Meetings Beat: StarCite Acquires European Meetings Firm

Meetings technology firm StarCite last week announced the acquisition of Travent Limited, a U.K.-based provider of European meeting management and global technology solutions. Travent already was a StarCite technology distributor. StarCite will take over Travent's client base, including Pfizer and HRG. "We are not only excited to expand our global presence, but as strategic meetings management continues to gain momentum worldwide, we also are proud to gain a team of experts in meetings spend management. Travent has built strong industry and corporate relationships," said John Pino, StarCite founder and president of StarCite International. Nearly 20 percent of StarCite's business will be generated outside of the United States. "Our clients will benefit as they take advantage of greater functionality and StarCite's rich roadmap of planned technology and service enhancements," said Ray Thackeray, managing director of Travent Limited, EMEA.

StarCite also announced last week that it added more than 10 new customers, including the Liberty Mutual Group insurance firm, medical education and event management company HealthLogix and event marketing and promotional firm RPMC to its client base in the first quarter of 2007. Additionally, StarCite in May announced a partnership with Meeting Strategies Worldwide to provide its customers with MeetGreen, a program that will examine meeting elements and offer recommendations to lessen the impact of meetings on the environment. Included in the program is the MeetGreen Calculator, which measures more than 95 different aspects of policy and practices to provide a green assessment for events.

ACTE Buyers Debate Procurement, Marketing Roles
Corporate meeting buyers at a session at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' Global Education Conference in Miami earlier this month debated whether buyers should be more focused on the marketing or procurement side of the business. "The managing of meetings is moving from doing so as a communications tool or as a strategic marketing function to procurement or cost containment," said Michelle Harper, a business analyst and buyer for Intel. George Odom, leader of travel and meeting services for Eli Lilly and Co., said, "I need someone who understands how a meeting is put together from the logistics. At the same time, I need someone sitting there saying, 'You know, if you do that, that's going to be expensive.' " Odom said meeting managers need to act as translators from marketing to logistics. "There is a niche for people who understand true meeting planning but also understand the strategy and the procurement," he said. Odom also had some advice for travel buyers who have new responsibilities. "For those of us who are in travel and now have to take over meetings, make sure you get somebody who understands meetings with you, because it is different," he said.

Shangri-La Streamlines Meeting Options
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts last month announced the launch of a meetings program that includes simplified proposals and contracts. Shangri-La Signature Events also will include a pledge to produce written proposals within 24 hours of a request, event experts, audiovisual technicians and meeting attendants. Attendees will be able to book rooms online through a dedicated Web booking engine. Groups with at least 50 guest rooms will have added benefits, such as room upgrades, through the enhanced Shangri-La meeting package. Meeting buyers who are flexible about dates and location preferences, booking at least three months out with 10 or more guest rooms, can save up to 50 percent on Shangri-La's Web site by clicking on the "Super Value Dates" link. Shangri-La has more than 1.4 million square feet of total meeting space in 50 properties.

SE Starwood Hotels Offer To Extend Rates
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is allowing buyers to lock in room rates for meetings booked at four Convention Collection hotels in the Southeast until 2010. The offer is for meetings booked by Dec. 31, 2007, with an actualized minimum of 500 room nights and held either this summer or the next. Rates will be honored at the participating hotels for summers through 2010.