PRESS RELEASE
Dublin, November 24h 2008

HSMAI Sales & Marketing Awards Winners’ Luncheon
– get energised for the most challenging year since the awards began!

The 12th Annual Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Awards is changing venue and format this year. Planned for December 2nd, the Board of HSMAI, responding to the current climate and feedback from members and influencers in the industry, has taken the decision to change the format and move this year’s event to the last week in January.

Rather than add to the financial pressures being felt across the industry at present, this year’s HSMAI Award Winners will enjoy a late luncheon, rather than the usual black-tie evening event with its additional cost implications.

Much anticipated each year as a forum for genuine peer appreciation and acknowledgement of the sterling work done by countless sales and marketing professionals in Ireland’s hospitality industry, the HSMAI Awards are viewed as the country’s flagship tourism awards, and the event is always also a fabulous networking opportunity, the chance to catch up with colleagues from all over the country, and great fun.

This year will see new Award categories of Best Digital Marketing Campaign, Best Tourism PR Campaign and Best Hotel Brochure, now awarded separately to both individual and group hotels.

The deadline for applications for this year’s HSMAI Awards has been extended to Friday December 12th. The Awards website www.hsmaiawards.com  is live with details of entry for the Awards & booking of tickets for the event. Alternatively, email any queries to hsmai@mci-group.com

EDITOR’S NOTES:

HSMAI:
Since 1927, The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has been providing a professional forum for leaders and innovators of the hospitality industry and its related industries. It is comprised of nearly 5,000 members representing 79 chapters in 35 countries worldwide.

HSMAI Ireland’s main aims are

• to maintain and improve sound business practice and to effectively serve the hospitality industry
• to foster a high standard of professional conduct
• to promote the art and science of hospitality marketing and management by promoting opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences
• to help members improve their professional performance and career advancement through educational programmes and the dissemination of job opportunities
• to co-operate with organisations that share a common interest with the association in advancing the hospitality industry and to create opportunities for interaction between members of the association

For enquiries contact: hsmai_ireland@gmail.com
Stephen Williams, President HSMAI, swilliams@fitzgeraldgroup.ie