PRESS RELEASES
SHIFTS IN BUSINESS AND LEISURE TRAVELER BEHAVIOR TOPS THE AGENDA AT HSMAI/NYU INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
The outlook for business and leisure travel as we head into 2005 will headline the agenda at the fourth annual HSMAI/NYU Industry Strategy Conference, to be held on Thursday, Sept 23, 2004 in New York City at the Marriott Marquis from 11:30am-5:30pm.
“The Morphing of the Business and Leisure Traveler: An Insight into Changing Attitudes and Behavior” will provide industry and sales and marketing professionals with insights into current trends and market segments, as well as ideas and solutions that can contribute to their success. The focus of this conference will be on exploring shifts in travel patterns, product design, and consumer segments relative to leisure and business travel.
The half-day forum will bring together experts and thought leaders in business and leisure travel to serve as panelists and speakers. The program is divided into four components: a keynote lunch address; panels and discussion on both business and leisure travel; and a closing session formatted as one-on-one interviews with non-hospitality entities in the travel arena.
Jim Carroll, a leading international futurist, trends and innovation expert will deliver a keynote address at the opening lunch entitled: “What Comes Next with Business and Leisure Travel, and What Should You Do About It?”
Following that, a panel on business travel will feature corporate travel managers discussing the changes in the marketplace and trends, the current state of corporate travel, recent shifts in the industry, and the future of the market segment.
The leisure travel panel will delve into family travel and define “the new definition of family--grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, etc.,” as well as focus on family resorts and the implications for urban hotels/cities and packages. Consumer-centric questions will address the state of leisure travel today, changes in the last three years, and where the industry is heading.
Doug Shifflet, president and CEO of D.K. Shifflet & Associates will preview each panel with a summary of specific shifts in traveler behavior.
The final session will be one-on-one interviews with individuals from companies that represent non-traditional competition to the hotel industry as they discuss which market segments they are targeting and by what means.
Registration fees are $195 for members; $345 for non-members, which includes a year of membership to HSMAI. Fees increase $50 after Sept. 16, 2004.
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, while operating as a leading voice for both hospitality and sales and marketing management disciplines. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising nearly 7,000 members worldwide, with 41 chapters in the Americas region.
For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA 22102, phone (703) 610-9024; fax (703) 610-9005. You can also visit the Web site at www.hsmai.org.