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Elite Meetings’ Technology is Now Being Used by CVBs, Conference Organizers and More, as the Traditional Trade Show Model Gives Way to Pre-Scheduled Appointment Efficiencies  Santa
Barbara,
CA – October 25, 2010
– FaceTime™ Appointment
Scheduler (www.FaceTimeScheduler.com),
an online system that
helps buyers and sellers request, create, and manage appointments at
meetings
and conventions, has connected more than 5,000 buyers and
suppliers at travel industry trade shows so far in 2010, and is
currently in
use by organizations ranging from the Dallas Convention and Visitors
Bureau
(CVB), to Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and companies
outside the
travel industry, according to Elite Meetings International (EMI), who
created
and owns the technology. “Responding to overwhelming demand from buyers and suppliers who used the technology at the 2010 MeetDifferent and the 2009 and 2010 Motivation Show conferences, we made our FaceTime™ Appointment Scheduler available as a universal appointment scheduling solution - and its adoption has been fast and furious,” said EMI’s CEO, Kelly Foy. “We are amazed at the level of interest FaceTime has generated in the travel industry and beyond,” said Foy. “Originally created as a simple, streamlined solution to help us organize our own meetings, like the Elite Meetings Alliance, we have received interest from many major players in the travel space, as well as from Fortune 500 companies – and the enthusiasm continues to grow.” Foy concluded, “As FaceTime gains in widespread use, we are incorporating the suggestions of planners and suppliers into enhancements that will provide even more value to event organizers and meeting professionals worldwide.” More information on FaceTime is available at www.FaceTimeScheduler.com or by calling (805) 730-1000. FaceTime Appointment™ Scheduler - Capabilities and Features Users of FaceTime Appointment™ Scheduler can research details, profiles and contact information for conference attendees in advance, and then use a proprietary messaging system to build relationships with other attendees even before the event begins. Users can set, organize, view, rearrange, and print appointments, all in one place. Buyers, suppliers, and show managers can view the appointment information differently, as FaceTime can be customized to the specific needs of every kind of event participant. “FaceTime Appointment™ Scheduler has been remarkably successful for us,”said Pete Erickson, managing director of The Motivation Show (IT&ME). He concluded, “In the two years of using the technology, 2009 and 2010, our attendees have been able to generate close to 3,000 appointment requests – resulting in booked business and the solidification of important relationships. In 2011, this robust technology will be made available to all 10,000+ of our advance registrants well in advance of the Show to dramatically increase the number of pre-scheduled appointments and improve attendee ROI.” According to Elite, the adoption of FaceTime both reflects and has hastened an industry trend - a movement away from scatter-shot sales efforts on trade show floors, and toward building direct relationships and pre-qualified sales appointments between buyers and sellers before a conference even begins. The unique features and benefits of FaceTime, include:
 About
FaceTime . . . and Elite Meetings InternationalCreated by Santa Barbara-based Elite Meetings International (EMI), FaceTime Appointment™ Scheduler is a proprietary streamlined technology for helping planners and suppliers request, create and manage appointments at events and tradeshows. Elite Meetings International 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 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. |