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Measuring Success Through Metrics Will Headline Agenda of Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference In New York City on April 29, 2005 MCLEAN, VA (Mar. 16, 2005) – When the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) holds its fourth Internet Marketing Strategy Conference in New York City on Friday, April 29, 2005, it will mark the first time the program will combine the thoughts and talents of HSMAI’s Hotel Internet Marketing and Cruise Internet Marketing special interest groups.  Held in conjunction with TravelCom, the Travel Internet Marketing Strategy Conference will take place at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Designed to bring leading industry experts together to discuss the hottest issues and trends in Internet marketing, the conference will focus on measuring the success of Internet marketing through metrics, which will unite leading brand and merchant model experts from the hotel, cruise and airline industries as they present stimulating ideas and facilitate interactive discussion. “This follows on the heels of the three hugely successful Hotel Internet Marketing Strategy Conferences held in the last year which were praised for their outstanding content, issues debated and top-level participation,” states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Metrics and Customer Intelligence are among the most important issues facing Internet marketers today, and by building a conference around these influential topics we have created a forum that is extremely vital for this special interest group,” states Jens Thraenhart, executive director, marketing & strategy, Fairmont Heritage Place, chair of the HSMAI Hotel Internet Marketing Special Interest Group and chair of the HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Organization (TIMO). The preliminary conference agenda is as follows: 9–9:50am: TravelCom General Session Keynote Panel – “New Perspectives” 9:50–10:30am: Break & Supplier Showcase 10:30–11am:      * Introduction to the Travel Internet Marketing Organization (TIMO)      * Latest news since the Hotel Marketing Strategy Conference in December 11–11:20am: What’s hot today: Travel Extension – Ron Andruff, president & CEO, Tralliance Corporation speaks out 11:20–12pm: Keynote address 12–1pm: Lunch 1–1:45pm: Panel 1 Tricks of the Trade: How suppliers measure performance.  Specialists from different sectors of the travel industry – hotel, cruise, airline and an intermediary share their ‘tricks of the trade.’ 1:45-2:30pm: Panel 2 Exploring the Metrics Mystery: Unique perspectives on what you should measure and how to measure it.  Vendors that specialize in a range of services from website analytics to online surveys, metrics and online campaigns, usability testing on website performance and competitive analysis provide invaluable information on what you need to know, and what tools you need to get the information you want. 2:30-3pm: Wrap with Jeff Herzog, iCrossing 3-3:30pm: Supplier Showcase The cost of attending the Travel Internet Strategy Conference is $250 if purchased prior to April 1; $295 from April 2 to 25 and $345 after April 25.  A TravelCom conference pass packaged with the HSMAI Strategy Conference is $1,295, $1,595 and $1,795 respectively. Additionally, the HSMAI Dine-Around – A Taste of Broadway – is priced at $95.  HSMAI members save 20% off the rates; use source code GTC2J when registering. TravelCom, April 27-29, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, will cover critical issues in travel marketing and distribution relevant to online and offline firms alike.  Get current, actionable information to attain, and sustain profitability.  Network with more than 1,400 travel industry leaders, hear keynoters from Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Expedia, Cendant and Forrester Research, and participate in highly interactive sessions. 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, and bringing together customers and members at 15 annual events.  Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising nearly 7,000 members worldwide, with 38 chapters in the Americas region.