NBTA Releases Meetings Tech PaperThe groups and meetings committee of the National Business Travel Association last month released its fifth research paper in its "Framework for Success: Strategic Meetings Management Programs" project. The paper advises meeting managers on the use of technology in their programs. Technology is the centerpiece in the meetings management puzzle analogy put forth by the committee, and facilitates the other management points of approval, registration, sourcing and negotiation, planning, purchasing and data reporting. The paper also details eight key selection criteria points when choosing a meetings technology product: build vs. buy; compatibility with internal IT security standards; fit with existing technology systems; scalability and deployment flexibility; branding flexibility; user experience and customer service; financial viability of the technology provider and comprehensive functionality and scope. "The members of the NBTA groups and meetings committee continue to hear from colleagues throughout the industry what a useful resource the Framework for Success series has been. We are pleased to continue meeting that need with this latest paper on meetings management technology," said committee co-chair Joni Miyashiro, travel manager for Amgen Inc., in an association release.
InterContinental Offers Mtgs. DealsInterContinental Hotels Group's InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts brands last month said they would offer new rewards for meeting buyers for events booked and held by Dec. 30, 2006. For meetings with 10 or more paid room nights at InterContinental properties, buyers receive their choice of one comp room for every 25 occupied rooms, a 5 percent discount on food and beverage, complimentary main meeting room rental, complimentary high-speed Internet, one room upgrade for every 25 booked, a 15 percent discount on audiovisual services or reward program points. At Crowne Plaza properties, buyers can choose from reward points, complimentary rooms, complimentary meeting breaks, a welcome reception, a 10 percent discount on audiovisual, 10 room upgrades or a VIP suite. InterContinental also has extended its even euro-to-U.S.-dollar exchange rate offer for meetings in Europe
(Meetings Today, April 18, 2005). The offer is now valid at 23 European properties for meetings booked by March 31, 2007.
ERSVP Acquires DataHive Corp.New York-based event registration, payment processing and information management firm ERSVP last month announced it had acquired DataHive, a New Hampshire-based online registration and data management provider. "The assimilation of DataHive's resources into our existing solutions gives ERSVP deep new capacity to serve our corporate enterprise customers, plus additional capacity to provide registration by telephone and on-site registration services, with DataHive customers enjoying the full benefits of ERSVP as well," said Ajay Arora, CEO of ERSVP, in a company release. Under the terms of the agreement, both products would continue as distinct brands under the ERSVP umbrella, according to the release. The DataHive brand would represent the company's consulting and custom solutions. For the past year the two companies have used a partnership agreement to share technology and customers.
~ Corrie Dosh