PlanSoft Reg. Service Now A Wyndham PerkWyndham International has expanded a partnership with Twinsburg, Ohio-based online meetings management firm PlanSoft, agreeing to immediately incorporate the latter's Qreg attendee management service into its Wyndham Event Rewards program. Event Rewards is a program developed by the hotel chain to allow meeting planners to choose a specific incentive or reward based on the amount of guest room revenue booked. Qreg is PlanSoft's new housing and registration, event marketing and post-event reporting tool
(Meetings Today, July 7). Planners now have the option of using Qreg or choosing from one of the following: one incentive among frequent flyer miles, credit applied to the event, a Palm Pilot, a Herman Miller Aeron chair or an amount donated in the event organizer's name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Center Foundation. "The majority of our hotels cater to small and midsize groups, and we are committed to offering our meeting planners and attendees the latest in technology to make their jobs easier," said Dave Riley, vice president of catering and convention services for Wyndham. "We decided to incorporate this solution into our meetings because no matter how big or small a meeting is, everyone will be able to afford such a luxury. In fact, meeting planners can select Qreg as their meeting event reward and pay no cost at all." PlanSoft and Wyndham struck a deal at the end of 2001, allowing the chain to feature the technology firm's facility search engine, requests for proposals services and data consolidation tools on its Web site
(Meetings Today, Feb. 11, 2002).TeleSuite Names New CEO, Enters HotelsDayton, Ohio-based videoconferencer TeleSuite Corp., notable for its full-room, lifesize conferencing solutions, last month announced it again would place its offerings in a handful of luxury properties. The company, which had focused on installing rooms in the offices of private corporations, has opened public rooms in The Waldorf-Astoria in New York, the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix and The Savoy Hotel in London. TeleSuite officials said more public rooms are expected to open soon in Philadelphia, Hong Kong and Tokyo. TeleSuite also has a new CEO, as chairman of the board Bob Lavinia has replaced Tom Jackson, who joined the company in June 2002
(Meetings Today, Sept. 23, 2002). Lavinia has extensive management experience, formerly serving as the head of Hill Petroleum and Tosco Energy Co., and joined Telesuite as a board member in 2002.
Meetings Vet Casey Launches Events FirmMeetings industry veteran Brian Casey, longtime executive vice president of meetings and association management firm Smith, Bucklin & Associates of Chicago, last month launched his own Chicago-based event management company. The Next Generation Event Group primarily will focus on corporations and organizations seeking to stage large, private, themed events. "Proprietary trade shows are the most exciting and fastest-growing segment in the convention and event management industry," Casey said. "Leading corporate and association clients have invested heavily in building strong market identities and relationships. As a result, their constituencies have high expectations for their trade show experience." Casey also announced Next Generation has allied with Chicago-based event management and production firm ProActive Inc.
John Monahan New Hawaii VCB HeadThe Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau late last month announced that John Monahan, the former president and CEO of the Liberty House local department store chain, will serve as its new president and CEO. Monahan replaces Tony Vericella, who in July resigned after weeks of controversy spurred by a state audit that questioned the association's accounting practices and alleged mishandling of state funds
(Meetings Today, Aug. 11). Monahan also serves on the board of directors for the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii's leading paid visitor attraction. "The board feels he is the ideal person to restructure HVCB from a global focus to a singular emphasis on Hawaii's most important market, North America," said board chairman Anthony Guerrero. Oahu Visitors Bureau executive director Les Enderton was serving as HVCB's interim CEO.
~Chris Davis