MCLEAN, VA - June 9, 2009 - A down economy and the shift of consumers using the internet for travel information has created a need for travel marketers to take a look at their companies’ online marketing strategies. To speak to this topic, the HSMAI Travel Internet Marketing Special Interest Group (SIG) and TIG Global, the leading internet marketing company for hospitality, will release an issue paper titled, “Capturing Market Share & Driving Revenue Online: Effective Internet Marketing Strategies for Recessionary Times” in May 2009, the first in a planned series offered complimentary to industry professionals.

“We are pleased to partner once again with TIG Global to produce this timely series of white papers. Together our partnership enables hospitality managers to better understand tools and proven strategies that can leverage the Internet as a marketing medium to maximize their revenue,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CAE, HSMAI president & CEO.

“As a company, we are dedicated to providing Internet knowledge and the tools needed to competitively leverage the Internet business for our clients and members of the hospitality industry. We are proud to partner with HSMAI to produce such a relevant and timely resource to help hospitality professionals stay abreast of the latest eMarketing trends and best practices,” said Fred Malek, chief executive officer at TIG Global.  “With double digit RevPar declines, debt service pressures, and reduced market demand, it is an operational imperative for competitive hotels to apply the smartest and most efficient internet strategies and tactics to connect with consumers (transient and group) who consistently rely on the Internet in some fashion to facilitate their travel purchases.”

Faced with tough economic times, declining occupancy and reduced travel spending, travel marketers will find that the greatest opportunities for success lie online, through Internet marketing and distribution. Online marketing strategies can also be cost-effective options as hospitality professionals search for solutions to current challenges caused by the decrease in meetings and consumer spending.

The white paper is a compilation of ideas and feedback from the Travel Internet Marketing SIG Advisory Board, led by Christine Beuchert, director of e-commerce at Marcus Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisc.

“As marketers we cannot overlook the fact that consumers are increasingly becoming more Web savvy, instead we must determine the best practices for using this growing medium to grow our bottom line,” said Beuchert. “The issue paper dissects the components of an online strategy and offers tactical advice for travel marketers to consider.”

“Capturing Market Share & Driving Revenue Online:  Effective Internet Marketing Strategies for Recessionary Times” is the first white paper in a series sponsored by TIG Global and published by the HSMAI Foundation. Copies of the issue paper are available for download here.

About HSMAI
HSMAI is the hospitality industry source for knowledge, community, and recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales growth, revenue optimization, marketing, and branding. 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®. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, Va. 22102; (703) 506-3280; fax (703) 506-3266, or visit the website at www.hsmai.org.

Media Contacts:
Rachel Rosenberg, Edelman Atlanta, 404-832-7711, rachel.rosenberg@edelman.com 
Harper Cornell, Edelman Atlanta, 404-460-9661, harper.cornell@edelman.com

About TIG Global
TIG Global, headquartered in the Washington, DC metro area, is dedicated to assisting the travel industry with exceeding their online marketing goals and specializes in hotel Internet marketing and destination Internet marketing.  Serving an extensive portfolio of clients worldwide, TIG Global combines its industry knowledge and e-business expertise to help clients maximize the online channel. TIG Global offers multi-language websites, a vast network of internationally based strategic linking partners, email and pay-per-click marketing campaigns tailored to all international markets, custom social media solutions, and websites optimized for major search engines around the world.

TIG Global Contact
Molly Israel
301.841.4762
Misrael@TIGGlobal.com