For one packaged price, destinations will be able to expose their sites to a multitude of planners via a live trip for a select group; exposure on MADSearch via a MADFam site (an online brochure with descriptions of the destinations, conference properties and related services); inclusion in MADNews, a weekly email bulletin sent to 18,000 hospitality professionals; a virtual video tour hosted on MADSearch and the destination�s website; and with feedback from the planners who participated in the FAM trip.  The video tours will be created by Destination View, a division of Visual Data and a well-known producer of high-quality Internet video tours.  Therefore, the entire planning industry gets to go on the FAM trip.  In addition, return on investment (ROI) is maximized because destinations receive all the above benefits for the one packaged price.

�MADSearch is again staying ahead of the competition by directing the flow of viewers� traffic directly to the destination and its offers,� said Madeline Daryadel, president of MADSearch.  �We are thrilled to work with Audrey Bird and International Meeting Planners, which brings another level of professionalism to the services MADSearch offers.�

�This new bundled service will allow Convention and Tourist Bureaus to better manage their budgeted familiarization trip dollars,� said Audrey Bird, Managing Director of International Meeting Planners. �Our new concept is state-of-the-art destination marketing utilizing today�s and tomorrow�s technology to benefit planners.�

While FAM trips have been a traditionally effective marketing tool, they are limited in their outreach because budgets are restricted to a small number of people who have the time and can physically visit the destination.   In addition, hosting destinations are looking for qualified meeting planners who will then in turn promote their venues.  IMP does the screening process, thereby eliminating travelers who are not qualified.  MADSearch�s �virtual FAM trip� offers hyperlinks and contacts for destinations, hotels and conference services directly from its site, eliminating costly and timely research and phone tag.   The lifespan of the FAM is no longer the original five-day excursion�now users can click on MADFam to instantly revisit the destination.

International Meeting Planners, Ltd. was founded in 1978 by Audrey Bird, a Certified Meeting Professional.  IMP provides planning services for all types of worldwide business meetings and incentive travel programs, and has organized events and served clients on every continent except Antarctica.

MADSearch is a one-stop-shop for the hospitality industry with detailed profiles of more than 5,000 meeting and convention properties worldwide.  This interactive online marketing venue allows planners to access 90% of the information necessary to plan a successful event.  There is no commission fee or transaction charge to utilize this cutting-edge and easy-to-navigate site.