Quadri-Felitti, assistant professor NYU Tisch Center HSMAI Big Apple President

�I am honored to be leading this chapter united with our themes for 2007 of Igniting Ideas, Advancing Our Industry,� states Quadri. The chapter�s professional development activities for the year will focus on several key initiatives. �Central to our mission is exchanging innovative ideas, heightening our expertise and competencies, and recognizing the depth and breadth of HSMAI member talent,� remarks the educator.  Last year HSMAI Big Apple launched the first chapter level Special Interest Group (SIG) in Revenue Management and will launch a series of educational events focusing on training in these fundamentals, networking among practitioners, and exchanging best practices with directors of revenue and sales and marketing. �A great deal of substantive and engaging programs are planned for the coming year by an array of remarkable industry leaders and marketing professionals,� continues Quadri.

Evening and morning seminars sponsored by and hosted at USA TODAY, tackle the intricacies of the sales and marketing discipline and are forward-looking as well. Monthly seminars concentrate on a particular aspect of the industry such as sales, public relations, technology, and also feature national editors for USA TODAY as well as prominent HSMAI members.  A perfect example is the first seminar on January 23, 2007 featuring award-winning advertisers, Peter Warren, CHME, and Tim McCartin of Warren Kremer Paino Advertising, LLC, entitled �What the New Mix Masters Must Know:  Podcasts are in but Print isn�t Out.� 

A third initiative continues to focus on growing student membership throughout the region. Chapter leadership has long recognized that the mastery of the profession�s complexities may start in the halls of academia but certainly is a career long educational pursuit.  Working with student clubs at Cornell University, New York University, The City University of New York Technological College, the chapter is helping sponsor new clubs within the local drive area. Faculty interested in chapter support should contact the chapter. 

At 80 years young, HSMAI is one of the most vibrant organizations in the global tourism and hospitality industry. The New York City metro chapter will reach 500 members in 2007. For more information and a complete list of the 2007 committee leadership and calendar, visit, www.hsmainyc.com and www.hsmai.com.