Fresh Topics, 13 New Speakers Enhance HSMAI'S Affordable Meeting(R) National

16th Annual Show Set for Sept. 7-8 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

. October 14, 2008

MCLEAN, VA, August 9, 2005. A superior educational program targeting hot technologies, time management, leadership strategies, and other topics relevant to today's meeting planners, along with presentations by 13 new speakers, distinguish the 16th annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) National show, set for Sept. 7 - 8, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

During HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National, planning professionals of all levels of experience can choose from 37 seminars (31 different topics with six repeated) that present a broad range of "need to know" key subjects impacting the meetings industry. This FREE comprehensive educational series will offer attendees the opportunity to acquire expert insight, new ideas, and inspirational advice, helping them to produce more successful, cost-effective meetings.

A highlight will be the high-energy, interactive, informative general session on negotiating critical issues in hotel contracts. Attendees will hear from two attorneys, one representing meeting planners and the other speaking for hoteliers, about the reasons behind the thinking of both planners and hotel representatives when they engage in the negotiating process. Edina Lessack, President, Meetings and Events, USA, in Chicago, IL will moderate; Barbara Dunn, Esq., Attorney and Partner, Howe & Hutton, Ltd., St. Louis, MO will represent meeting planners and Lisa Sommer Devlin, Esq., Attorney, Devlin Law Firm P.C., Phoenix, AZ, will represent the hotels.

"Every year, we keep our educational program fresh and applicable to the needs and challenges of meeting planners, and with a variety of new topics and speakers on tap at this year's National show, we'll keep attendees 'in the know' so they can remain profitable and productive in today's changing business landscape," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

"Considering this is a free event for qualified meeting planners, the value of the educational component, combined with other aspects of the show, is immeasurable," he added.

Attendees may choose from a variety of programs depending on their career stage and interest, including:

. The Basics of Meeting Planning (Parts I & II)

Joan Eisenstodt, Chief Strategist, Eisenstodt Associates, LLC, Washington, D.C.

. Understanding the Laws Affecting Meetings Today: What You Must Know Now to Avoid Liability

Jim Anderson, Esq., How, Anderson and Steyer, Washington, D.C.

. Hot Technologies for Meeting Planners

James Spellos, CMP, President, Meeting U, Bayside, NY

. Win-Win Negotiations: How to Negotiate with Anyone

Alan Ovson, President, Communications Group, San Francisco, CA

. Working with Hotels: How to Create Win-Win Partnerships

Gary Hernbroth, President, Training for Winners, Danville, CA

. Meeting the Challenges of Planning Successful Food and Beverage Functions (NEW)

Marjorie Y. Risinger, CMP, Rosenberg & Risinger, Culver City, CA

. Change Your Communication, Change Your Results: 5 Strategies for Giving Top-Level Performance (NEW)

Dr. Bill Lampton, President, Championship Communication, Gainesville, GA

. How to Influence Decision Makers

Paul Radde, Ph.D., Director, The Thrival Institute, Boulder, CO

. 180+ Ways to Transform Your Meeting (NEW)

Sue Tinnish, SEAL Inc., Transforming Meetings, Chicago, IL

. How to Present Powerful Promotional Pieces (NEW)

Larry Mersereau, President, PromoPower Presentations & Consulting, Valparaiso, IN

. Enhance Your Meeting Ratings with Top-Notch Networking Opportunities

Lillian D. Bjorseth, President, Duoforce Enterprises, Inc., Lisle, IL

. Permission to Succeed: Stop Living with One Foot on the Brake! (NEW)

Noah St. John, Founder, The Success Clinic of America, Dracut, MA

. How to Manage Your Time When You Wear Too Many Hats

Bob Losyk, CSP, President, Innovative Training Solutions, Inc., Davie, FL

. If You Can Talk, You Can Write

Joel Saltzman, President, Shake That Brain, Thousands Oaks, CA

. An APEX Special Report: Tools You Can Use to Simplify Life as a Meeting Planner (NEW)

Juli Jones, Vice President, Convention Industry Council, McLean, VA

. What You Must Know About Site Selection

Janet Pickover, CMP, President, JR Associates, Princeton, NJ

. On-Site Management: Staying on Top

Gloria Sloan, President, Personal Dynamics, Inc., Charlotte, NC

. How to Develop a Powerful Program Content

Jana Kemp, President, Meeting & Management Essentials, Boise, ID

. Be on Your Best Business Behavior

Colleen Rickenbacher, President/Owner, Colleen Rickenbacher, Inc., Dallas, TX

. Cultivating Wisdom: Strategies for Leadership, Balance and Power (NEW)

Dr. Teena Cahill, President, Wisdom and Beyond, Princeton, NJ

. Dealing with Challenging People in Meeting Planning

Sylvia Henderson, Chief Everything Officer, Springboard Training, Olney, MD

. How to Ask for What You Want

Edina Lessack, CMP, President, Meetings and Events, USA, Chicago, IL

. Putting Sizzle in Your Special Events

Richard Aaron, CMP, CSEP, President, BizBash.com, New York, NY

. Event Budgeting, From Start to Finish

Carroll A. Reuben, CMP, Meeting Excellence, Rolling Hills Estates, CA

. Booking a Unique Venue: What Every Meeting Planner Should Know

Chuck Salem, VP, Unique Venues, Johnstown, PA

. Dealing Effectively with Your E-mail (NEW)

Peggy Duncan, Personal Productivity Expert, PSC Press, Atlanta, GA

. Preparing an Operations Manual: Communicating with Your Meeting Facility Early, Often and in Detail

Terry Thiessen, CMP, President, Professional Resource and Events, New Holstein, WI

. How to Tell if You're Getting a Good Speaker or One Who May Mortify You at Your Meeting

Linda Brakeall, President, Phoenix Seminars, Phoenix, AZ

. Dismantling Roadblocks: How Meeting Planners Can Accelerate Their Careers

Ed Rigsbee, CSP, President, Rigsbee Research, Thousand Oaks, CA

. Especially for Independent Meeting Planners

How to Make your Independent Meeting Business a Highly Successful and Rewarding Venture

Jim Daggett, CAE, President, JRDaggett & Associates, Ltd., Las Vegas, NV

Seminar hours: Wednesday, Sept. 7: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m., 1:45 - 3 p.m. and 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 8: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m., 1:45 - 3 p.m. and 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.

In addition to the educational program, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and do business with more than 520 exhibiting companies (79 of which are first timers at the show). The 600-booth exposition at the Washington Convention Center (with 60,000 feet of exhibit space) will showcase venues, products and services to help planners produce outstanding meetings and events.

Providing more convenient hours for conducting business and connecting with suppliers, the trade show features new hours: 10:30 am - 1:30 pm each day of the show. For added value and networking opportunities during the exposition, exhibitors and attendees will be provided with a $10 coupon on both days of the show to buy lunch at the food concessions in the exposition hall, sponsored by HSMAI.

In addition to a broad selection of destinations, hotels and services, the trade show floor features a Speaker's Booth where meeting planners can liaise with industry experts. The HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) Bookstore, is a one-stop shopping source for attendees to find the most up-to-date publications and resource materials focusing on the needs of meeting planners at every level of experience. Travel and cash prizes, as well as drawings at many exhibitor booths remain popular attractions.

Held in conjunction with HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National will be the HSMAI Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 9 (the day after the show) at the Goose Creek Golf Club in Leesburg, VA. Proceeds benefit the HSMAI Foundation scholarship fund. Participants can win prizes including $1 million, a 325i BMW, a Sony flat-screen TV and a Hawaiian golf vacation. Registration begins at 7 am with a shotgun start at 8 am and an awards luncheon at 1pm. Visit www.hsmai.org/events for more details or to register.

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