The Arizona Chapter of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) will present their 31st Annual Chinese Auction, celebrating the “Year of the Snake,” on Friday, June 21, 2013 the beautiful DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort, beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Proceeds from this event will help to support the association’s mission and its continuing efforts to provide quality continuing education and scholarships for those professionals currently in the hospitality industry and those who are pursuing a career in the field.

In addition, funds will help support HSMAI’s 2013 “Charity of the Year” — Kitchen on the Street. Kitchen on the Street, a faith-based, volunteer driven, nonprofit organization, turns hunger into hope … one child at a time.  What does hunger look like? Look into the eyes of one of the hundreds of children served by Kitchen on the Street each week and you’ll know. Hunger is a growing crisis for many children in America. 17 million children in the United States suffer from food insecurity! Kitchen on the Street fills the gap — and the stomachs – of children experiencing hunger and poverty. Through partnerships with Arizona schools, KOS provides pre-packaged, child-friendly food for evening and/or weekend meals. For many, these “Bags of Hope” become their primary source of food when school is not in session.

HSMAI is a global organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is comprised of nearly 7,000 members from 35 countries and chapters worldwide. HSMAI’s mission is to “grow business for hotels and their partners by fueling sales, inspiring marketing and optimizing revenue.”

The 250 member Arizona Chapter was established in 1968 and is the third largest chapter in the U.S. Additionally, the Arizona Chapter was honored as the 2011 International “Chapter of the Year.” The chapter offers members a variety of benefits including monthly education programs targeted specifically to sales and marketing and revenue management professionals, a variety of networking and fundraising events and community service volunteer opportunities.

The Chinese Auction is a unique fundraiser combining a silent auction with a live auction.  Each guest receives a list of items to be sold in a live auction and a paddle with an individualized number. Each guest “bids” on an item by placing a quarter in the bucket placed at the center of each table. An auctioneer travels through the dinner announcing numbers indicated on each guests paddle until a Chinese gong is rung.  The number last mentioned before the gong wins the prize.  Money is raised through the through the quarters bid on each item by each guest, the silent auction preceding the dinner and a live bidding auction. This unique auction was conceived by the Arizona Chapter and has been adopted by chapters all over the U.S. 300 meeting and hospitality industry members will attend and support the event.

Prizes include golf outings, artwork, gift certificates for goods and services, signed sports memorabilia and weekend getaways to various destinations throughout the U.S., Hawaii and Mexico.

Tickets are available for $60 per person or $575 for a corporate table of 10.

For more information about the event, contact Joanne Winter at 602-240-5552 or visit the chapter website at http://www.hsmai-az.org/.