PCMA Offers Space-Management SoftwareThe Professional Convention Management Association last month announced a partnership with space-management software firm MeetingMatrix International to develop a verifiable, standardized method to measure and guarantee the accuracy of meeting room diagrams. Under the terms of the agreement, a MeetingMatrix installation manager physically would measure the meeting space of a participating hotel, conference center or other venue. Following the measurement, the facility could feature a standard seal on its marketing material and Web site that would show the space's measurements had been verified officially by Chicago-based PCMA and Portsmouth, N.H.-based MeetingMatrix. Additionally, PCMA members could receive free MeetingMatrix software, featuring the meeting room specifications of these properties. "Our partnership with MMI will only serve to ensure that meeting professionals have the latest and most accurate tools in the meetings industry for the planning and execution of meeting logistics," said PCMA chief partner relations officer Sherrif Karamat. Added MMI vice president of sales and operations John Secord: "PCMA's commitment to providing the hospitality industry with the best educational programs, standards and tools is the true validation for PCMA space verification." MeetingMatrix and PCMA guarantee all measurements under the program within one-fourth of one inch.
European Mtgs. Firm Implements U.S. TechGeneva, Switzerland-based MCI Group, a network of European incentive travel and event management companies, last month announced it selected Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based online housing, registration and event management firm EmeetingsOnline to power its back-office meetings management functions. "Implementing EmeetingsOnline is the first step in a companywide initiative to consolidate efficiencies through the group by standardizing internal processes, data sharing, communications and reporting," said MCI Group director Sebastien Tondeur. MCI Group operates nine offices in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. MCI Group also is EmeetingsOnline's first European client, said president Jack Schaufele. "This recent relationship with MCI Group represents a momentous entry into the European market," Schaufele said. "Like their U.S. counterparts, European companies and meetings management groups are equally pressured to cut costs and increase efficiencies to stay competitive. The trick is offering a single, versatile solution to accommodate the unique business and meetings management practices of both markets." MCI Group CEO Roger Tondeur served as the president of the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives in 2004
(Meetings Today, Nov. 10, 2003).Eight Chicago-Area Hyatts Offer Meetings DealEight Hyatt Hotels & Resorts properties in and around Chicago last month announced a deal offering incentives for newly booked meetings, including 5 percent off the total bill and up to 100,000 Hyatt Meeting Dividend points. The offer is valid only for new meetings held before April 30. Chicago notably has lagged behind other cities in the rebounding hotel market, and PricewaterhouseCoopers recently named it as one of only four cities in which 2005 revenue per available room growth is expected to be well below the national average, joining Dallas, Detroit and New Orleans
(see story). Participating Illinois properties are the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt Deerfield, Hyatt Lisle, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Hyatt Rosemont, Hyatt Regency Woodfield and The Hyatt Lodge.
Meetings Employment, Registration Sites Link
New York City-based event registration, payment processing and information management firm ERSVP and meetings industry employment form MeetingJobs.com late last month announced a marketing alliance designed to heighten the exposure of both online firms. Financial terms were undisclosed. Immediate plans called only for Web site link swaps and co-branded e-mail campaigns, but executives promised "more ambitious shared special projects" are likely in the "foreseeable future."