About Howard

Howard has been a regular columnist for a number of years for various publications, including Hotel and Motel Management (Now called Hotel Management Magazine), Travel Trade Magazine, Corporate Meetings & Incentives, and Corporate and Incentive Travel. Though he has been writing articles for the past 30 years, due to the cyclical nature of the economy and hospitality industry, many of those written years ago, are also relevant in today's market.

His background of over 40 years in hospitality includes convention bureau management, hotel operations, food & beverage, sales & marketing, catering, meetings and convention management, as well as tour and travel.

He has conducted educational and training programs for The Educational Institute of AHLA, Hospitality Services of America, MPI, HSMAI, NACE, the Continuing Education Division of Virginia Tech, and is a frequent presenter for hotel companies, meeting planners, convention bureaus, and travel agent groups.

He is the co-author (with John Hogan) of his book Lessons From The Field – A Common Sense Approach To Effective Hotel Sales.

His credentials and accolades include:

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)

• Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME)

• Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA)

• A “Fellow” and lifetime member of the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA)

• A lifetime member of HSMAI, he has been appointed to its International’s Hall of Fame.

• A Charter member of MPI (1972), he has received its President’s Award for his involvement in industry education and training.

• In 1998, he was voted Educator of the Year by the Professional Convention Management Association.

• In 1999, Howard was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s Hall of Leaders with a lifetime achievement award in recognition for his leadership and contributions as a role model for the meetings and convention industry.

• In 2001 he was appointed a “Fellow” of the American Hotel & Motel Association’s Educational Institute and is the recipient of its 2001 Arthur Landstreet Award for significantly advancing the quality of hospitality education and training through his mentorship initiatives and lifetime commitment to training and development of hospitality professionals.

• In 2002, he was honored by the Board of Directors of Meeting Professionals International with a Lifetime Membership.

• In 2004, he received HSMAI’s first annual Excellence in Sales and Marketing Strategy Award.

• He was also honored that year by Virginia Tech in receiving the University’s Outreach Award for involvement in community and industry affairs.