Meeting News - July 27, 2009 - (Page 8)

Meeting Post News Worktopia To Book Remote Conf. Space Meetings management technology provider Worktopia at the end of August plans to enable users to search and book physical meeting space equipped with remote conferencing technology, according to CEO John Arenas. It also is expanding its distribution and partnership network through agreements with payment companies, including Diners Club International, and a new travel management company affiliate program launched this month. The new remote conferencing room sourcing capability enables hotels and business and conference centers to upload their inventory into the system and indicate which rooms have the technology and on which network and standards it operates. Users, having booked a room, can invite attendees to register for the physical or virtual component of the meeting. The additional inventory is part of the standard agreements between meeting space suppliers and Worktopia. “Since we have the meeting room inventory and hotels already, having the hotel designate whether that room is videoconferencing or telepresence-equipped is all they have to do, and then load in their pricing for that,” Arenas said. While public remote conferencing inventory is limited, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts plan to install such technology this year (see story, page 3). Worktopia expanded its reseller program, which includes such suppliers as Pegasus International, Travelport GDS and Newmarket International, to payment providers to offer “a way to reconcile booking information with the payment information and the consumed spend information,” Arenas said. 8 MeetingNews July 27, 2009 Maritz, Freeman Ally Maritz Travel this month announced a marketing alliance that makes Freeman its preferred supplier for audiovisual services. The ProActive division of Freeman will manage multimedia production and creative services for Maritz clients. Freeman will offer Maritz virtual meeting services and technology tools. Maritz president and CEO Christine Duffy said the deal is a way to target association meetings business. The new Freeman deal also is available through the MaritzAmerican Express Business Travel Maxvantage partnership announced last month. The agency affiliate program is designed as a revenue-share model between Worktopia and travel management companies. It gives agencies free access to the generic version of Worktopia’s meetings management tool and tracks clients’ meetings bookings, enabling agencies to offer additional services like ground transportation and air arrangements. Meanwhile, a June Worktopia survey found 54 percent of 213 travel managers, directors and meeting planners expect their number of offsite meetings to remain the same this year, while 17 percent expect their offsite meetings to increase. Arenas said that of the 23 percent who expect to increase offsite meetings in 2010, many will do so with fewer attendees and lower spending. r —Seth Harris After Spurning NBTA’s Overtures, ACTE Forms Alliance With PCMA continued from page 3 it’s evolved. It’s not a response to anything else that has happened, whether it’s the economy or the discussions in the media about some potential tie-up between us and NBTA, which our board has rejected and turned away.” Although ACTE recommitted to remaining a stand-alone association, a few suppliers—including Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, BCD Travel and travel agency Travel and Transport—in the past month have asked the boards of ACTE and NBTA to pursue a merger. “Without this merger between NBTA and ACTE, I feel that suppliers and members will be forced to significantly cut their financial support to both organizations. This outcome will lead to the weakening of both groups rather than creating one financially strong travel organization,” wrote Travel and Transport president and CEO Bill Tech. In a letter sent to both boards, BCD Travel global president and COO John Snyder wrote, “Due to current economic conditions and other factors, BCD Travel is no longer in a position to support both organizations as we have in the past. As a result, we will be forced to reduce our investment in both organizations. Careful consideration has been given as we take this position. We anticipate Javits Expanding Construction began this month on a $463 million expansion of New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, following approval by the Public Authority Control Board. The project, scaled down from what was approved in 2004, will add 100,000 square feet of space, including 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, and replace the center’s roof. Construction work will not disrupt ongoing events at the center, city officials said. Texans Waive Attrition The convention and visitors bureaus of Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Irving, the Hotel Association of North Texas and American Airlines this month announced a meeting discount and incentive program that waives room attrition fees. For meetings booked and executed before the end of 2009, the program guarantees the full waiver of room attrition contract clauses at more than 130 hotels, a 20 percent discount on participating ground transportation providers and additional group discounts on American Airlines on flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. r www.meetingnews.com Eric Wong ACTE president Richard Crum that other NBTA and ACTE members, both corporate and supplier, will take similar actions to make the message clear—one global travel association is best for all.” Michele Bryant, director of travel and procurement for Deloitte Services LP, last month became the fourth member to resign from the ACTE board after the failed NBTA tie-up, along with president Doug Weeks, treasurer-elect Mary Ellen George and treasurer Brad Seitz. r http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - July 27, 2009

Meeting News - July 27, 2009
Contents
Newsmaker
Meetings Spotlight
Meeting Post
Viewpoint
Association Watch
Event Profile
Meeting People
MeetingNews Research
Travel Dashboard
Mid-America Regional
Golf Meetings
Hawaii

Meeting News - July 27, 2009