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 Planners to Arrange More Meetings, Have Increased
Budgets in 2006 / HSMAI Survey
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MCLEAN, VA (March 21, 2006) � According to a survey of pre-registrants attending the sixth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International�s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show March 29 � 30, 2006 at Chicago�s Navy Pier, the majority of the respondents (67.2 percent) expect to plan more meetings in 2006 and beyond.  Most of those respondents anticipate planning one � 10 more meetings (79.3 percent).
 
On a positive and potentially lucrative note for venues and suppliers in the meetings industry, more than half of the respondents (60.6 percent) indicated that their meeting budgets have increased from last year.  
 
Additionally, 87.9 percent said they are looking for new resources and from this number, 64.2 percent are seeking venues for their meetings and events.
 
In response to how planners� roles have changed over the past year, many cited that they have more meetings to plan, increased responsibility, need to do more in less time, are faced with higher expectations from attendees (particularly in regards to technology), must deal with the challenges of budget constraints, and have more bottom line accountability.
 
The survey also revealed that HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® was the top show at which they conducted business in the past (38.3 percent of respondents).
 
�The survey results reflect the significant relevance and value of the Affordable Meetings® series and serve as an excellent motivator for us to continue creating a cost-effective, educational and business-generating forum for those in the meetings industry,� said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.  
 
The survey was sent to 972 planners registered for HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America with a response rate of 51 percent (478 responses). 
 
HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America  
 
The sixth annual HSMAI Affordable Meetings® Mid-America show will take place March 29 � 30 at Navy Pier in Chicago.  
 
Over 1,100 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations, with a majority representing corporate, association and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious and medical/health care organizations, trade show management and the military, are expected to visit HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America 2006 show.  Attendance at HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.
 
Other shows for 2006 include: HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® West, June 14 - 15, 2006 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, and HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® National, Sept. 6 - 7, 2006 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.
 
HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).  For the second consecutive year, HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America and West events were named the Planners� Best Bets for 2005 in a readers� poll conducted by Meetings Media, publisher of Meetings East, Meetings Mid-America, Meetings West and Meetings South.  Additionally, HSMAI�s Affordable Meetings® was named the most popular meetings event according to an online survey conducted by Meetings & Conventions magazine.
 
For exhibitor information, contact Beth Petersen, show manager, GLM, Ten Bank Street, White Plains, NY 10606-1954, or call (914) 421-3377; fax (914) 948-2918; e-mail: [email protected].  Attendee information is available by calling 1-800-272-SHOW.  Additional information and a complete program schedule can be obtained by visiting the show�s web site at www.affordablemeetings.com.
 
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 36 chapters in the Americas region.
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Contact:

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
phone (703) 610-9024
www.hsmai.org

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Also See: HSMAI Survey of 7,000 Members Reveals the 'Top 10 Issues of Concern' Facing Sales and Marketing Executives / February 2004
Survey Names the Top 10 Issues Facing the Travel Industry; HSMAI Polls 7,000 Members / Oct 2002

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