 MCLEAN,
VA � February 11, 2010 � Cvent, the leader in group business lead channels
for hotels and the premier provider of event
management, site
selection, and sourcing solutions for meeting and event planners, announces
a marketing alliance with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants on the Cvent
Supplier Network. The
Cvent Supplier Network is an online directory of venues and an electronic
Request for Proposal (eRFP) engine that meeting planners use to search
for event venues, send out eRFPs, and receive supplier proposals back regarding
pricing and availability. In the fall of 2009, Kimpton implemented a marketing
partnership on the Cvent Supplier Network for select hotels in order to
increase their online exposure for group business leads. Kimpton has now
opted to enhance its marketing with an enterprise-wide upgrade on the Cvent
Supplier Network in 2010.
Kimpton�s marketing alliance on the Cvent Supplier Network positions its properties as an ideal fit for small-to-medium-sized meetings. Overall, Cvent�s RFPs in 2009 averaged 316 total room nights with an average of 82 room nights booked for the peak night of the program. In the small-to medium-sized meetings segment, Cvent�s average total room nights per RFP were 131, with an average of 46 peak room nights. These numbers demonstrate that the Cvent Supplier Network delivered group business leads that fit with Kimpton�s desire to target the small-to-medium-sized meeting market. �As the largest boutique hotel brand in the US, our ultimate goal is to be our customers� premier brand of choice. Our relationship with Cvent provides us the opportunity to connect to new planners, to continue to support our existing customers and to provide these customers with the personal and high end services Kimpton is known for within the industry,� said Christine Lawson, Vice President of Sales at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. �Since the Cvent Supplier Network is the sourcing tool of choice for thousands of meeting planners across the country, it is logical to align our group sales and marketing efforts with Cvent.� Bharet Malhotra, Cvent�s Vice President of Sales, says, �We are thrilled to work with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants as marketing partners on the Supplier Network. Kimpton�s upper-upscale properties are a great fit for Cvent planners seeking a boutique venue for their meetings or events. With almost 100,000 gross RFPs sent through the system in Q4 of 2009, we�re confident that our relationship with Kimpton will be fruitful for both parties.� As part of the Kimpton marketing partnership on the Cvent Supplier Network, all featured hotels will showcase Kimpton�s exclusive Pick Your Perk campaign, offering 5 percent off the master bill. Meeting planners can also get a jump-start at booking meetings at Kimpton�s brand-new hotels, including the Hotel Palomar Chicago and Eventi Hotel in New York City, both opening in early 2010. About Kimpton San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to America. Founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton, the company is well-known for making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through intuitive and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and having a certain playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities. Each hotel provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through locally-loved, top-rated, destination, chef-drive-in-restaurants. Kimpton leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Privately held Kimpton has consistently earned high customer satisfaction scores by the Market Metrix Hospitality Index, exceeding other hotel companies including those in luxury and upscale segments. Among the company�s newest properties are the LEED registered Hotel Palomar and LEED registered Square 1682 restaurant by Chef Guillermo Tellez in Philadelphia, PA, which opened in October 2009. Currently, projects are underway in New York City and Chicago. For more information, please visit www.KimptonHotels.com or call 1-800-KIMPTON. About Cvent
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