyond their own networks,
- Raising awareness and driving new membership,
- Remaining relevant and visible throughout the year.
How HSMAI Uses Hospitality Net Membership to Advance the Voice of Hospitality Sales & Marketing
Industry associations in hospitality face the same challenge as other industry stakeholders:how to maintain visibility and thought leadership with executives and decision-makers throughout the year. Hospitality Net membership provides HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International) with a platform to amplify its mission, share knowledge, and connect with professionals worldwide.
Rather than listing benefits in the abstract, HSMAI offers a concrete example of how membership works in practice. Over the course of a full year, the association used the platform strategically to position itself as the global voice of hospitality sales, marketing, and revenue optimization.
Sharing Industry Announcements
In December, HSMAI announced its annual 2024 Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality. The news was published through Hospitality Net, reaching thousands of hoteliers worldwide. Featured on the homepage, indexed in the searchable archive, and included in the daily newsletter, the announcement celebrated leaders who exemplify excellence and commitment.
The visibility extended beyond Hospitality Net: the story was indexed by Google and AI-driven search engines within minutes, ensuring reach to audiences far outside the association’s own membership. A week later, detailed analytics showed how the article resonated across channels.
This was one of more than 25 announcements HSMAI shared in a year, reinforcing the association’s role as a leading industry voice.
Advancing Thought Leadership
HSMAI’s mission extends beyond recognition: it shapes the hospitality sales and marketing landscape through insights and advocacy. In December, former HSMAI CEO Bob Gilbert authored an HSMAI Perspective: Advancing Women in Hospitality
This was one of more than 10 Opinion Articles HSMAI shared in a year, reinforcing the association’s role as a thought-leader in its field of expertise.
Visioning the future in The Hotel Yearbook
In April, HSMAI contributed a featured article to The Hotel Yearbook, an annual publication by Hospitality Net. The piece examined the evolving role of commercial strategy leaders in the hospitality industry and provided practical insights for executives preparing for the year ahead. By appearing in this widely read industry reference, HSMAI not only amplified its voice alongside global experts but also reinforced its reputation as the go-to association for foreward-looking insights.
Linked to HSMAI’s association profile, the piece directed readers to additional resources. Social media promotion extended the reach even further, while performance analytics helped refine future contributions.
Educating the Profession
Education is central to HSMAI’s mission. In July, the association published an Explainer Article outlining how revenue optimization and sales strategies must evolve in an AI-driven environment. Published in Hospitality Net’s dedicated Explainer section, the piece remained visible well beyond its release date. By focusing on education rather than advocacy, HSMAI built trust and positioned itself as a professional development partner for executives at every career stage.
Supporting Events and Conferences
HSMAI’s signature conferences - including HSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration, and its annual HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference - were promoted through Hospitality Net. Event announcements appeared not only as standalone news items but also in the footer of every HSMAI-published article, extending visibility to thousands of readers year-round.
Being present on Hospitality Net allowed HSMAI to connect its events with a global audience, far beyond the immediate reach of its member database.
Shaping the Industry Dialogue
HSMAI leaders and members regularly contribute to Hospitality Net’s World Panel, joining global experts in debating the most pressing issues for hospitality. By offering short, timely insights, HSMAI positioned the association as a thought leader alongside respected hoteliers, consultants, and academics.
In May, Kelly McGuire contributed a view in HN's World panel discussing "The Future of Revenue Managers in the Age of AI Co-pilots: Evolution, Revolution or Goodbye Revenue Managers?"
Every panel contribution was distributed in newsletters and highlighted across the platform, reinforcing HSMAI’s role in shaping the global conversation.
Promoting Educational Programs and Webinars
Hospitality professionals look to HSMAI for continuous learning. The association promoted its webinars, certification programs, and training workshops through Hospitality Net’s Industry Calendar.
By appearing alongside major trade shows and conferences, HSMAI’s educational offerings reached a much larger audience. Direct links to registration pages drove sign-ups and participant engagement.
Recognizing Leadership and Appointments
Part of HSMAI’s role is to celebrate the career milestones of industry leaders. Through Hospitality Net, the association published announcements of newly elected board members, global chapter chairs, and leadership appointments.
In October, HSMAI announced the appointment of its new CEO, Brian Hicks. In November, HSMAI published its annual HSMAI Career Achievement Honors, Michelle Woodley and Victoria de Falco.
These updates kept HSMAI’s organizational profile dynamic while reinforcing its reputation as a global network for career development and leadership recognition.
Strengthening Visibility with SEO and AI Search
As a global association, HSMAI depends on reach and credibility. Hospitality Net’s domain authority and natural backlinks ensured that every HSMAI article was indexed by Google and AI platforms, amplifying visibility far beyond the platform itself. This strengthened HSMAI’s positioning as the global reference point for hospitality sales and marketing leadership.
Consistency That Delivers Impact
HSMAI’s experience demonstrates how a single Hospitality Net membership can anchor a full year of association communications, ensuring exposure when it matters most. From award announcements and thought leadership to explainers, event promotion, education, and leadership recognition, the membership has enabled HSMAI to keep its message in front of the global hospitality community year-round.
For HSMAI, the result is consistent visibility, reinforced authority, and measurable impact — making Hospitality Net not just a channel, but a strategic partner in advancing the voice of hospitality sales and marketing worldwide.
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