News for the Hospitality Executive |
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MCLEAN,
VA (April 23, 2009) – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association
International (HSMAI) honored 15 of its chapters with "Chapter Best of
the Best Awards" in the 2008 Frank W. Berkman Chapter Awards Program at
the 2009 Annual
HSMAI Leadership Conference at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly,
Va. April 13-15, 2009. "HSMAI Chapter leadership is comprised of some of the most talented minds in the hospitality profession,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The awards program recognizes chapters that embody HSMAI’s values and implemented strategic and creative programs for professionals to help the growth of the profession and organization." Robert
A. Gilbert, HSMAI president & CEO,
presents South Florida Chapter leaders, Julie Wernick (left) and Stacie Faulds, with the 2008 Chapter of the Year honors.
Platinum
In
addition to giving out the chapter awards, members of the HSMAI
Americas board of directors and Special Interest Group Advisory Boards
(SIGs), managing directors and presidents of more than 32 chapters,
collegiate chapter presidents and faculty liaisons gathered together
for two days of leadership bootcamp that focused on the theme “When
the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going!” Each
year, HSMAI hosts chapter, SIG and
student leaders at this special conference to meet
with other association leaders, discuss common issues and hear
from renowned industry leaders on best practices related
to key hospitality issues. This
year's program kicked off with Major
Nicole Malachowski, the first woman USAF Thunderbird pilot, to energize
and motivate conference attendees to be leaders within the organization
and for their team. The conference was moderated for a second year by
John Parke, President and CEO of Leadership Synergies, who led
one-on-one discussions with Bill Connors, executive vice president and
COO of the National Business Travel Association and Robert
A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. The
first panel of the conference, “A View from the Top,” included HSMAI’s
Americas Executive Committee members and generated lively conversation
amongst panelists and attendees about the current economic state and
best practices. Additionally,
Karen McSteen, president of brandMatters, emphasized the importance of
a personal brand as well as a company brand to define success. McSteen
left attendees with guidelines to help them create their personal brand
in 2009. On
the final day, Edelman senior vice president, Cathleen Johnson,
presented on Good Purpose and how chapters can incorporate social
causes into chapter activities. The conference concluded with a chapter
best practices exchange. Sponsors
of the HSMAI Leadership Conference were American Express, Newmarket
International, and the Marriott Westfield Washington Dulles. HSMAI is
the hospitality industry source for knowledge, community, and
recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales
growth, revenue optimization, marketing, and branding. With a strong
focus on education, HSMAI has become the industry champion in
identifying and communicating trends in the hospitality industry, and
bringing together customers and members at annual events, including
HSMAI's Affordable Meetings®. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is
an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000
members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more
information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing
Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va.
22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at www.hsmai.org. |
Media
Contacts: Rachel
Rosenberg, Edelman Atlanta, 404-832-7711, [email protected]
Harper
Cornell, Edelman Atlanta, 404-460-9661, [email protected]
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