HSMAI Big Apple Chapter Honors New York City Mayor Bloomberg

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Recipient of the 15th Annual Frank Berkman Tourism Achievement Award

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. October 14, 2008

NEW YORK, NY, April 1, 2008. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be the recipient of the 15th annual Frank Berkman Tourism Achievement Award presented by the Big Apple Chapter of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI) at a black tie gala dinner on June 10, 2008 at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York. The award is presented each year to recognize individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the tourism industry in New York City.

"We are delighted to announce this year's honoree, The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City for supporting the hospitality and tourism industry to generate record tourism growth in New York City," said Donna Quadri-Felitti, clinical assistant professor, NYU Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management and Immediate Past President of the HSMAI Big Apple Chapter.

"Mayor Bloomberg has created an atmosphere in New York City that fosters collaboration among all of New York City's tourism interests to achieve mutually beneficial goals, especially the hotel industry which has been enjoying record occupancies at record level rates," she added.

As the most recent Chairman of NYC & Company, Jonathan M. Tisch, Co-Chairman of the Board of Loews Corporation and Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, worked closely with the Mayor. In his role as a national leader of travel and tourism and a past recipient of the HSMAI Big Apple Berkman Award, Jon Tisch has a unique perspective on the 2008 recipient noting: "Mayor Bloomberg is most deserving of this award as it highlights his leadership and focus on the vital economic contributions that tourism and travel make to our City."

The Frank W. Berkman black-tie awards dinner and dance will be held on June 10, 2008 at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center in New York. A cocktail reception will begin at 6 pm followed by the awards presentation and dinner dance.

The evening includes the presentation of the HSMAI Big Apple Chapter's annual industry awards recognizing excellence among directors of sales, marketing, revenue management, operations, and more. A special journal is being published for this memorable tourism event.

Tickets and journal messages celebrating the honorees can be purchased by going to the website at www.hsmainyc.org or by contacting Kathie Stapleton at 914-762-1456; fax: 606-773-1456; or e-mail: [email protected].

Frank W. Berkman, CHME, was a former Executive Vice President and chief operating officer of HSMAI for 16 years. This award was created in 1994 by the Past President's Council of the HSMAI Chapter and was named after him because of his dedication to building HSMAI into the highly influential international hospitality industry organization it is today.

Previous recipients recognized for their outstanding contributions to the tourism industry in New York City include:

2007 Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes

2006 Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels

2005 ING New York City Marathon

2004 The Mayors Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting

2003 Macy*s

2002 The NYPD, FDNY & Port Authority Police

2001 Starwood Hotels

2000 The League of American Theatre & Producers

1999 The Today Show

1998 Donald Trump

1997 Mayor Rudolph Giulliani

1996 Arthur Surin, Senior Vice President of Hilton Hotels Corporation

1995 Robert Preston Tisch, Chairman of the Board for Loews Hotels

1994 Charles Gillette, Chair of the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tickets for the Frank W. Berkman Dinner are available at $185 until May 30th ($200 after May 30th); $1,480 for table of eight until May 30th ($1,600 after May 30th); and $1,850 for table of 10 until May 30th ($2,000 after May 30th). Tickets can be purchased by going to our website at www.hsmainyc.org or by contacting Kathie Stapleton at phone: 914-762-1456; fax: 606-773-1456; or e-mail: [email protected].

About 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.