Recent Press

Tysons Corner, Va.—March 2017—The first Cvent Elite Meetings Alliance (EMA) ever held in Puerto Rico received high praise for its collaborative atmosphere at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan. The three-day event, which took place February 26 through March 1, was hosted by Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent.

The 140 attendees included meeting planners and luxury hotel representatives from around North America and Latin America. The event kicked off for planners with a special Oscar-viewing reception on the evening of February 26. All attendees were officially welcomed at the event kick-off on February 27, which led into an education session by Lauren Caselli entitled "Making Event Industry Alliances: The New Rules of Networking." A tour of the hotel, which included insights into its storied past and recent renovation, plus one-on-one appointments and evening networking and dinner concluded the opening day. Day Two began with a keynote address from Kelly McDonald followed by a learning session from Jessie States of Meeting Professionals International, a new program partner for EMI. Afternoon one-on-one appointments, a tour of Old San Juan, and an evening off-site event and after party presented robust opportunities for business and networking. In all, some 800 scheduled appointments and numerous informal meetings took place.



Day Three began with a closing breakfast, followed by a beach clean-up and restoration activity arranged by Castillo Tours that gave attendees a chance to give back to the local community.

"Everything from the helpful staff to the Condado Vanderbilt’s blend of modern luxury and historic ambience contributed to a cohesive, inviting setting for business," says Kathleen Garcia, Cvent’s Vice President of Sales, Hospitality Cloud. "We could not have asked for better hosts. Their hospitality, together with the hotel’s inviting ambience, created an environment where buyers and suppliers were excited to do business."

Bonaventure Resort & Spa’s Senior Sales Manager Vera Shapiro echoed the assessment, saying, "The meeting was the perfect size, and the ratio gave us more time to connect. The hotel was just lovely and the hospitality I received by the staff was so attentive. I left with such a great impression of Puerto Rico."

Cvent has two additional Cvent EMA events slated for 2017. The next one will take place September 16 - 19 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The final EMA of the year will be held December 9 – 12 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida.



About Elite Meetings International by Cvent:
Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine. 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 innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.

About Cvent
Cvent, Inc. is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management company, with approximately 16,000 customers and 2,000 employees worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, email marketing, and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Santa Barbara, Calif., December, 2016—Elite Meetings International (EMI) by Cvent, a leading provider of integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals, held their fifth and final Elite Meetings Alliance (EMA) of 2016 at the brand-new Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif. The event, held November 6– 8, drew more than 120 meeting planning professionals and luxury hotel representatives from around North America, Central America, and Latin America.

The event began with a planner reception on November 5 beside Paséa’s beautiful pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Charcuterie and dessert stations lined the pool deck, where guests also enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres like lamb pops and a delicious beach-inspired drink dubbed the “The Eddie.” A guitarist entertained planners with a special song about the EMA. During the official kick-off party on November 6, SongDivision energized the party with musical trivia, games, and karaoke, followed by a plated dinner under the stars. A Monday-night “Fire and Ice” party wrapped up the EMA in dramatic style. After touring the lavish penthouse suite, guests were treated to a fresh seafood buffet, pasta stations, a homemade ice cream–sandwich bar, and lively DJ.



“Paséa offered EMA attendees a laid-back, California vibe that was a perfect antidote for busy schedules,” said EMI General Manager Kelly Foy. “Even though the hotel opened a short six months ago, Paséa dazzled all of us with their attentive service, delicious catering, and incredible beachfront locale. The atmosphere created an enticing backdrop for networking and a relaxed ambience for business.”

Paséa Hotel & Spa General Manager Scott Blakeslee said, “We couldn’t be more pleased or proud to have had the opportunity to host the EMA—to immerse an exceptionally qualified group of individuals into our laid-back luxury experience. Sharing experiences with dynamic planners and fantastic industry partners resulted in more than just a great time. It really validated our vision of being a coastal chic, world-class destination for group business.”

In addition to the 1,000+ appointments that took place during the first two days of the program, participants engaged in education sessions, provided by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and The Speaker Agency, on a variety of industry-relevant topics. Ross Schafer, a successful entrepreneur and television talk show host, educated the audience about how businesses can thrive in a millennial-driven society. Courtney Stanley, a marketing strategist and award-winning speaker, shared five tips for creating audience engagement throughout the course of an event.

Attendees experienced a new event schedule at the November EMA. While previous EMAs held educational sessions all day Sunday, and appointments Monday and Tuesday, the November EMA held one-on-one meetings Sunday morning through Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning, Daren Martin, the EMA’s long-time MC, closed out the program with the raffle prize drawing before a Clean the World CSR activity. Guests were able to make packs of toiletries that were donated to a local nonprofit.

Many other contributors added to the event’s success, including Muv, PCNametag, Boundless, Bookpal, Poppin, California Juice Company, Hosts Global Alliance, Visit Huntington Beach, Maui Jim, and Pacific City.

Cvent will be putting on three EMAs in 2017. The Condado Vanderbilt will be hosting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, February 27- March 1, 2017. The Broadmoor will be hosting in Colorado Springs, Co, September 16-19, 2017, and the Omni Orlando will be hosting in Orlando, Fl, December 9-12, 2017.


About Elite Meetings International
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine. 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 innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.

About Cvent
Cvent, Inc. is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management company, with approximately 16,000 customers and 2,000 employees worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, email marketing, and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Santa Barbara, Calif., - October 11, 2016—Elite Meetings International (EMI) by Cvent, a leading provider of integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals, held another successful Elite Meetings Alliance, its second in Mexico. The event, held at Paradisus Playa del Carmen Resort, September 25-27, 2016, included 765 one-on-one appointments, continuing education sessions eligible for Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credits, and numerous networking events.

Highlights from the event began with a kick-off reception at the Moët & Chandon Gardens, where planners indulged in Champagne, nitrogen marshmallows, and passed hors d’oeuvres of crocodile and lobster. Planners received a back-of-house tour of the housekeeping area, employee cafeteria, and restaurant kitchens—accompanied by an opera-singing tenor disguised as a chef.

"We could not have asked for better hosts," said EMI General Manager Kelly Foy. "They absolutely wowed our guests with five-star service from a staff as attentive as any we’ve ever seen. Meeting planners commented on everything from the exceptional room product to the excellent food and beverage options that catered to everyone, regardless of dietary needs. I’m confident they will return with a great deal of business for Paradisus Playa del Carmen as a result of their experience at the EMA."

Daniel Lozano, managing director of Paradisus Playa del Carmen and Elite Meetings Advisory Board member said, "Having the opportunity to host an EMA outside the US was a great opportunity. Buyers and suppliers alike have praised the quality of our hotel and the EMA experience overall. We value the trust that Elite Meetings by Cvent had in our brand."

The variety of educational sessions ranged from technology sessions with Cvent experts to the benefits of integrating corporate social responsibility into meetings, led by Meredith Martini. On Monday morning, a breakfast with keynote speaker Freddie Ravel offered a mini-concert of sorts. Larissa Shultz followed with a powerful session entitled "Six Degrees of What I Need," which planners said resonated on both a business and personal level. That night, following a full day of successful one-on-one appointments between meeting planners and hoteliers, the group gathered for a fiesta on Gabi Beach. On Tuesday, many participants joined in the scheduled CSR activity and prepared bags with donated white boards, crayons and coloring books, puzzles, and other supplies to a local school.

Many other contributors added to the event’s success, including EPIC DMC, BookPal, PCNameTag, Boundless, Maui Jim, Playworks, JSAV, and Andrew Shafer Visuals. 

The next and final EMA of 2016 will take place November 6–8 at the new Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif.


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About Elite Meetings Alliance
The EMA is a three-day, invitation-only event that brings together prequalified corporate and association planners with leaders in the luxury hotel industry to cultivate relationships and build business. It centers on private, personalized business development meetings, continuing education breakout sessions for CMP credit, and unique networking activities.

About Elite Meetings International
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine. 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 innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.

About Cvent
Cvent, Inc. (NYSE: CVT) is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management company, with more than 15,800 customers worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, email marketing, and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events. For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Santa Barbara, Calif., [September, 2016]—Print publications are still a powerful and appreciated resource for meeting planners and event decision makers even in today’s digital world. A recent Elite Meetings International (EMI) by Cvent survey has identified exactly how planners use Elite Meetings by Cvent magazine, a niche publication for high-end meeting and incentive travel that serves as a reference guide for sourcing meeting venues that is readily available when the decision-making process begins.

Key Findings

Print magazines sit on a book shelf, always available and relevant for long periods of time, while browser windows are closed at the end of every day. Nearly nine in ten (87 percent) of respondents reported using Elite Meetings magazine as a research tool for venue and destination sourcing throughout the year.

The magazine has proven to be particularly valuable when considering meeting destinations, a topic regarded as most interesting by approximately two in three readers (65 percent). In fact, 71 percent of surveyed planners stated that they use Elite Meetings by Cvent magazine for location ideas for future events. And thanks to the magazine, 50 percent of readers have acquainted or reacquainted themselves with properties which they would not have otherwise considered.

Elite Meetings by Cvent magazine reaches a hard-to-find audience of planners that often hold multiple roles in an organization. Interestingly, while most readers (58 percent) do not identify themselves solely as meeting planners, more than half (55 percent) plan five or more meetings a year.

Uncovering destinations is of highest interest to readers, but they also like to read about meeting planning inspiration (54 percent), hospitality trends (52 percent), food & beverage vendors (50 percent) and products and services for planners (40 percent).

"This year we proudly published our 10th Anniversary Edition, now with a fresh, new look. Our magazine’s glossy, high-quality photos provide an unparalleled visual experience that cannot be substituted digitally, which is critical for those planning meetings and events at luxury venues," said publisher Kelly Foy. "When we started a print magazine a decade ago many thought we would be short-lived, but in a cluttered online world a print experience can really help venues stand out."

EMI surveyed readers with an online poll from July 22 to July 29, capturing 347 total responses.

About Elite Meetings International
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings by Cvent magazine. 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 innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.

About Cvent
Cvent, Inc. (NYSE: CVT) is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management company, with approximately 16,000 customers and 2,000 employees worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, email marketing, and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Santa Barbara, CA – May 9, 2016—Elite Meetings International (EMI) by Cvent, a leading provider of integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals, concluded its first three Elite Meetings Alliances (EMAs) of 2016. Each three-day event, which included one-on-one meetings, continuing education sessions eligible for Certified Meeting Professional credits, and numerous networking events, resulted in high praise and equally high expectations for resulting business between the meetings and events planners and suppliers in attendance.

The first three EMAs of 2016 took place at the following EMI-certified Platinum Collection hotels:

• February 29–March 2 at the Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, VA


• March 20–22 at The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Charlotte, NC


• April 3–5 at the Island Hotel Newport Beach in Newport Beach, CA

Exit surveys conducted at each event showed that nearly 100 percent of both planners and suppliers in attendance said they would book business with a planner or supplier they met at their EMA. Additionally, nearly 50 percent of suppliers said they received four to six leads in the course of the three-day event they attended.

"The first three EMAs of 2016 exceeded our expectations. From our sponsors to the speakers and the teams at the resort and hotels, everyone went above and beyond to provide attendees with an unforgettable experience," said Kelly Foy, vice president of sales at Elite Meetings International. "As luxury group business continues to grow, we’re committed to raising the bar each year to provide both planners and suppliers with invaluable education and tools they need to conduct business."

Feedback from all three EMAs was uniformly positive, although each event was entirely unique. The year’s first event at Salamander Resort & Spa came with an unexpected weather delay as winter storm Jonas forced a last-minute postponement, something that most meeting planners must deal with during their careers. However, the hotel accommodated the event just three weeks later in extraordinary fashion. Foy praised the hotel’s efforts and said, "Salamander worked with us to reschedule an incredible event, and our attendees were delighted with the results." Highlights of the event came during the resort’s collaboration with local restaurants to showcase local wines and farm-to-table dining. Planners at the event were also among the first to see the 10th Anniversary edition of Elite Meetings magazine, which also received enthusiastic feedback.

Just three weeks later, the second EMA of the year kicked off at The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Attendees experienced quintessential Southern charm with a wonderfully entertaining “Bourbon, Brews, and Blues” reception at the Ballantyne’s private lodge. Attendees especially enjoyed a creative team-building event with Ella B Candles, and praised the inspiring keynote address from Matthew Tenney, whose presentation moved many in the audience to tears. A CSR activity with Stop Hunger Now offered planners and hoteliers a chance to give back to the local community.

The EMA headed west for the next event, to the Island Hotel, Newport Beach, where talented teams from Visit Newport Beach and ACCESS Destination Services orchestrated a planner welcome reception that invited attendees to customize their own pair of Havaianas sandals. One of several highlights for hoteliers and planners alike: the lunch banquet at Newport Beach’s high-end shopping destination, Fashion Island—complete with a flash mob. An official welcome from the mayor of Newport Beach and boat cruise around Newport Harbor that collected donations for the local food kitchen enhanced the third of the year’s EMAs.

Two additional EMAs will take place in 2016. The next will take place September 25–27 at Paradisus Playa del Carmen in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The last EMA of 2016 will take place November 6–8 at Pasea Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, CA. For more information on Elite Meetings Alliances, visit www.elitemeetingsalliance.com.

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About Elite Meetings Alliance
The EMA is a three-day, invitation-only event that brings together prequalified corporate and association planners with leaders in the luxury hotel industry to cultivate relationships and build business. It centers on private, personalized business development meetings, continuing education breakout sessions for CMP credit, and unique networking activities.

About Elite Meetings International
Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine. 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 innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.

About Cvent
Cvent, Inc. (NYSE: CVT) is a leading cloud-based enterprise event management company, with more than 15,800 customers worldwide. Cvent offers software solutions to event planners for online event registration, venue selection, event management, mobile apps for events, email marketing, and web surveys. Cvent provides hoteliers with an integrated platform, enabling properties to increase group business demand through targeted advertising and improve conversion through proprietary demand management and business intelligence solutions. Cvent solutions optimize the entire event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage hundreds of thousands of meetings and events. For more information, please visit www.cvent.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

"Safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the growth of the luxury group business market and expectations regarding the performance and results of the EMAs. The achievement or success of the matters covered by forward-looking statements involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, the company's results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to the risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including: our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2016, as amended on April 29, 2016; our Form 10-Q filed on May 5, 2016, and other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.