HSMAI, CHA Set Agenda for First Strategy Conference Focused on Caribbean

Dec. 1-2, 2005 in Miami at the Hyatt Regency

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. October 14, 2008

MCLEAN, VA, October 12, 2005. Sales and marketing professionals in the Caribbean will take away a wealth of information and resources pertaining to the hottest topics, issues and trends that are invaluable for growing their business when the first Caribbean Hotel Sales and Marketing Strategy Conference convenes in Miami, Dec. 1-2, 2005. Presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), the conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Miami.

"The travel and tourism industry constantly introduces new opportunities and challenges, by virtue of its continuous evolution - especially in the Caribbean," said Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO of CHA. "In addition to identifying the changes for the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry, the Strategy Conference will give our members the tools to tap their growth potential by unfolding toward new industry directions."

"We have a tremendous amount of content that we are adapting specifically for sales and marketing professionals in the Caribbean, and we look forward to establishing a strong presence in the region and increasing our membership base," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

The conference line-up is as follows:

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005

9:00am-Noon: Special pre-conference workshop on Strategic Business Planning for Hotels & Resorts - From 10 Rooms to 1,000 Rooms, presented by John Fareed, partner, Fareed and Zapala Marketing Partners

Noon-12:15pm: Conference Opening/Welcome from Alec Sanguinetti, director general and CEO of CHA, and Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president & CEO, HSMAI

12:15-12:45pm: Lunch

12:45-1:15pm: Opening keynote on Demystifying Distribution from Cindy Estis Green, managing partner, The Estis Group, and author of "Demystifying Distribution"

1:15- 2:15pm: Opening session panel on Marketing Through the Web: Demystifying Distribution, moderated by Cindy Estis Green Panelists: Sue Heilbronner, EVP of Marketing, TIG Global and Drew Patterson, director of business development, Kayak Software

2:30-3:30pm: Breakout Sessions:

Session 1: Integrated Marketing Communications: Improving Customer Acquisition and Retention? Moderated by John Fareed, partner, Fareed and Zapala Marketing Partners

Session 2: Internet Marketing: Developing and Managing Your Web Site. Moderated by Loren Gray, director of e-Commerce, Ocean Properties, Ltd.

Session 3: Reservations Sales: How To Make Sure Your On-Site (or 3rd Party) Reservations Agents Provide the Customized Sales Experience That Today's Callers Demand. Presented by Doug Kennedy, president, The Douglas Kennedy Company

3:30-3:45pm: Break in Supplier Showcase

3:45-4:45pm: Breakout Sessions 1, 2, and 3 Repeated:

4:45-6:00pm: Networking Reception in Supplier Showcase

Friday, Dec. 2, 2005

8:30-10:00am: Buffet breakfast and two roundtable discussions:

Table 1: Success Stories in the Golf Market

Table 2: Success Stories in Reaching the Eco-Adventure Traveler

Table 3: Success Stories in the Gay & Lesbian/Alternative Life Styles Market

Table 4: Success Stories in Selling to the European Market

Table 5: Success Stories in Selling to Minorities, African Americans, Hispanics

Table 6: Success Stories in the Group Incentive Market

Table 7: Success Stories in Spa Marketing

Table 8: Success Stories in the Meetings and Conventions Market

Table 9: Success Stories in the Luxury Market

Table 10: Success Stories in the Weddings Market

Table 11: Success Stories in Selling to the Family Market

10:00-10:15am: Break in Supplier Showcase

10:15-11:15am Breakout Sessions:

Session 4: Revenue Management Strategies for the Caribbean. Moderated by Douglas Kennedy, president, The Douglas Kennedy Company

Session 5: Effective Public Relations Strategies: With or Without an Agency. Moderated by Karen Weiner-Escalera, president, KWE Public Relations, and Richard S. Kahn, president, Kahn Travel Communications

Session 6: Internet Marketing: Web Optimization and Understanding Search. Moderated by Loren Gray, director of e-Commerce, Ocean Properties, Ltd.

11:30am-1:30pm: Lunch and keynote address on Today's Caribbean Wholesaler - Evolving Models to Drive Business presented by Emanuel Schreibmaier, senior vice-president sales, The Americas, Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts

1:45-2:45pm: Breakout Sessions 4, 5, and 6 Repeated:

2:45-3:00pm: Break in Supplier Showcase

3:00-4:00pm: Closing General Session keynote address: Envisioning the Customer of the Future presented by Dr. Lalia Rach, associate dean, Preston Robert Tisch Center Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, New York University and HVS International Chair

4:00-4:30pm: Wrap up on Adding Profits to your Bottomline through Existing Caribbean Marketing Channels from Tim Grace, director of marketing, CHA, and Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO, HSMAI

Saturday, December 3, 2005 - Foundation Golf Tournament (optional)

Registration for this two-day event is $295 for members of either HSMAI or CHA and $395 for non-members. The non-member rate includes six months of membership in HSMAI.

Sponsorships for the conference are available. For information, please visit www.hsmai.org or contact Melanie Penoyar, director of development, HSMAI at (703) 245-8037.