News for the Hospitality Executive |
Elite Meetings International Introduces its First Elite Meetings Alliance (EMA) for the Gold Collection, January 23-25, 2011, Paradise Point Resort & Spa, San Diego Premier Gold EMA to Feature One-on-One Business Building Sessions, Education and Hands-on Introductions to Elite’s Industry Leading Technologies Santa Barbara,
CA, November 22, 2010 – New
technologies supporting the work of meeting professionals
and hotels will compliment one-on-one business building sessions and
unique
educational opportunities at Elite Meetings International’s (EMI) first
Elite
Meetings Alliance (EMA) for the Gold Collection, a new tier of upscale
properties launched by EMI to
better
serve meeting professionals who seek the highest quality meeting and
incentive offerings
in North America. The EMA
is a three-day forum that brings together prequalified corporate,
association,
and intermediary meeting professionals with leaders in the luxury hotel
industry. “We
are excited to announce our first ever EMA for the Gold Collection,”
said Kelly
Foy, chief executive officer of Elite Meetings. He continued, “As the
recovery
in group business really takes hold, it’s more critical than ever to
make
available tools and technologies that allow meeting and hotel sales
professionals to do their jobs better, faster, and more profitably. We
look
forward to welcoming top hotels and prequalified meeting professionals
to
Paradise Point to kick off 2011 in a uniquely fun, fast-paced,
business-building
environment.” More
than 100 top meeting planners and Elite Certified Gold hotels are
expected to
attend the first EMA of 2011. In one-on-one business sessions, they
will
conduct hundreds of face-to-face meetings to book business and create
and
reinforce business relationships using EMI’s FaceTime™ Appointment Scheduler
technology. The
FaceTime™ Appointment
Scheduler
has been utilized to bring planners and hotels together at hosted buyer
programs at the Meeting Professionals International’s World Education
Congress
in Vancouver last summer; and at the 2009 and 2010 ITME/Motivation Show
in
Chicago. It is also currently in use by major luxury hotel chains, CVBs
and
meeting planning organizations around the world. Gold
EMA attendees who have not already done so will also have the chance to
participate in hands-on demonstrations of EMI’s cutting edge
technology, SpeedRFP™. SpeedRFP,
a new
product for creating, submitting and tracking RFPs online, officially
launched
earlier this year, and is generating adoption from meetings planners
and hotels
in the U.S. and internationally. It is the system that powers
EliteMeetings.com, and is also being utilized as a primary online
RFP-generating system for Destination Hotels & Resorts and Dolce
Hotels
& Resorts, among others. As SpeedRFP
gains in adoption, input from users continues to be gathered to shape
the technology
into a game-changer for the industry. SpeedRFP
is a completely portable and seamless RFP tool that is fully
APEX-compliant.
Any hotel can download the Community Edition at no charge, and it is
free to
meeting professionals, from whom it is drawing enthusiastic support. Anticipated
EMA Gold attendees include meeting professionals from organizations
such as ALCOA,
Ameriprise Financial, Booz Allen Hamilton, Electronic Arts, Fujitsu,
Johnson
& Johnson, and the US-ASEAN Business Council; and hotel sales
professionals
from properties such as Hilton Waikoloa Village, the Intercontinental
Dallas,
the Palms Casino Resort, Thunder Valley Casino, and the Woodlands
Resort &
Conference Center. The
event will also feature top industry speakers and motivational
professionals,
providing insight as well as hands-on instruction that is sure to be of
value
to attendees. About Paradise Point Resort & Spa Paradise Point is a 462-room bungalow-style resort set on Mission Bay in the heart of San Diego. Established in 1962 by famous Hollywood Director Jack Skirball, this island getaway features over one-mile of sandy beach encircling the resort, five swimming pools, a freshwater lake and tranquil lagoon. Among the resort’s various amenities are a luxurious Asian-themed spa, two dining venues, an 18-hole putting golf course, fitness center, and private marina equipped with sailboats, jet skis, kayaks and more. Secluded yet centrally located, the resort is just minutes from top attractions including SeaWorld, Old Town, the Gaslamp District, Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. For more information, visit www.paradisepoint.com. About Elite Meetings International Elite Meetings International (EMI) provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technology, direct sales support, customized marketing programs and face-to-face business-building events. Additionally, www.EliteMeetings.com serves as a commission-free RFP-generating tool and a comprehensive vehicle for sourcing luxury, upper-upscale and upscale properties. EMI’s other innovations include FaceTime™ Appointment Scheduler (www.FaceTimeScheduler.com), a sought after program for helping conference attendees identify synergies, manage appointments, and make direct connection with one another; and SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a new time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000. For more information on the 2011 Gold EMA, contact [email protected] or call 805-879-4485. |
Contact:
Michael Frenkel
|