Newly launched RFP online management supplier BidStork is aiming to get more small and midmarket companies involved in a comprehensive RFP process during the coming hotel requests for proposals season.
Although RFP software veteran Joseph Friedmann conceived of the Solana Beach, Calif.-based BidStork less than a year ago, it already has created a buzz among some high-profile travel buyers. For BidStork, which offers rate auditing alongside RFP services, "Our original intention, from a business perspective, was to come in and break into the market with a pricing disruptive model that offers a few less features," said Chris Gordon, BidStork's vice president of engineering. BidStork began making sales calls in October 2006, already late into the year's RFP season, he said, and it will embark on an aggressive sales push this week at the National Business Travel Association's International Convention and Exhibition in Boston.
"Why we decided to approach this market," Gordon said, "is because we wanted to offer a much lower price entry point for a service that's equivalent in functionality."
Despite its midmarket focus, larger companies also have been among the initial users of the service. Director of global travel services Duane Futch recently said that Wal-Mart had signed a contract with BidStork and that he immediately was impressed with the RFP bidding program
(BTN, May 21). The contract came as Wal-Mart has aimed to improve compliance with the company's hotel booking policy.
BidStork also lists Hallmark Cards among its early adopters, which it called critical in shaping the tool.