HSMAI University Event

MCLEAN, VA | School bells are ringing, marking the official farewell to summer as students around the country pack up their book bags and board the bus this month to go back to school. The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and HSMAI University are also offering hospitality sales and marketing professionals a chance to hit the books with a new fall webinar lineup, featuring a 2010 forecasting series in conjunction with Smith Travel Research and Hotel News Now.

“The fall webinar sessions have a strong focus on business development in our current economic climate,” said Fran Brasseux, Executive Vice President, HSMAI. “We tailor our webinar series to concentrate on topics relevant to our industry based on what our participants are seeking from hospitality leaders to apply to their own business practices.”

Each webinar incorporates a 60-minute presentation conducted live via the Internet with audio conference linkage. The 2009 fall agenda includes:

  • Prospecting for Sales in Today’s World
    August 18, 2009 from 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
    Panelists: Mark Johnson, Vice President, National Accounts, Signature Worldwide; Amber Anthony Fox, National Director of Sales, Signature Worldwide
    Learn tips and tricks for setting prospecting guidelines and developing enhanced communication skills that can generate new business today.
  • Setting Your Market Sights For 2010
    August 25, 2009 - October 6, 2009 from 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
    August 25, 2009: Setting Your Market Sights: Chicago
    September 15, 2009: Setting Your Market Sights: Los Angeles
    September 22, 2009: Setting Your Market Sights: New York
    October 6, 2009: Setting Your Market Sights: Orlando
    Moderator: Jeff Higley, Vice President, Digital Media & Communications, HotelNewsNow.com, Smith Travel Research, Smith Travel Research Global
    Tune in to this market-specific series to gage where the market is today and hear from industry insiders on what key indicators are for the year ahead. Join expert analysts from Smith Travel Research and local industry sales and marketing professionals who will share insights in this information-packed series.
  • Social Media Management
    September 29, 2009 from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
    Speaker: Kimberly Ercius (formerly Ehrlich), Director of Business Development, Milestone Internet Marketing
    This webinar will focus on how to manage the most important social media channels in the hospitality industry. Presented with real case studies, this program will review some of the most successful and proven tactics for engaging customers on the channels where they spend time and perform travel research.
  • Hotelier / Planner Communications: Do’s, Don’ts & Pet Peeves
    October 15, 2009, from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
    Speaker: Tim Brown, Partner, Meeting Sites Resource
    The turbulent economy, cuts in meeting and travel budgets, and organizational downsizing are just a few of the variables that has today’s meeting planners doing “more with less.” In this informative webinar, hoteliers and suppliers will learn about E-communications and follow-up strategies that will make an impact and help avoid pitfalls and wasteful miscommunications.

Visit for details, webinar registration and information on webinar archives. For general inquiries regarding registration and program development ideas, please contact Kathleen Tindell, CHSC, Program Manager, HSMAI/HSMAI University, at [email protected] or 703-506-2010.

Launched in 1996, HSMAI University is the organization’s most comprehensive and ambitious initiative in the realm of education for sales and marketing professionals in the hospitality and travel industry, entailing a wide-ranging schedule of course offerings and learning experiences in public venue, private label and online formats.

Rachel Rosenberg
+1 404-832-7711
HSMAI University