MCLEAN, VA (Jan. 29, 2004) � In keeping with its mission to deliver education and learning to its members and the industry at large, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has entered into a partnership with HSA International, the leading education and training firm in the hospitality industry, to manage its new HSMAI University program. 
 

The HSMAI University is the organization�s most comprehensive and ambitious initiative in the realm of education for sales and marketers of hospitality and travel to date, entailing a wide-ranging schedule of course offerings and learning experiences in public venue, private label and online formats. �Continuous learning in any profession should be a priority, and through HSMAI University we are providing flexible scenarios, from on-site classes to online initiatives, so that sales and marketing professionals at various stages of their career can learn, grow and be competitive in the marketplace,� stated, Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. Included in the initial roll-out of HSMAI University events planned for 2004 are one- and two-day seminars and workshops available for open enrollment.  These

Training & Support Products & Services For the Hospitality Industry

�The launch of HSMAI University provides the industry with a tremendously valuable resource of performance development opportunities,� said Dr. Mike Hampton, president & CEO of HSA International.  �The training and information being provided through the HSMAI University project is very timely and is focused on helping hospitality organizations improve the skill sets, knowledge base and productivity of their sales and marketing team members.�
 Every aspect of the content and support material included in the HSMAI University program has been specifically designed and developed for those involved in sales and marketing, including an inventory of subject matter appropriate to individuals with responsibilities ranging from entry-level to advanced.  Some of the first public venue offerings include workshops on the basic sales process, advanced catering sales strategies and tactics, and Internet sales development.

Among the diverse range of topics to be addressed are: Best Practices For E-Mail Marketing; Hospitality Sales Essentials: The Fundamentals of Successful Hotel Sales; How To Develop Permission Based E-Mail Marketing Campaigns; How to Optimize Pricing In Revenue Management and How to Prospect For Sales On The Internet.

In addition to the inventory of seminars and workshops, HSMAI University will feature a Speakers and Trainers Bureau that will serve as a venue through which presenters can be arranged for conferences, conventions, trade shows and other events covering a spectrum of both specialized and industry-specific topics.

For more information, contact HSMAI at (703) 610-9024 or www.hsmai.org, or HSA at (954) 432-7301 or www.hsa.com.

HSA International specializes in educational management, including the design, development and delivery of training programs, products and services created especially for the hospitality industry.  HSA produces and makes available workshops, seminars, video and audiotapes, reference manuals, workplace displays and job aids, as well as other tools for human resources development.  Established in 1986 and headquartered in the U.S., with affiliate offices in Singapore and Germany, HSA has an international client base that includes a broad range of leading industry brands.