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BestCities Global Alliance Taps UniFocus
Expertise to Improve Operations   
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International CVB Organization Implements MEETINGScope�
to Increase Customer Satisfaction
DALLAS � APRIL 15, 2008 � UniFocus, a global pioneer in the hospitality industry for performance, resource management and closed-loop feedback solutions, announced that BestCities Global Alliance has selected the firm�s MEETINGScope� solution to help them assess and improve customer satisfaction for meeting planners. Their decision was based upon the recommendation of one of their alliance partners, the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. BestCities Global Alliance is the world's first and only convention bureau alliance with eight partners on five continents.

MEETINGScope� is a Web-based feedback solution that helps convention-visitor bureau and other hospitality organizations improve the meeting event experience and keep their locale on the map as a top destination.

�The BestCities Global Alliance wanted to change from an email-based client feedback to an online feedback system,� said Lisa Klint, general manager of BestCities Global Alliance Head Office based in Denmark.  �UniFocus� MEETINGScope was recommended by our partner in San Juan, and they demonstrated a versatile system that could be used for convention bureau client evaluations. As we transition from pilot phase into full production, we fully expect to get a higher client response rate, better and more flexible reporting options across our eight partners, and enjoy the benefit of a more user-friendly system for our clients. We have also recently implemented a quality management system and our partners of the Alliance are soon to be certified by an independent third party, Lloyd�s Registered Quality Assurance. MEETINGScope helps to demonstrate our client focus in line with our Quality Policy.

�We are especially excited about MEETINGScope�s instant-reporting feature,� continued Klint. �This kind of functionality enables us to take action immediately and have a much quicker recovery time in the service experience of the meeting planner.�

Klint said UniFocus staff members have gone out of their way to help them customize MEETINGScope� for BestCities Global Alliance�s challenging requirements.

�The UniFocus team has been very responsive and fast,� she said. �Since the nature of our alliance is truly global�as we�re in six different global time zones from Australia to Canada�this can be a challenging environment as most of our communication is virtual. UniFocus is doing a great job in adapting MEETINGScope to meet our specific needs. As we move out of the pilot stage, we believe the system will prove to be flexible enough for our different organizations while enhancing the approach of the Alliance team.�

�Our partnership with BestCities Global Alliance represents a major milestone in our ability to gain traction in the convention and visitors bureau space,� said Mark Heymann, UniFocus President and CEO. �UniFocus continues to gain mindshare in the hospitality industry as more companies take advantage of our Web-based technologies to optimize their service quality, performance, operations and profitability. We are committed to helping organizations such as BestCities Global Alliance grow their business by enabling them to acquire client feedback more efficiently, intelligently analyze that data and enhance service delivery.�

UniFocus executives have provided technology leadership to the hospitality industry for more than 25 years. The Dallas-based firm provides proven technology solutions to convention bureaus, hotels and resorts that enable operators to more efficiently manage their workforce and gain a 360-degree view of the employee and customer experience. Equipped with superior business intelligence and labor management technology, UniFocus clients optimize quality, satisfaction, operational efficiency and profitability � with a higher ROI.

UniFocus is a business partner of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.

MEETINGScope� is a Web-based solution that offers CVBs, hotels, resorts and other hospitality organizations a state-of-the-art tool that streamlines communications, engenders successful meetings, analyzes each aspect of key service-delivery factors, and provides historical data capture for trending and strategic planning�all of which combine to enhance relationships with meeting planners. 

Among the benefits MEETINGScope� offers are:

  • Web-based survey technology and e-mail correspondence�essential to reaching today�s busy meeting planners�that deliver higher response rates and maintain statistical reliability. 
  • Immediate �Hot Button� reports showing important service concerns, even in first-time-business situations. 
  • A database of more than 100,000 meeting-planner profiles. 
  • Benchmarking, team performance and results reporting across each department that are delivered in an online system in real-time. 
  • An integrated Action Plan Tracking System that ties in directly to MEETINGScope to ensure that proper service recovery occurs. 
  • MEETINGScope training and support provided by a UniFocus team that has decades of hospitality and meeting sales experience. 
For more information on MEETINGScope and other UniFocus management and financial solutions, visit the company�s Web site, www.unifocus.com

About BestCities Global Alliance

The BestCities Global Alliance is the world's first and only convention-bureau alliance with eight partners on five continents. The Alliance�s goal is to deliver the world's best service experience for meeting planners. The Alliance�s 33 service standards are unparalleled, and the destinations represented by the partners have the facilities, attractions and infrastructure to ensure a successful convention. The BestCities Client Service Charter�its solid commitment to clients�sets the benchmark in service standards for our partners and guarantees five key service attributes: Reliability, Assurance, Innovation, Empathy, and Responsiveness. For more information about BestCities Global Alliance, visit the organization�s Web site at www.bestcities.net
 
About UniFocus

Based in Dallas, UniFocus serves hospitality, casino and resort operations in the U.S. and overseas. UniFocus offers full-service operational analysis, management and staff training, financial and labor management applications, as well as staff, meeting planner and guest satisfaction measurement programs, along with a unique mystery evaluation system that can link service standard attainment to guest and employee perceptions. The resulting database allows UniFocus to uniquely correlate and benchmark each client�s performance to their particular competitive markets. Enhanced reporting capabilities allow hospitality executives to have a �total picture� overview of their operations, set strategic actions and gain asset value.

UniFocus is a Preferred Vendor of The Leading Hotels of the World®, a Microsoft® Certified Partner, an affinity partner of the International Association of Conference Centers, a business partner of the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, and an allied member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. For more information, visit www.unifocus.com or call 972-512-5100.

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Contact:

Barb Worcester
President/Principal
PRPRO
(440) 930-5770
[email protected]

Michael Adkisson
 Director of Public Relations
UniFocus, LP
Tel: (972) 512-5187 
[email protected]

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Also See: UniFocus� STAFFScope® Endorsed by Dallas CVB: �Tremendous Value� �Big D� Convention-Visitor Bureau Sees �Dramatic Increase in Employee Satisfaction� / April 2008
Prism Hotels & Resorts Rates UniFocus Second to None; STAFFScope® Evaluation Gets Crystal Clear Results / March 2008
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Sets Standard with UniFocus' Employee Feedback Solution; Top U.S. Resort Raises Bar with Web-based STAFFScope® / March 2008
Millennium Hotels and Resorts Selects UniFocus' MEETINGScope�; UniFocus' MEETINGScope is New Feedback Standard for All Millennium Hotel Properties in the United States / January 2008
UniFocus Client Improves Guest Satisfaction by 20%; Lions Gate Hotel and Other Independents Report Success with UniFocus' GUESTScope® 360-Degree Feedback Solution / January 2008
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Taps UniFocus for New Labor Management System / December 2007
Gemstone Chooses UniFocus Programs to Enhance Employee, Guest Satisfaction; Luxury asset management company now using GUESTScope® and STAFFScope® to provide positive reinforcement for staff and guests while building retention / October 2007
UniFocus to Unveil Mystery Shopping Evaluation Tool - SERVICEScope®; Susan Perrin to head new on-site service evaluation process providing actionable information with links to Guest and Employee Satisfaction / September 2007
Web-Based Time & Attendance Solution Now Available Through UniFocus; Web-based solution performs rich management reporting, advanced administrative functions and job costing capabilities to streamline payroll operations / September 2007
UniFocus to Showcase Labor Management and Business Intelligence Applications at HITEC; Greater intelligence means better marketplace positioning; Performance-management company to unveil new upgrades to coveted solutions / June 2007
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Selects UniFocus� Watson, R. M. � Financial Management Applications / May 2007
Hotel del Coronado Selects UniFocus� Watson, R. M.� Labor and Budgeter Financial Management Applications / March 2007
Coastal Hotel Group Selects UniFocus� Watson, R.M. � Financial Management Applications; Alliance Rivals Business Intelligence at Major Hotel Brands / March 2007
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