<B>Meetings Beat</B>
<B>PlanSoft Gets To The Mpoint</B>
Meeting portal PlanSoft has changed its Web site's name to Mpoint.com as part of a full site upgrade. The name, PlanSoft president Ed Tromczynski said, "supports our industry position as the central point for meetings. We had multiple teams consider many names and also had various names submitted for consideration. All of which were considered with the purpose of supporting our customer value proposition--a single point for meeting planners to efficiently complete their daily meetings tasks and responsibilities." The new site sports a simpler design and layout, along with expanded discussion boards and an employment board powered by Meetingjobs.com.
<B><A NAME="2">IACVB Head To Leave Post</B>
Ed Nielsen, president and CEO of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, will leave the organization upon the expiration of his three-year contract Dec. 31. According to IACVB chairman Charles Ahlers, with "all major elements of IACVB's strategic plan either accomplished or well-positioned for the future," including improving its focus on "creating an inclusive, accessible and responsive organization for all bureau professionals," Nielsen had accomplished his goals during his term. Ahlers said the association hopes to have a new CEO in place by Jan. 1.
<B><A NAME="3">Trondent Offers Group Air Analysis</B>
Trondent Development Corp. of Barrington, Ill., has launched a software package that allows corporate meeting managers to calculate real-time group and meeting airfares with information pulled directly from any major global distribution system. The software, dubbed GroupFare Analyzer, permits such variables as multiple destination and origination points, varying attendee counts and air alternatives in its calculations. The software also is adaptable to negotiated corporate or group airfares.
<B><A NAME="4">MPI Debuts Online Learning</B>
Meeting Professionals International last month launched 50 online learning programs on its Web site at www.mpiweb.org. The courses, covering everything from basic computer skills and business skill development to financial management, are being offered at an introductory rate of $20 for three months for the first 2,000 registrants. Afterwards, each program will cost $175 for MPI members and $275 for non-members. Programs slated for a winter posting include courses on the CMP study program and return on investment. "This is just the beginning of our mass customization endeavors," said MPI vice president of professional development Marsha Veach. "It illustrates MPI's ongoing effort to reach out to the entire membership by delivering a myriad of unique professional development experiences."
<B><A NAME="5">AA: Use Our Center, Get Miles</B>
American Airlines is offering corporations one AAdvantage frequent flyer mile for every dollar spent on meetings and conferences at its Training and Conference Center, located 10 minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Planners booking meetings to be held before Dec. 23 can receive two miles for each dollar spent. "The benefit is to the organization itself, which can see real savings in travel costs as a result of this program," said Lynda Johnson, general manager of the conference center. "For example, if the cost of a meeting held at our center is $100,000, our client earns 100,000 AAdvantage miles or 200,000 if the meeting is held before Dec. 23, which can equate to eight roundtrip domestic flights. That's a substantial savings."
<B><A NAME="6">Wyntrac Names New CEO</B>
Plano, Texas-based housing and registration software supplier Wyntrac has named Steve Sanazaro as its CEO. Sanazaro, a former technology executive with Harbinger Corp. and Adams Golf, will be responsible for Wyntrac's strategic business direction, marketing, product development and investor management. "Our plan is to streamline the industry, improve the overall customer experience and leverage the Internet to improve the economics of organizing and hosting groups and meetings," Sanazaro said. Wyntrac enables planners and attendees access to hotels' property management systems, and allows meeting planners to adjust attendee reservations, cancellations and arrival and departure times.