Winter
Park, FL � November 6, 2006 - The biggest names in luxury resorts and hotels
converged in October for one of the most innovative events in the travel
industry, Resorts & Great Hotel�s Fall 2006 Private Meetings Summit.
Representatives from Le Meridien, Hyatt Hotels, Wynn Las Vegas, the Sundance
Resort and many other properties made unique deals with the travel industry�s
most prominent meeting and incentive planners at this extraordinary gathering.
Held October 15-18 at Le Royal Meridien King Edward in Toronto and the
Deerhurst Resort in Muskoka, Ontario, the Summit was highly efficient:
Each property met with buyers in prescheduled 30-minute appointments. The
decision-making meeting planners are matched electronically with the resort
or hotel that meets their needs. �The distinct and efficient format provided
a unique means to successfully plan and book meetings,� says Ron Gebhardt,
publisher of Meeting Traveler and its upscale travel guide Resorts &
Great Hotels, producers of the Private Meetings Summit.
The Summit had the leaders in the industry raving. �I have been attending
trade shows, conferences and just about every function our industry requires
for eight years,� said Ann Barbieri, senior sales manager for Le Parker
Meridien Palm Springs. �The RGH Private Meetings Summit has been the best
by far. This was the first time I have participated in the RGH program
and it was the most productive. The one-on-one discussions with the pre-qualified
meeting planners allowed me to cut to the chase and discuss my property
with those who had a genuine interest.�
�Great event,� added Noel Mateo, national sales manager for Wynn Las
Vegas. �The time was well-spent building and continuing relationships with
past clients and also getting acquainted with and meeting new clients.�
�Sundance booked over $50,000 of room nights as a result of our first
Private Meetings Summit,� said Chad Linebaugh, co-general manager of the
Sundance Resort. �We also received over seven qualified leads from
the most recent Summit that we are still following up with. The format
of the event and the quality of planners fits well with our business.�
Planners agreed the Summit was a success. �Having just returned from
the 2006 Summit in Canada, I can honestly say it was time well-spent!
The personalized appointment schedule assured that we were able to meet
and have quality time with suppliers of our choosing, and the variety of
special events gave us even more time to meet and network with others.
Overall it was a great opportunity for planners to have quality time in
which to conduct business. The fact that we were also given site inspections
with multiple facilities made this even more beneficial. I would definitely
participate again,� said Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP president of TML
Services of Orlando, Florida.
Since its launch in 2002, the Private Meetings Summit has become the
industry standard and is now produced twice a year by Resorts & Great
Hotels. Plans are already being finalized for the next Summit, which will
take place May 6-9, 2007, in Cancun.
Published by World Publications, Resorts & Great Hotels is the ultimate
guide for luxury accommodations worldwide.
www.resortsgreathotels.com
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