Jan 30
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners meeting planner help, rfp valet
Submitting RFPs through ConventionPlanit.com can now mean more business for independent meeting professionals.
That’s because ConventionPlanit.com is now offering free listings on its site to independent planners who submit at least three RFPs through ConventionPlanit.com.
“We recognize that association and corporate meeting planners with fewer internal staff resources than they used to have are increasingly turning to independent planners for help,” says ConventionPlanit.com Co-Founder Katherine Markham, CHME.
“So our site now helps these professionals connect. We also know that independent meeting planners have tight budgets, so they are always looking for free exposure opportunities like this.”
Independent meeting planners who submit three RFPs through ConventionPlanit.com will receive a free one-year Ruby level listing. Those who submit 10 RFPs will receive a Sapphire listing, and planners who submit 20 RFPs will get a Diamond listing.
Each higher listing level offers more features to display information on the site.
“Since we implemented our 24-Hour Response Guarantee for RFPs submitted through ConventionPlanit.com, we’ve seen a remarkable increase in the use of our three levels of RFP services,” Markham said. “Using our site for RFPs is quick and easy and removes the burden of follow-up from busy meeting planners. We make sure that connections are made and that planners receive the proposals they need on a timely basis.”
Planners can select meeting sites on ConventionPlanit.com and with a single click distribute an attached RFP to all them. Or they can fill out an RFP form on the site.
Those that want a higher level of service can choose the RFP Valet® program, where ConventionPlanit.com executives will help them narrow their search and provide additional follow-up services.
“All these services are free to the meeting planner and they all feature the 24-Hour Response Guarantee,” Markham explains. “There are no commissions or hidden fees – we simply connect planners and meeting sites and let them negotiate their own deals. Our compensation comes from the listing fees that hotels, resorts, convention centers, CVBs, and other suppliers pay to be part of the site.”
Meeting planners can click here to learn more about the ConventionPlanit.com RFP services.
Aug 17
Ashley ChalmersRFP, Tips for Meeting Planners meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet
Frustrated by slow response time to your meeting RFPs? Wish you didn’t have to keep calling to find out whether a property is going to respond?
It’s not that hotels don’t want your business – they do! They want to make sure they respond quickly to potential buyers, but they are often inundated with incomplete RFPs that need to be qualified, or RFPs get buried in their systems.
Meeting professionals can help themselves by following these 10 tips to increase RFP response time:
1. Do some homework and narrow your search to a short list of qualified properties.
2. Include a reasonable range of preferred dates and be clear about which dates are the first, second, or third choices.
3. Provide complete information about the number of rooms, number of attendees, overall meeting requirements, etc.
4. Send a verified room block history so the property can see a strong track record for the meeting.
5. Create a deadline for the response and a realistic time frame for the decision.
6. RFPs are taken more seriously if you avoid looking as if you’re fishing around for rates.
7. Provide rate thresholds for rooms and information on how the rooms will be fulfilled and paid.
8. Indicate how the decision will be made, including the steps properties can anticipate in the process.
9. Call the hotel sales department to ask about the status. Properties interested in landing business should have procedures in place to respond quickly to phone requests, especially if a planner is following up on a previous communication.
10. Consider using an online search directory to distribute the RFP and ensure that properties respond. ConventionPlanit.com offers an RFP Valet® service and guarantees that properties will respond within 24 hours to say whether they will send a proposal and when the proposal can be expected.
ConventionPlanit.com Principals and Co-Founders Katherine Markham, CHME, and David Markham also authored a column on this issue entitled “RFP Response Malfunction” that appears on MeetingsNet at http://meetingsnet.com/technology/hotels-respond-request-0810/. The column also appears in the August 2010 issue of Association Meetings, to be available onsite at the ASAE Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, California, August 21-24, 2010.
ConventionPlanit.com will also be available at the ASAE Annual Meeting in Booth #941 to provide more information and answer questions about the RFP Valet® service and other RFP distribution options.
Mar 02
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners meeting planner help, meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet
Researching properties and distributing an RFP is considered easy compared to the most daunting task at hand for a meeting planner – receiving timely responses (or responses, period, for that matter).
As a meeting planner, following up with multiple properties, wondering if your RFP was received, and actually receiving a quote can be an exhausting (and time consuming) game of cat and mouse. But that’s just how the system works, right? A hotel will respond on their schedule, not yours.
All hope is not lost! There is a fast, reliable, way to distribute your meeting requirements through ConventionPlanit.com and receive a guaranteed response within 24 hours!
It’s simple; here’s how:
1. Conduct property research and send RFPs through www.conventionplanit.com as usual (I recommend the fast “add to cart” feature; attach your specs and send to several properties at once).
2. Relax! The hard work is done.
3. Within 24 hours, you’ll rest assured that each property received your proposal, and you’ll know when to expect a response. (The CP RFP Team will send you a detailed summary).
And, best of all, since ConventionPlanit.com is commission-free, meeting planners use these services for free! Visit www.conventionplanit.com to get started, or email ashley@conventionplanit.com for more information.
Aug 19
Ashley ChalmersContests, RFP, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows ASAE & the Center, rfp valet, Trade Shows
As the attendees of the ASAE Annual Expo headed home today, Maureen Pickell, our friendly blogger from the show, offers some closing insights from the expo hall:
“Planners have been stopping by the ConventionPlanit.com booth in spite of the fact that we are not giving out prizes for playing booth games.
What is attracting the planners is a quick tour of the site and learning about our special RFP Valet American Express Reward card offer for using this service.”
…Well, maybe you can win a prize at our booth after all!
Jul 10
Ashley ChalmersContests, RFP, Tips for Meeting Planners meeting planner help, meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet
For a meeting planner, researching and booking a meeting is more complicated than selecting the number of rooms and date availability. The planning process is involved, tedious, and often frustrating.
With the rise of hotel and venue directories geared specifically for meeting planners, the process, no doubt has the potential to become far easier…if you can choose a website to use, that is.
The choices can be overwhelming, and many search directories are even adding hidden fees into costs for the planners, or requiring hotels to pay fees for each RFP they receive.
For a planner looking for an honest and free website to research and plan their meetings, check out ConventionPlanit.com.
What sets it apart? The RFP Assistance Service. Planners submit meeting specs, and ConventionPlanit.com’s team of experts research properties that meet the criteria – and send out the RFP to properties approved by the planner.
The properties respond directly to the planner, and ConventionPlanit.com steps in only if the planner asks for help receiving responses. The decision-making process remains entirely in the planner’s hands…and the service is entirely free.
Now, planners can even receive a $50 American Express-branded Reward card for using the service!
To get started, email your meeting specs to info@conventionplanit.com.
Mar 11
Ashley ChalmersContests, Misc Tidbits, Places to Stay, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners meeting ideas, meeting planner help, meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet, Tips for Meeting Planners
Did you know ConventionPlanit.com can help you craft the perfect RFP, for FREE?
We’ll even give you a $50 American Express Rewards Card — as a thank you!
Call 866-922-8988 or click here for free RFP assistance
Feb 11
Ashley ChalmersContests, Member News, News, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting ideas, meeting planner help, meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet
Want Personalized Assistance With Your RFP, For FREE?
Call Us Directly at 1-301-975-9458.
Dec 01
Ashley ChalmersContests, News, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners economy, meeting planner help, RFP, rfp valet
Welcome back to the work from the long weekend!
Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, I bet we could all use some extra cash now more than before…
…and for meeting planners it’s as easy as sending us your open meeting specs.
We’ll send you a $50 American Express Reward card AND help you find the perfect venue!
Sep 12
Ashley ChalmersNews, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting ideas, meeting planning services, RFP, rfp valet, Tips for Meeting Planners
Need a sample proposal or template for your meeting?
ConventionPlanit.com has you covered with our library of Sample Meeting Proposal Templates.
Access sample proposals and RFP examples from nearly every type vendor you can think of, from airlines to transportation, and everything in between…because let’s face it, we could all use an extra boost during crunch time.
Check back often for new submissions and ideas to make your meeting a success – or stay up to date with our rss feed!
May 07
Ashley ChalmersContests, RFP, Tips for Meeting Planners free $50, RFP, rfp valet
When meeting planners submit a request for proposal, they win a $50 American Express reward card.
How can you get paid for your job??
Just use ConventionPlanit.com’s free RFP Valet RFP assistance service now through June 15 and qualify.
It’s so easy – the experts help you find the perfect location, contact the properties and do all of the follow up for you…can you believe you’re the one getting paid in this deal?
Submit your request for proposal today and take advantage of this fabulous deal.
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