25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds - HSMAI

5th Annual ‘Hot List’ Recognizes Outstanding Work

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. October 14, 2008

MCLEAN, VA, December 21, 2007. The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI - www.hsmai.org) pays tribute to the best minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing with the release of its "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing" for 2007. The "hot list" salutes outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement, and whose work gets great results.

"With the 'Top 25,' we have the opportunity to publicly honor the individuals behind those outstanding campaigns and smart strategies we see all year long. It is our chance to shine the spotlight on those who stand out in the industry for their creativity, intelligence, and passion for their work," states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "We are looking to honor those whose work has really made a difference and raised the bar for the industry," he added.

The 2007 winners, who join an impressive roster of previously cited industry leaders and trendsetters, are:

---|Speros Batistatos, President & CEO, Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau

---|Bob Boulogne, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

---|Joel Carver, Senior Vice President of Sales, Vizergy (formerly Secure-Res)

---|Blake Danner, Senior Vice President of Sales, Morgans Hotel Group

---|Tracy Fairman, Chief Operating Officer, E-proDirect

---|John Fareed, Partner, Fareed Zapala Koepke, LLC

---|Brenda Fields, Founder, Fields and Company

---|Mike Fiorentino, General Manager/Sales Director, The UnConvention Center/Pier 94/ENK International

---|-Karmela Gaffney, Managing Director, eCommerce, Advertising and Creative Services, Best Western International

---|Randy Garfield, President, The Walt Disney Travel Company Inc., and Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Travel Operations, Disney Destinations

---|David Green, Chairman of the Board, David Green Organization

---|Mike Hampton, Ed.D., Dean, College of Hospitality Management, Lynn University

---|Kate Harth, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

---|James Hepple, Tourism Consultant, St. Lucia Tourist Board

---|Caryn Kboudi, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Omni Hotels & Resorts

---|Helen Kidd, President, Kidd & Associates

---|Brad King, Managing Director, Travel Category, Yahoo! Advertising Solutions

---|Shannon Knapp, Director of Platinum Travel Services, American Express

---|Gerardo Murray, CEO, Casa Grande Hotel Group

---|Christopher Perry, Vice President, Hotel Sales and Marketing, Mohegan Sun

---|Lalia Rach, Ed.D., Divisional Dean and HVS International Professor, NYU Tisch Center

---|Adi Sidhwa, Associate Director of Sales, Grand Hyatt New York

--Michael Tyre, Partner, Guest Relations Marketing

---|Cheryl Williams, Director of Sales - Hawaii, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

---|Richard Williams, Vice President - The Americas, Barbados Tourism Authority

Recipients were nominated through a "call for entries" to the industry-at-large, and judged by a panel of senior industry executives. Individuals were judged for their work over the last year based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation; cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns; triumph in challenging situations; and sales effort that resulted in dramatic gains. The Top 25 will be honored on stage at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala on Jan. 28, 2008. In addition, these individuals will be featured in the spring issue of HSMAI Marketing Review and receive a personalized plaque.

To attend the Adrian Awards, tables of 10 can be reserved for $3,250 or $325 per ticket if purchased by Jan. 14, 2008; the price increases to $3,500 per table or $350 per ticket after that date. For more information or to purchase tables, visit www.adrianawards.com or contact HSMAI at (703) 610-0246 or [email protected].

HSMAI

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 annual events, including HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R). Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 39 chapters in the Americas Region.