Trade Show at HSMAI'S Affordable Meetings National Welcomes 79 New Exhibitors, Increased Sections

600 Booths Expected at 16th Annual Show, September 7-8 in Washington, D.C.

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. October 14, 2008

MCLEAN, VA, July 25, 2005. A total of 79 new companies have joined the impressive roster of exhibitors at the 16th annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) National show, set for Sept. 7 - 8, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Expanded regional sections, more convenient hours and value-added lunch coupons further highlight this extraordinary trade exposition.

Booth space is 90 percent sold out; expected are 600 booths (for approximately 520 companies among 60,000 feet of exhibit space). Exhibitors represent hotels and resorts, universities, conference centers, unique meeting sites, convention and visitors bureaus, transportation companies, trade publications, software and audio/visual businesses, restaurants, registration companies, promotional product companies, and other meeting and convention suppliers.

"The value of participating in our exposition grows exponentially every year as more and more exhibitors recognize and appreciate the quality and quantity of meeting planners that attend the show," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

New companies joining this year's line-up include Acteva, Aruba Convention Bureau, Boca Hospitality Collection, Conferon, Don Shula's Hotel, Evansville CVB, Godiva Chocolatier, Grand America Hotels & Resorts, Mohegan Sun, Ontario Tourism Marketing, PCH Hotels and Resorts, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Scottsdale CVB, Snow King Resort, Sunstream Hotels & Resorts, Tempe CVB, The Cliffs Resort, USO World Headquarters and Washington Redskins, Fed Ex Field.

Additionally, several sections of the trade show have grown: Arizona, Canada, Unique Venues, New England, New York/New Jersey, Northwest Region and Florida.

The versatile exposition at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National will provide meeting planners with all the resources they'll need to effectively plan all aspects of their meetings or events. Exhibitors who are HSMAI members receive several special benefits including a $400 discount on booth space, express member registration on site and HSMAI member recognition ribbons.

Providing more convenient hours for conducting business and connecting with suppliers, the trade show features new hours: 10:30 am - 1:30 pm each day of the show.

For added value and networking opportunities during the exposition, exhibitors and attendees will be provided with a $10 coupon on both days of the show to buy lunch at the food concessions in the exposition hall, sponsored by HSMAI.

In addition to a broad selection of destinations, hotels and services at all price points, the National trade exposition features a Speaker's Booth where meeting planners can liaise with industry experts, and the HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) Bookstore, a one-stop shopping source for attendees to find the most up-to-date publications and resource materials focusing on the needs of meeting planners at every level of experience.

Travel and cash prizes, as well as drawings at many exhibitor booths remain popular attractions.

Rounding out the program is a superior educational component of 37 seminars (31 different topics with six repeated) that present a broad range of topics such as meeting contracts, on-site management, negotiation skills, budgeting, effective communication, technology, marketing, designing a brochure, growing your independent meeting planning business and more. A highlight will be the informative general session on negotiating critical issues in hotel contracts where attendees can hear from business professionals on both the meeting planning and the hotel/facility side.

Held in conjunction with HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National will be the HSMAI Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 9 (the day after the show) at the Goose Creek Golf Club in Leesburg, VA. Proceeds benefit the HSMAI Foundation scholarship fund. Participants can win prizes including $1 million, a 325i BMW, a Sony flat-screen TV and a Hawaiian golf vacation. Registration begins at 7 am with a shotgun start at 8 am and an awards luncheon at 1pm.

Over 1,700 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(R) National 2005 show. Attendance is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National is the last show on the Affordable Meetings 2005 calendar. The first show in the series, HSMAI's Affordable Meetings Mid-America, a successful, sold-out event that took place April 6 - 7 at Navy Pier in Chicago, welcomed 1,100 meetings planners, building momentum for a sensational year. The second event of the year, HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) West, which occurred June 15 - 16 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA, marked an impressive eight percent increase in meeting planner attendance.