The new Special Interest Group will work to define the unique needs and resources required by revenue management executives, as well as identify and create products and a program of work to provide relevance and value for this segment of membership. 

The scope of the group will encompass education and information, standards, vendor relationships and networking. 

�By reaching out and embracing this constituency, HSMAI furthers its mission to provide relevance and value to each individual member, by way of very specific education, information and networking opportunities,� states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. 

�The needs and interests of the revenue management community are highly specific, and require specialized information to enhance our effectiveness,� notes Andrew Rubinacci, vice president, revenue management, Meristar Hotels & Resorts and chair of the HSMAI Revenue Management Special Interest Group. 

�This marks the first organized effort to unite this discipline and create a forum that addresses the particular needs of revenue management � a field that is becoming ever more sophisticated.  The number of people with revenue management responsibilities has grown tremendously, and today the discipline plays an integral role in sales and marketing efforts, greatly impacting an organization�s operations and bottom line.� 

An initial meeting of the Special Interest Group, which was spearheaded by a core group of revenue management executives, was held at HITEC to gauge industry interest, and drew more than 40 attendees, with an additional 60 professionals expressing interest in the initiative. 

The first official meeting will take place on Friday, Dec. 7 in conjunction with HEDNA�s regional meeting at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, San Diego, from 10 am to 12 pm.  Designed as a working session, the objective will be to solidify goals and objectives, brainstorm educational options, and create the framework for the Special Interest Group to operate. 

The Advisory Board consists of: Andrew Rubinacci, vice president, revenue management, Meristar Hotels & Resorts (chair); Cindy Estis Green, managing partner, The Estis Group and HSMAI Foundation chair; Warren Markwart, vice president, revenue management, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Kathleen Cullen, senior director, distribution, Raffles International Hotels & Resorts; Jim Struna, director of revenue management, Millennium Hotels & Resorts; Richard Siegel, president, Hotel-Online; Shelly Irrgang, director of revenue management, Radisson Hotels & Resorts; and Billy Perry, revenue management consultant. 

In keeping with its overall objective to create relevance for all members, HSMAI has identified specific Special Interest Groups within its overall membership, and has begun initiating projects and programming to serve the specific needs of these individual segments.  This Revenue Management Special Interest Group joins similar initiatives for Senior Executives and the Resort market. 

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.