The Link to Better Business

Finding the perfect venue for a corporate function used to entail hours of research. No longer. Brand-new EliteMeetings.com, a free comprehensive website designed for planning professionals, puts an end to time-consuming searches, turning event planning into a simple, seamless task. With an extensive database featuring hundreds of North America's top resorts and hotels, the site allows planners to look for first-class properties to host conferences, events and incentive retreats.

In addition to its vast database, EliteMeetings.com offers resort and hotel profiles, as well as articles showcased in this magazine. Each property featured is carefully selected by the Elite Meetings Advisory Board (EMAB), a team of key players in the meetings and incentive industry.

"The fact that the EMAB members weigh in and rate properties based on their real experiences makes this website unique," says Glenna Fulks, Procurement Manager with AO North America and an EMAB member. "Other multi-property websites list any property, regardless of quality. EliteMeetings.com stands out because its advisory board members have actually held meetings at many of these properties."

The website is truly unlike any other tool available to planners. Other sites are often exclusive to specific brands or affiliations, but EliteMeetings.com lists all properties endorsed by the EMAB, regardless of brand and marketing affiliation. Rather than going for sheer volume, the website tailors its listings to planners seeking upscale, luxury and otherwise exceptional properties.

All EMAB-endorsed resorts and hotels qualify for a premium listing on EliteMeetings.com and for key placement in the site's searchable database. All of the properties featured in Elite Meetings magazine enjoy a prime location on the site as well.

Like the magazine, EliteMeetings.com is elegant and inviting-and equally important, easy to use. Perhaps the most appealing tool on the multifaceted website is its search component, which allows planning professionals to find a facility that suits their needs based on location, capacity and keyword.

"The layout of the site is remarkably reader friendly. You can go directly to the search tool, select the features you need for your corporate function, and receive numerous ideal matches-all within seconds," says EMAB member Hillary Bessiere, manager of the Americas sales events for Symantec Corporation. "Other websites require you to view numerous advertisements, sift through endless pages, and even send you to other sites to gather data.

EliteMeetings.com, on the other hand, is crisp, clean and functional; all the information you need is right there in one place. It's like a one-stop-shop for meeting planners."

As Bessiere notes, the property profiles on the site provide information that can't be found on industry sites, like the total number of rooms by type, ideal and maximum group sizes; transfer time to and from the airport; food and beverage group price averages; and detailed meeting space info. This makes it a crucial resource, says Fulks. "Departments are getting smaller and budgets are continually being trimmed. Planners are told to ëdo more with less.' EliteMeetings.com makes this possible," she explains. "It gives you instant access to factual and credible information."

Another feature unique to the website: planners can post reviews and ratings of the properties where they've held events, so fellow professionals get an exclusive inside scoop on venues. Of course, the website also gives hoteliers who cater to upscale groups the unique opportunity to showcase their properties online. If a hotel has qualified for Elite endorsement, it has the option of upgrading to a premium listing. Such a listing allows a resort or hotel to post additional information and images along with value dates and special group offers. The property also enjoys preferential placement in search results.

"The goal is to initiate business between luxury properties and planners, ultimately simplifying the planning process for both parties," says Bessiere. To that end, property profiles provide direct contact information to the hotel sales department-including names and titles-as well as a "Click to Talk" feature that instantly initiates a phone call. Additionally, planners can submit detailed RFPs to hotels through the website. "Honestly, I'm astounded that no one has created an online tool like this before," says Bessiere. "It's an innovation that will truly transform the luxury hotel and resort industry."