Meetings Are Worth the Cost!

Meetings are worth the cost. The Travel Industry Association of America compiled a comprehensive and aggressive campaign to change attitudes about meetings, events and incentive travel continues to reap results.

In addition to favorable stories this week on NBC's Today show, CNBC and the New York Times, an exchange yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives between Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV) is a clear sign that the tone has changed in Washington toward the value of business travel. Click here image or to play (may take a minute to buffer).The colloquy with Congressman Frank is a major win for our industry because it clarifies on the record the importance of business travel by the chairman of the Financial Services Committee and a respected House leader.

Remember corporate meetings, association meetings and incentive trips may be decreasing in size and budget, but they are worth the cost. To share industry information, as well as upkeep the morale of employees. This is a hard time for all America's, incentives are important -but must be kept in check.

As a HelmsBriscoe Manager for Global Accounts I can help make the meetings you have more cost productive. The exclusive partnerships we share with hotel brands, and convention and visitors bureaus is a one of a kind partnership. Try my site selection and contract negotiation skills. In this economy, you can't afford not to!

Saving Money At What Cost

Saving money on hotels and meeting venues is simple. Use HelmsBriscoe. HelmsBriscoe is the largest site selection firm in the World. We have more than 900 Associates (with each having over 10+ years experience) in 36 countries. HelmsBriscoe is every hotel chains largest client. That gives us incredible buying power, placing more than $700 million dollars in 2008.

Using HelmsBriscoe is a free resource with no contracts and no strings attached. How am I paid, if there are no fees? Great question. Using our services does NOT increase your room rate? In fact, our commission (10%) is built into the hotels marketing budget. I can supply quote after quote supporting this claim. Even hotels, without our asking, put that "room rates have not been increased," with the HelmsBriscoe associate commission.

I feel the need to explain this. More and more companies need what we have, but many don't understand our value. How could you not, call up on your own - get a rate of over $200 per night and get a comparable phone call from a HelmsBriscoe Associate to the same property - identical requests, with a rate of $139? I am working with a client now that can not believe the price difference. It is all in the buying power and our unique relationships with all major brands, as well as independents.

I also have another client that contacted a sports commission, after I had, and was told by the commission that using HelmsBriscoe will add $10 on to the hotel and that we get that amount off the top. The client was irate and called me. I calmly had to educate two sources, my client, who did not listen to me in the first place, and the sports commission for falsly educating a potential client.

I put alot of time into my clients and relationships with the hotels. I get the best possible concessions for meeting space, audio visual, room nights, food and beverage because I want the client to have money to put back into their pockets. It is my job to make their job seemless!

Speaking of putting money back into pockets. By using a HelmsBriscoe Associate, Starwood Family of properties, Hilton Family and Hyatt properties are offering GREAT rebates (3%-6%)back to YOUR master account. Most offers are good through 1st quarter 2010.

Take advantage of my buying power, resource tools and overall experience. Think of me as a FREE extension of your labor force. Lastly, think about budget cuts. Where do you need to cut? Let me assist you in making the best possible site selection for the least amount of money.