HSMAI Honors AH&LA Under 30 Gateway Launch with Silver Adrian
New Membership Initiative Launch Campaign Earns National Public Relations Honor
DECEMBER 3, 2008. The Under 30 Gateway, the first-ever industry-wide initiative exclusively designed by and for young hospitality professionals, launched in July 2008, with a multi-faceted recruitment campaign comprised of a series of online membership e-communications, a presence on social networking Websites like Facebook.com and LinkedIn, outreach to like-minded young professionals groups, regional recruitment events, and presence at AH&LA events. The inaugural issue of The Gate, the Gateway's quarterly eNewsletter, received an open rate of virtually 100 percent and click-through rate of 53 percent, compared to the association's overall average 30 percent open rate and three percent click-through rate for general membership correspondence.
This year's contest attracted nearly 1,300 entries from around the world, with entries judged by top executives from all sectors of the industry. AH&LA will receive the award during the 19th annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, a black-tie affair attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel, and tourism marketing executives, on January 26, 2009, at the New York Marriott Marquis.
In addition to celebrating AH&LA's award-winning work at the Gala, the entry will accompany all winning entries that will be accessible in the Adrian Awards Winners Gallery online at www.adrianawards.com following the gala.
More information about the Gateway and its member benefits and programs is online at www.ahla.com/Gateway. Gateway membership is free to hospitality professionals under age 30 who are currently employed by AH&LA member companies. Please contact Jessica Soklow, AH&LA manager of media relations, at jsoklow@ahla.com with any questions.




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