The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) National celebrates its 20th year of providing a forum for planners, properties and suppliers to come together to do business, Sept. 9-10, 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

"This year, HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National will deliver even more value to exhibitors and attendees alike," says Mark Thompson, vice president of marketing for the Irving, Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau and HSMAI Americas board member.

"All the strengths of the Affordable Meetings(R) shows are still there, but this year's improvements will present even more of the latest technologies available to meeting planners.

"The event will feature keynote speaker Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, who will present industry insights from his unique perspective.

His presentation will provide relevant insight into current trends and practices in the hospitality meetings industry and look into how the industry is impacted by global influences.

Tisch was recently named recipient of the annual HSMAI Albert E. Koehl Lifetime Achievement Award for advertising and marketing at the 2008 HSMAI Adrian Awards.

Tisch has served at the U.S. Department of Commerce as a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and is the author of the national bestseller "The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships" as well as the book "Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing through Customer Experience."

Affordable Meetings(R) National and the second annual Event Technology Expo(TM) @ Affordable Meetings offers attendees the opportunity to choose from 42 educational seminars designed to offer in-depth coverage of important industry topics including budgeting, contracts, event planning and marketing. Attendees can also benefit from "networkNow!" a new electronic matchmaking service that links meeting planners in attendance with the show's exhibitors.

HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and ETE educational session highlights include:

- Communicating Across Generations to Drive Event Participation, Marilynn T. Mobley, Senior Vice President, Strategic Counsel, Edelman

- Be on Your Best Cultural Behavior, Colleen A. Rickenbacher, CMP, CSEP, CPC

- Digging Your Own Foxhole in Cyberspace - How to Dodge the Legal Bullets
Jonathan T. Howe, Esq., President, Senior Partner, Howe & Hutton, Ltd.

- Must-Have Technology Resources for Your Next Event, Dave Edwards, CSEP, President, Dave Edwards Events Inc.

- Get More Done! A Productivity Workshop with The Email Coach Mike Song SEO and

- Social Media: The Impact on Event Marketing, David Serino, e-Strategist/Founder, Gammet Interactive, LLC

- The Art of the Deal: How Hotels Value Your Meetings, Tim and Jennifer Brown, Partners, Meetings Sites Resource

- Women Taking the Lead:  Skills and Strategies for Leadership, Career Development and Debunking the "Myth of Balance", Dr. Teena Cahill, Psychologist, Speaker, Author, Radio & TV Host, Wisdom and Beyond, LLC

More than 1,700 attendees, representing meeting and event planners from a wide variety of organizations and industries are expected to visit HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and ETE 2009 show.

Attendance at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and ETE is free-of-charge for qualified meeting planners.

Booth space is still available at Affordable Meetings(R) National and ETE and can be obtained by contacting Craig Baker, account manager, J. Spargo & Associates, Inc., (703) 679-3942, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Attendee information for HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National and ETE is available by calling 800-564-4220.

For more information, visit HSMAI's Affordable Meetings National

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