President’s Message – May/June 2009

Hey, guys. I just returned from the Americas’ HSMAI Leadership Conference in Virginia. All chapters are invited to send their respective leaders to this two-day best practice and idea exchange. There were representatives from Curacao to San Diego, from Mexico to Minnesota. Nine of our own Greater New York Chapter Board members attended and all walked away (or drove away, in some cases) with great ideas and a renewed sense of optimism toward our industry and future.

Again, the message was clear. It’s all about relationships, strength in numbers, and learning from each other. The importance of establishing your personal brand was also underscored, and I will share with you the very real steps necessary in this exercise very shortly. Additionally, we were all very impressed with what resources are available for Special Interest Groups (SIGs) on www.hsmai.org. If you haven’t taken a look at this, I urge you to do so now.

The most important message I took away from the Conference, however, was that good leaders don’t just manage – they lead toward change. While we will always need followers and managers, leaders are the visionaries. Leaders see past the roadblocks and embrace the new destination. Are you a leader? Are you trying to change the status quo? Are you leading your organization to a new reality?

One of my many goals regarding change for this year involves bringing the HSMAI and RSAA local chapters together…two organizations that, I feel, would be stronger as a unit, whose members could learn from each other and benefit from each other’s perspectives. We held a Joint Business Card Exchange on March 23rd at Legends that was attended by 110 HSMAI ad RSAA members. ROOMERS conducted the following brief interview with Maritza Scher of RSAA and me. This will give you the back-story on why we will continue to partner with this group going forward.

In the meantime, I will be embracing change, searching the horizon for new opportunities for HSMAI members, and working tirelessly in my secret German lab on a cure for the next pandemic and as well as a methodology for when Vice President Biden opens his mouth, the voice and sensibility of Fred Dixon comes out.

MARITZA SCHER, Vice President of Sales, NY Waterway Tours, RSAA
Roomers: For our members who might not know, please explain what RSAA is.

Maritza: Beginning as RSA in 1991, the association was formed to bring together all of the major receptive tour operators and suppliers in the New York and New Jersey region. As a result of continuing interest and growth from across the country, RSA grew into a national organization, joining forces with ITSA, the International Travel Services Association, to form RSAA in September 2004. Today, RSAA represents the major inbound operators in the United States who handle the inbound package tour business in this country

Interview with Maritza Scher, RSAA and Markus Boeker,
President of HSMAI Greater New York Chapter

Roomers: How many members do you have in NYC?
Maritza: 111 in New York; 44 in Florida; and 66 in other parts of the US.

Roomers: What do you find to be your Association’s greatest challenge?
Maritza: Keeping all members active. We get very involved in our day-to-day challenges and sometimes it’s hard to take the time away from the office to attend our meetings.

Roomers: What was the feedback from your members on the Joint Business Card Exchange on March 23rd?
Maritza: Everyone really enjoyed the event because it gave them the opportunity to network with other industry professionals.

Roomers: In what areas do your see future collaboration between RSAA and HSMAI?
Maritza: In my opinion, I see RSAA and HSMAI doing other events, especially more educational programs that are of interest to all of us. In the end, our mutual goals should be to generate more business and deliver the best product to our customers.

MARKUS BOEKER, President of HSMAI Greater New York Chapter

Roomers: Why were you so determined to partner with RSAA?
Markus: When I worked for New World Travel, a receptive tour operator for both DERTOUR and MWR–two of the largest German tour operators, I became very involved with RSA and was able to find ‘my place‘ in the New York marketplace through the networking opportunities they provided. RSAA’s membership base consists of tour operators, hotels, attractions & services, and CVBs. Without RSAA, I would not be professionally where I am today. Furthermore, I wanted to emphasize the fact that HSMAI is, first and foremost, a hospitality organization. As such, we should partner with and include the receptive tour operators as a very vital part of the New York City hospitality Industry.

Roomers: What sort of synergy do you expect to achieve by bringing HSMAI and RSAA together?
Markus: HSMAI and RSAA share a very similar membership base. Except for RSAA’s annual membership meeting, RSAA members are not offered regular educational programming as are HSMAI Greater New York Chapter members. As RSAA and HSMAI share the same goals of effective networking, creating best practices, and strategic educational opportunities, it would be very beneficial for RSAA members to join forces with HSMAI to have access to our programs and expand the networking base between the two organizations.

Roomers: What were your thoughts on the Joint Business Card Exchange on March 23rd?
Markus: I agree with Maritza on this one. This social event was very well received and was a very important first step in bringing these two powerful organizations together.

Roomers: What is the next step in establishing this partnership?
Markus: I would like to offer RSAA members the opportunity to join us at the next HSMAI Luncheon Program on May 7th aboard the Bateaux at the preferred HSMAI member rate to further introduce them to what HSMAI is all about.  

The HSMAI Greater NY chapter is the greater New York area division of the Hospitality Sales Marketing Association International, a professional association whose members are committed to the sales, marketing, management, educational or planning disciplines within the hospitality industry.

We are a socially conscious organization dedicated to educating our members in the most efficient sales and marketing techniques and industry trends. We provide a positive forum to meet with clients and other hospitality executives.

We are committed to having HSMAI help us perform our jobs according to the highest standards demanded by our customers, employers and peers.

GET INVOLVED!  Click here to Get Involved: volunteer form We need volunteers for our committees. In exchange for your expertise and a few hours of your time you will keep abreast of the industry, expand your network and HAVE FUN!