Travel technology company TRX and Atlanta-based meeting technology solution provider SignUp4 late last month announced a partnership to integrate TRX's ResX corporate online travel booking tool into SignUp4's enterprise event and travel management tool. Attendees will be able to sign into ResX through SignUp4's application and populate their travel requirements into the ResX system. "It made sense for both parties to do this, looking at our joint customers, and looking at the way ResX is designed and what information that they can accept from the registration form. It just made for an easy integration," said John Broaddus, vice president of sales for SignUp4.
Worktopia Raises $5 Million In Venture CapitalTechnology firm Worktopia, which provides online booking of meeting space, late last month announced it completed a $5 million round of financing from a syndicate led by DFJ Gotham Ventures and including High Peak Venture Partners and Milestone Venture Partners. Worktopia said it would use the additional capital to expand its network of hotel partners and build corporate travel distribution relationships. "It's really fuel for accelerating the infrastructure development and the technology foundation as well as adding to our marketing and sales efforts," said John Arenas, CEO and founder of Worktopia. Jed Katz of DFJ Gotham and Ethan Ayer of Milestone have joined Worktopia's board of directors, while Brad Svrluga of High Peaks will be a board observer.
Maritz Measures Motivational Methods Maritz Inc. in September announced a new research-based tool designed to optimize a company's employee reward and recognition programs. Following the recently announced Maritz Meeting Effectiveness
(Meetings Today, Aug. 13), Maritz Motivation Insight will implement a Web-based employee survey to allow companies to discover what motivational factors employees find most appealing. It also provides managers with individual preferences and the ability to tailor recognition on an individual basis. "Motivation Insight provides the data and tools necessary to make your recognition program meaningful to a larger portion of your participants. Maximizing motivational reach boosts results," Maritz director of business analysis Jennifer Kallery said.
HRG Adds U.K. Meetings ExecutivesHRG in September announced two new appointments within its UK Events and Meetings Management division. David Battley will be a director for both the international and UK Events and Meetings Management team. Previously, Battley was the managing director at third-party event planner Events by Appointment. Robert Bailey will be an international events and meetings sales manager. Bailey was previously with U.K.-based meetings management firm Talking Point. Both will be based out of HRG's London office. The two appointments follow the naming of Reto Bacher as president of events and meetings management and sports
(Meetings Today, Sept. 10).StarCite Deal Broadens Supplier PaletteMeetings tech firm StarCite earlier this month announced an alliance with DMI, which provides national sales office services to hotels, convention and visitors bureaus and destination management companies. The alliance will blend the companies' supplier portfolios and sales and marketing. "We're very excited about this new alliance, which expands our portfolio of suppliers and essentially doubles our sales force with the addition of DMI staff," StarCite's managing director for international markets Mark Phillips said in a prepared statement.
Remote Conferencing Firm Simplifies TechnologyConferencing system developer and provider Remote Meeting Technologies late last month announced the availability of Be There Anywhere, a Web browser-based platform that doesn't require special software. The Web browser-based system also includes a proprietary camera system that allows the zoom, pan and tilt controls to be switched between users.
Microsoft Adds Planning Tools To WindowsMicrosoft last month announced the addition of a new event planning offering to its Windows Live services. The service will allow users to send out invitations, customized from more than 100 predesigned templates, and design an event Web page. The page keeps track of who is attending and has tools for uploading pictures or videos. Planners must have a Windows Live ID to use the service, but attendees are not required to have one to respond.