Meetings industry buyers and suppliers can mark their calendars for the three 2005 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings® shows.

A premier exposition that is free-of-charge to qualified meeting planners and boasts an impressive 3 to 1 planner/exhibitor ratio for doing business.

The calendar for 2005 is as follows:

• HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® Mid-America, April 6 – 7, 2005, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
• HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West, June 15 – 16, 2005, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA
• HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National´, Sept. 7 – 8, 2005, Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

“2004 has been extraordinary for HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings®. In addition to the three-show series being named Best Industry Trade Show in a readers poll conducted by Meetings Media, our Mid-America event held in April celebrated its highest-ever meeting planner attendance with 1,171 quality planners having participated in the two-day event,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

“We anticipate that the 2005 program will yield equal if not more impressive results and accolades,” Gilbert noted.

Meeting and event planners attending the HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® exposition and educational conference represent a variety of organizations, with a majority from corporate, association and independent sectors and the balance from government, non-profit, education, religious, medical/health care organizations, travel agents, trade show management and the military.

The HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® shows draw a large number of meeting planner attendees from corporations as opposed to professionals from meeting planner organizations. As individuals with little or no background in the industry, they find great value in the show as an educational training ground, something of a university for the meetings industry.

For exhibitor information, contact Beth Petersen, show manager, GLM, Ten Bank Street, White Plains, NY 10606-1954, or call (914) 421-3377; fax (914) 948-2918; e-mail: beth_petersen@glmshows.com.

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.