Hospitality sales and marketing executive Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer of Benchmark Hospitality, has been elected Chairman of the Americas Board for the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.In this leadership role, Schmidt will guide the organization’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors for a two-year term, January 2006 - 2008.

“Through Jack’s long-standing career in the hospitality sales and marketing industry, he has seen first-hand the quickness in which the industry evolves. His constant ability to stay focused on the future and ahead of the trends will have a tremendous impact on HSMAI’s direction and mission to grow into one of the industry’s most powerful brands,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

In his role as HSMAI chair, Schmidt will work to further HSMAI’s awareness and credibility, as well as challenge the board and chapter leadership to create innovative and successful products and programs for it broad membership base of sales and marketing professionals.

“It is our responsibility as an organization to provide an information rich environment where professionals can access industry trends and issues that impact sales and marketing of the hospitality industry on a daily basis,” said Jack Schmidt, chief marketing officer, Benchmark Hospitality, and incoming chair, HSMAI’s Americas Region.

“As the incoming chair for the Americas’ region of HSMAI, I look forward to building upon the successes achieved by some very talented predecessors and the very creative and committed team that continues to run our organization,” he added.

Schmidt’s career with Benchmark Hospitality began at the Lansdowne Resort and Conference Center in Northern Virginia. After taking a position and spending six years as a partner in a hospitality industry service company, Schmidt rejoined Benchmark Hospitality in 1999 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing working his way to his current role of Chief Marketing Officer.
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