WASHINGTON, DC (Aug. 30, 2001) � In these times of great economic uncertainty, with occupancy declining and RevPar plummeting, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) asks �Are you doing all you can to compete in troubled times?�  To address this critical concern, and identify solutions to the most urgent matters affecting our industry, HSMAI, in partnership with Lodging Hospitality magazine, will hold four regional General Manager�s Forums to provide immediate answers and advice.
        
Reinforcing this is a just released �Lodging Industry� report by Bear Stearns, based on Smith Travel Research data, which warns: �With the economic slowdown lingering, hopes for a strong second-half recovery have faded,� adding that �total U.S. RevPar in July was down six percent, the worst monthly decline in over 10 years, offering first hard evidence about what is expected to be a very weak third quarter for the lodging industry.�
        
�Now is the time we all need to be proactive, creating and identifying new ways to do business,� states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
       
�We would be remiss not to react to the industry�s poor performance and worsening projections.  As organizational leaders, it is up to general managers and senior executives to identify the roads to recovery, which these intensive forums will help provide,� he adds.
        
In the context of addressing these critical times and managing crisis, the topics to be covered include:

• Generating New Business
• Closing the Sale
• The Growing Impact of E-Commerce
• How Customers Interact with Sales People in a High-Tech World
• Backyard Marketing
• The Care & Feeding of Sales People
• Maximizing Your Franchising Value
• The New Leader as Mentor, Model & Motivator

Philadelphia, PA  September 11-12
Denver, CO   October 10-11
Charlotte, NC   October 15-16
Anaheim, CA   November 7-8

Providing the keynote address focusing on Customer Service: Its Place in Your Organization, will be industry leaders Horst Schulze (Anaheim), Mike Leven (Charlotte) and Scott Anderson (Philadelphia and Denver).
        
The series is designed for general managers as they relate to the sales and marketing process, and is aimed at two different market segments: general managers who are �hands-on� the sales and marketing for their properties themselves, and those GMs who supervise a sales and marketing staff.
        
HSMAI is an organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. With a strong focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality and sales and marketing management disciplines.  Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprised of over 5,000 members from 35 countries and 60 chapters worldwide.