MCLEAN, VA (Aug. 23, 2006) – Enhanced agreements between the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® National show and its growing list of valued sponsors and supporters have resulted in expanded opportunities for all show attendees. HSMAI’s 17th annual Affordable Meetings® National show will take place Sept. 6 - 7, 2006 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. and is expected to welcome more than 1,800 qualified meeting and events planners as well as over 500 exhibiting companies, occupying 525 booths. The National program is the largest of the three-show series held annually in Chicago, California and Washington, D.C.

“As we celebrate our 17th anniversary of the National program, we are pleased to have maintained and grown our reputation for excellence in terms of the caliber of meeting planners who attend and the resulting business generated for sponsors and supporter companies,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Sponsors and supporters appreciate being part of one of the most important events on the meeting planner’s annual calendar while attendees reap the benefits with attractive amenities and superb prizes. It is a win-win situation for all parties,” he added.

A GROWING LIST OF SPONSORS

The impressive list of sponsors for the 2006 National show is as follows: Foxwoods Resort & Casino (NEW sponsor, conference tote bags), New Orleans Gateway Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (NEW sponsor, refreshment break serving King Cake, the region’s Mardi Gras specialty), Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts (NEW sponsor, seminar handout book, Internet Café and hanging banner), Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (bottled water for one day), Acteva (NEW sponsor, educational sessions), Plasticard-Locktech (hotel key cards), and PC Nametag (name badges and lanyards).

Sponsors, who must also be exhibitors, receive additional marketing and promotion incentives resulting in heightened visibility to a prime audience of planners. Sample sponsor benefits are as follows: recognition in pre-show mailings, recognition as a marketing partner and an interactive logo on the Affordable Meetings® website (www.affordablemeetings.com), enhanced on-site signage, pre-show list of attendees, mention in press releases about the show, key placement on the show floor, and special sponsorship recognition badges.

ENHANCED SUPPORTER AGREEMENTS

This year, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National gained two new supporter relationships as well as enhanced many current supporter agreements. Supporters gain increased visibility in front of a worthwhile audience while the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® show benefits from supporter agreements directly in terms of expanded marketing, new attendee lists for direct mail opportunities, services and exceptional prizes to award to attendees.

The line-up of 2006 supporters is as follows: Association Meetings, Association News, Beyond Borders, Black Meetings & Tourism, Certain Software, Conventionplanit.com, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, Financial & Insurance Meetings, iBAHN (a NEW supporter), ISES Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter, jetBlue Airways (a NEW supporter), Medical Meetings, Meetings East, Meetings Mid-America, Meetings South, Meetings West, Meetingsfocus.com, Meetingsnet.com, Meetings News, Meetings Professionals International (MPI), Mid-Atlantic Events, PCMA, SGMP, Smart Meetings, Sports Travel, Successful Meetings, Travmar Destination Directories and Unique Venues.

EXPOSITION SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR HSMAI’S AFFORDABLE MEETINGS® NATIONAL. For more information on exhibiting at HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National show, contact Jessica Krul at (914) 421-3274 or jessica_krul@glmshows.com or visit www.affordablemeetings.com.

HSMAI’S AFFORDABLE MEETINGS® NATIONAL FOR 2006

Over 1,800 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a variety of organizations, with a majority representing corporate, association and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious and medical/health care organizations, trade show management and the military, are expected to visit HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National 2006 show. Attendance at HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.

Attendee information is available by calling 1-800-272-SHOW. Additional information and a complete program schedule can be obtained by visiting the show’s web site at www.affordablemeetings.com.

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National is the final show on the Affordable Meetings® 2006 calendar. The first show in the series, HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings Mid-America, took place March 29-30 at Navy Pier in Chicago and welcomed 1,048 meetings planners. HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West took place June 14-15 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA and attracted 660 attendees.

The HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® show series for 2007 includes: HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America, April 11-12, 2007 at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL; HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West, June 19-20, 2007 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA; and HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National, Sept. 5-6, 2007 at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

HSMAI’S AFFORDABLE MEETINGS®

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® is owned and presented by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Americas region and managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLM).

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 eight annual events, including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings, and the HSMAI World Quest events. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 38 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.

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