HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference

See What’s New for the Hotel Industry

We know that as an hotelier, it’s important you keep up to date with the latest technology solutions to help increase revenue, customer retention and loyalty.

There’s so much to tell you about Travel Technology Europe, but here’s some info to help you start to plan your way around the Show (7-8 February 2012, Earls Court, London).

Register FREE today – click here

Meet world-class hotel suppliers

Keep your eye out for the hotel icon on stands at the Show. Follow the Hotel Trail and meet leading hotel suppliers looking to help you improve your hotel’s performance and increase competitive edge.  Click here for more

Sessions specifically for you

Experts will delve deep into the latest technology trends for the hotel industry including the HSMAI Europe, who will discuss new trends from a revenue manager’s point of view and Travel Technology Initiative (TTI) on the launch of a revolutionary new hotel identification service called TTIcodes, plus sessions from Digital Visitor on how to use social media to maximise content and Travelport.

See the full programme here

Leading experts

With support from HSMAI Europe and Cleverdis – this is the place to be if you are looking to meet experts and discuss the latest industry trends.

Keep up with the competition

These people have already registered – senior decision makers from companies such as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, The Ritz and Guoman & Thistle Hotels and many more – why not join them and chat about your industry experiences.

There’s so much more going on at the Show – register FREE today for your entry badge.

HSMAI Revenue Management Conference – Revenue Management 2.0

2011 saw the light of the first European HSMAI Revenue Management Conference, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The hands-on workshops were particularly cherished, so for 2012 we have included more workshops and hot topics, all to make sure that you get the best possible learning outcome – at the HSMAI Revenue Management Conference – Revenue Management 2.0, taking place at the Mint Hotel Tower of London (above) on Thursday 9 February 2012.

Through hands-on workshops as well as key note speakers and exciting panel discussions, you will be able to strengthen your skills in the four main topics of the conference:

• Basic Revenue Management Concepts and Skills
• Profit Management
• Channel and Distribution Management
• Social Media and Online Reputation Management

For further details on topics and registration, please visit this page

Enter2012

Organized by the International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT), ENTER2012 offers a worldwide and unique forum for attendees from academia, industry, government, and other organisations, to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on the application of information and communication technologies to travel and tourism.

The conference takes place in Helsingborg, Sweden, between 24 and 24 January 2012.

HSMAI is an event partner, and members of HSMAI can attend at the IFITT Partner rate (see details here).

For further details, please visit www.enter2012.org

See HSMAI at Europe’s largest travel technology event

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will be represented at the Travel Technology Europe, the largest exhibition and conference of its kind in Europe, taking place at Earls Court in London on 7-8 February 2012.

Wilhelm K. Weber, Partner, Swiss Hospitality Solutions and Head of the HSMAI European Revenue Management Academy will present a session on New trends from a Revenue Managers point of view at the TTE Travelport Live Theatre on Day 2 (8 February 2012) at 3pm. The next day the HSMAI Revenue Management Conference will take place in London, so you can combine the two events.

Register FREE today -- click here

This is an unrivalled opportunity to discover the markets leading technology solutions to improve your business performance and increase competitive edge. Text continues after video clip.

A visit to Travel Technology Europe will provide quality content, top level speakers and innovative suppliers to ensure you are maximising all distribution channels through the effective use of technology.

Register for your FREE entry badge here

Play the TTE game here

TripAdvisor Expands Partnership with HSMAI Europe

While strengthening its efforts in local regions, through partnership with corporations like Norwegian news corporation Polaris Media [website apparently not available in English, editor's note], HSMAI Europe simultaneously strengthens its international ties, through an extensive partnership with the world’s leading provider of online customer reviews, TripAdvisor. The agreement was signed Thursday 22 December.

HSMAI Europe and TripAdvisor initiated a partnership in conjunction with the HSMAI European Awards in London last May.

TripAdvisor and HSMAI Europe have decided to expand their partnership in 2012. First on the agenda we find a collaboration on a number of European activities. Current cities and dates chosen are as follows:

• Berlin 6 March 2012
• Tallinn 23 April 2012
• Riga 25 April 2012
• Vilnius 27 April 2012

HSMAI Europe is looking forward to a lasting and solid partnership, of great benefit for our members.

HSMAI Europe has partnered with IFITT for ENTER 2012

ENTER 2012 is held in Helsingborg, Sweden between 24 and 27 January 2012, organised by the International Federation for Information Technology and Travel & Tourism (IFITT).

ENTER 2012 offers a worldwide and unique forum for attendees from academia, industry, government, and other organisations to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on the application of information and communication technologies to travel and tourism.

Members of HSMAI can attend the conference at the IFITT Partner rate (please see this page for details)

For more information on the event, please visit www.enter2012.org

HSMAI Meeting Exchange

In connection with ENTER 2012, the HSMAI Meeting Exchange will take place on Monday 23 January, 08:30-17:00 at the Elite Hotel Marina Plaza, Helsingborg. Details to be announced at HSMAI.eu shortly.

Photo: Helsingborg, Sweden.

HSMAI Revenue Management Conference – Revenue Management 2.0

Next year’s HSMAI Revenue Management Conference takes place at the Mint Hotel Tower of London on Thursday 9 February 2012. 2011 saw the light of the first European HSMAI Revenue Management Conference, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The hands-on workshops were particularly cherished, so for 2012 we have included more workshops and hot topics, all to make sure that you get the best possible learning outcome.

Through hands-on workshops as well as key note speakers and exciting panel discussions, you will be able to strengthen your skills in the four main topics of the conference:

• Basic Revenue Management Concepts and Skills
• Profit Management
• Channel and Distribution Management
• Social Media and Online Reputation Management

Early bird rate until Friday 30 December 2011

HSMAI members: EUR 195
Non-members: EUR 295

(After 30 December an additional EUR 50 will apply to the delegate rate.)

For more information on topics and how to register, please visit visit this page.

Accommodation at the Mint Hotel Tower of London

We have reserved a limited number of rooms at GBP 150 + VAT per night, continental breakfast and Wi-Fi included.

Photo: The Mint Hotel Tower of London lobby.

IDeas scholarships announced

IDeaS Revenue Solutions recently announced the second and final round of 2011 IDeaS Cornell Revenue Management Scholarship winners, according to a press release issued by the company.

Winners include Matthew Wilson, Director of Revenue Management, DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Downtown; Nicola McDougall, Revenue Coordinator, Apex Hotels, Edinburgh, Scotland; and Jeff Tang, Director of Revenue Management, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. The recipients were selected by the Scholarship Panel at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration for their exceptional skill sets and career aspirations within the field of revenue management.

“We are thrilled to award this scholarship to another round of hospitality professionals eager to advance their understanding of revenue management and advance the revenue management discipline within their teams,” said Vivek Bhogaraju, Senior Manager, Corporate Business Development, IDeaS. “Revenue management is a necessary function today, and Cornell’s curriculum offers an in-depth look at emerging ideas and current practices that benefit hospitality professionals in a variety of positions.”

The scholarship programme, funded by IDeaS, gives hospitality professionals access to five eCornell courses covering topics such as pricing strategy, overbooking practices and forecasting in relation to revenue management and allows both beginners and seasoned revenue management professionals from around the world the opportunity to evolve their knowledge of the industry.

“This scholarship provides a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best and brightest and further develop my skill set,” said Wilson. “Revenue management is a rather recent and constantly evolving role, and I look forward to discovering new management techniques to help me improve revenue initiatives within my organisation.”

“The continued teaching of revenue management is imperative to keep one step ahead of your competition and grow your business in tough economic times,” added McDougall. “I hope to take away an enriched knowledge of best working practices and utilise the information to educate my colleagues and create a more effective revenue department.”

“This programme has the potential to bring my hotel’s operating efficiency to the next level, and I trust that I will gain an understanding of new approaches and tools for optimising revenue across all levels of operations,” said Tang.

Ellis to join d2o

HSMAI partner d2o recently hired Bernard Ellis, whereby strengthening the force in pursuing the mission of making PMI as industrial standard in the hotel industry.

“Bernard is one of the preeminent figures in hotel technology sales and marketing in the world. He built his base in the hotel industry by holding a variety of operations and F&B positions while in school. His undergraduate degree, from the College of William and Mary, was in the heart of the hotel and tourism center of Colonial Williamsburg. He went on to get his master’s degree from Cornell’s renowned Hotel School”, d2o’s CEO Young N. Nguyen explains in an email today.

Having both industry experience and a top-notch education, Bernard began an 8-year tenure at Micros, first in product management for its fledgling 8500 PMS, then in sales for its new acquisition, Fidelio, where he was responsible for selling the total solution of PMS, POS, Sales & Catering, F&B Inventory and Cost Control, and Back Office.

Bernard’s next role was in sales and product management at SynXis (now a part of Sabre Hospitality Solutions), where he found himself in the middle of a highly volatile and changing CRS and electronic distribution environment, and acted as one of the earliest proponents of Software as a Service to the hospitality industry. At both Micros and SynXis, Bernard had a working relationship with IDeaS Revenue Optimization (a SAS Company), where he then worked for six years as Managing Director-Americas. He doubled sales year on year for multiple years running, and hopes are high for a similar achievement at d2o.

Bernard served on the advisory board of the HSMAI Revenue Management Special Interest Group, and currently serves as president of the local Metropolitan Washington, DC chapter. He also holds both Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) and Certified Hotel Technology Professional (CHTP) designations.

He divides his time between Washington, DC and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where, on weekends, he is able to indulge his love for the ocean, cycling, kayaking, and great restaurants, and wherever he is, he enjoys books, movies, and Scrabble. Though single, he is swamped by extended family—four older siblings and forty-two first cousins. Bernard is also quite accustomed to being in a multi-cultural environment: with an American father and French-Canadian mother, he holds both US and Canadian citizenship.

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