What's New in Meetings and Incentive Travel

News Briefs

ACTE Survey Shows Stronger Than Expected Impact from Recession

The global economic crisis has had a profound impact on the business travel industry, placing a new emphasis on corporate travel department objectives, procedures and existing contracts between buyers and suppliers, according to a recent survey conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). Compared with a similar survey conducted last year, there are dramatic changes in travel spends, areas of projected savings and the manner in which business travel may be conducted in the future. Last year’s survey reported that a third of travel managers would spend less on business travel in the coming year, 31% would spent the same and 36% would spend more. The current poll found that 71% of respondents will spend less on travel in 2009, with 21% claiming they will spend the same, leaving only 8% claiming they will spend more. The ACTE 2009 Business Travel Spend Survey revealed that the hardest hit area of business travel is internal meetings. ACTE research shows that member companies are targeting non-revenue producing (non-strategic) internal meetings, as these can constitute up to 40% of a travel budget. The growing popularity of electronic business travel alternatives is enabling companies to reclaim as much as 7.95 million Euro/$10 million USD from their travel budgets without compromising their travel objectives. The survey showed that interest in electronic travel alternatives jumped from 32% in 2008 to 50% in 2009, making it the number one ranked priority for this year. For a complete rundown of survey results, go to: www.acte.org/resources/press_release.php?id=400

Untapped Savings Opportunities Abound in Meetings Spending

A new survey from StarCite has revealed a wide gap between corporate travel and meetings oversight at a majority of companies. Although meetings and events represent as much as 35% or more of many companies’ travel spending, less than half the companies surveyed have an established Meetings Policy – in contrast with 95% of respondents who said their organizations have a formal Travel Policy. The survey also found that 39% of respondents apply their existing Travel Policy to their meetings programs. This practice presents challenges for meeting planners, since travel policies often lack spending categories that meeting planners use regularly, such as ground transportation. For companies that are eager to reap the rewards of an integrated meetings management program, StarCite outlines a systematic approach that includes:

• Linking disparate travel and meeting data
• Identifying synergies between corporate travel and meetings programs
• Creating specific meetings management policies that will address the unique challenges presented by corporate meetings. 

For a full copy of the StarCite white paper, go to: www2.starcite.com/starcite

ICCA’s Sirk Says Protectionism Not an Option

Martin Sirk, CEO of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), recently issued a statement concerning the debate over meetings and related expenses ignited by the global recession. “There have been some powerful PR efforts by our industry...to fight against negative media reports about “frivolous” or “excessive” meetings and events,” Sirk says. “What has been lacking in the debate so far is a defense of the international nature of our industry. We are concerned with making valuable new connections across cultures and beyond borders, bringing together doctors, lawyers, scientists, investors, academics, government officials, business leaders and others who would otherwise not have a chance to work together, to share knowledge and know-how to find solutions to challenges which themselves are blind to national boundaries. We want to see Americans and Indians attending meetings in Singapore that result in new capital investment in the U.S., Chinese engineers coming to Germany to share cutting-edge technical research, Brazilians meeting in Russia to discuss environmental solutions with Scandinavians, South Africans arranging business deals with Egyptians and Koreans in London: this is when the true value of our industry is unlocked. ICCA will be advocating strongly in favor of this viewpoint, and will be challenging any nationalistic, negative interpretation of what our industry exists for and why it is valuable. Hopefully, ICCA members around the world, understanding as they do the value of the key international association meetings sector, will stand up for the same principles. Competition between countries and cities is healthy, but protectionism is a real danger. Let’s make sure we don’t let it take root in our industry.” Read Sirk’s complete commentary at: www.iccaworld.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=1807

A Custom Fitting Program for Your Next Event?

It’s common for companies to add a nice gift for meeting or incentive program attendees. But a number of companies are now adding a little something extra to the experience by letting attendees choose their own gift or by providing extra “fitting” or consulting services to make sure individuals get something that’s special to them. Companies like Maui Jim, Bulova and others will set up a station at a meeting or event, and participants can come in for a “consultation” on what type of sunglasses best fit their face or what type of timepiece best fits their lifestyle.

Bulova offers its “Gift in Time Select-a-Watch” program through incentive travel distributors like Maritz, Carlton, and ITA for U.S. events. There’s a minimum purchase requirement that the trip sponsor would have to commit to, and the sponsor would also have to cover hotel expenses for the Bulova representative. Outside of the contiguous 48 states, sponsors would also have to cover travel costs.

Maui Jim has been doing custom fittings for its sunglasses at incentive travel and other events for seven or eight years now, and with a schedule of about 600 such events per year, it’s probably the current champion of custom sizing or custom gifting events.

What started as a way to make incentive program “pillow gifts” a more special experience has become a unique “white glove” experience for some Maui Jim clients. In fact, the customized sunglasses offering also works well as a “tee gift” for corporate golf outings. Maui Jim also pays for its own travel, with the client usually picking up hotel costs, and can also offer the service at destinations outside of the U.S.

Will the Recession Put Green Travel at Risk?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is no passing fad, according to the latest annual opinion poll by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and KDS, the European leader in on-demand travel and expense systems. However, certain aspects of CSR, such as ‘green’ forms of business travel, are beginning to suffer in the recession, as organizations prioritize cost-saving over supporting sustainable travel. Confounding the skeptics, the study found that companies are not being blown off course by the global recession in seeking to promote CSR:

• 61% of organizations now have a CSR charter (versus 53% in 2008)
• 27% of organizations prefer to do business with suppliers and partners with a CSR charter
• 28% of corporate travel departments are required to report to management on carbon emissions performance
• The most common CSR activities are reducing energy waste within company buildings (76% ), contributing to the local community (55%), cutting carbon emissions in production plants (34%) and using carbon offset arrangements (25%)

However, the survey also found that companies see cost-cutting as the top business travel concern (rated a high priority by 79% of companies), while environmentally sustainable travel is a high priority for only 17%. Overall, environmental sustainability is rated only a mid-level priority for business travel, ranked as such by 48% of organizations. And concern about environmental impact appears to be more of a European phenomenon: Only 35% of U.S. respondents said they would consider their carbon emissions when planning business travel, compared to 42% of Europeans. To view the full report, go to: www.acte.org/resources/press_release.php?id=401.

ACOM Establishes William Just Award

Following the loss of meetings industry visionary William H. Just, the Board of Directors of the Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM) is celebrating his commitment to the industry by establishing the Annual William H. Just CAE, CMP Memorial Award. The announcement of the award followed after ACOM’s annual conference, which was held from January 9-11, 2009 in New Orleans. Every year, the award will be presented to an ACOM member who has recently received his/her CMP certification, and will provide complimentary attendance to the ACOM Annual Conference, which helps to support their CMP status. Mr. Just passed away on December 19, 2008. He founded ACOM in 1988, having recognized the need for a professional society for convention services managers (CSMs). Look for more details on the award nominations in late 2009.

Insights From Meetings Update

It’s Time Everyone Discovers What We Already Know…

A full-court press by those in the meeting and incentive industries seeking to combat numerous media stories about questionable spending on such activities by bailout recipients is having a dramatic and positive effect. On March 11, travel industry leaders met with President Obama to discuss the unique role that travel can play in strengthening the American economy. The meeting focused on the urgent need to pass the Travel Promotion Act, which would establish the first-ever U.S. promotion and communications campaign to attract millions of additional international visitors to the United States annually and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. This followed on the heels of an industry meeting where guidelines (www.ustravel.org) were drafted that are designed to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as protect the one million American jobs supported by corporate meetings and events. While the metrics outlined in the guidelines are intended for the recipients of emergency government lending, other organizations may want to consider implementing the policy. The latest salvo in this continuing effort is a “Save Employee Motivation” website recently created by Incentive magazine that offers industry boosters the opportunity to electronically sign a petition (www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-employee-motivation) to send a message to legislators nationwide that they need to support the use of incentives in all forms. This electronic petition works in partnership with the efforts of the “Keep America Meeting” and “Meetings Mean Business” coalitions to make leaders in Washington aware of the severe economic repercussions of impeding incentive and meetings activities. Industry professionals can also utilize the resources found on the ‘Spread the Word” portion of the website to help promote the value of incentives to clients and communities around the country. We tip our hat to all the people who have taken the time to invest in this important effort – let’s continue to make sure our voices are heard!

Coming Up In SMERF Meetings Journal

The State of the Industry: 2009

The state of the meetings industry in early 2009 is…unsettled. For many, this year (and 2010 as well) will be a time of smaller budgets, fewer meetings, greater accountability and general cutbacks. But on the plus side (if a silver lining is to be found in all of this), planners will likely see lower room rates, better bargaining power and fewer nights on the road. That’s the general consensus among more than 2,700 planners who participated in MPI’s annual FutureWatch survey, as well as respondents to a SMERF Meetings Journal readership survey conducted last month. Check out these eye-opening stats in the soon-to-be-published Spring 2009 issue of SMERF Meetings Journal. To make sure you get your copy, go to: http://www.smerfmeetings.com/495.html

Unique Venue: Down on the Farm

After generations of Americans have spent their lives in cities, with supermarkets and restaurants as their only sources of food, farms and farming carry an air of mystery and intrigue as well. Capitalizing on Americans’ growing interest in agriculture, a number of working farms have begun opening to the public. Not just for school field trips or to sell Christmas trees in December and pumpkins at Halloween, some farms have established meeting space and designed programs for adults as well, offering unique, back-to-nature venues for meetings and events. In the next issue of SMERF Meetings Journal, we look at examples of historic venues in Minnesota, New Mexico, Virginia and Alabama.

News From Selling Communications Inc.

Get Face-to-Face With Corporate End-Users Through the Enterprise Engagement Alliance and New York Enterprise Expo May 12-13

Together with partners 1to1 Media, the Human Capital Institute and Peppers & Rogers Group, SCI now offers a unique integrated marketing package providing exposure to over 120,000 executives in human capital management and 130,000 in marketing and sales. The program includes an Enterprise Engagement education program and pavilion at The New York Incentive, Rewards & Recognition Expo for incentive companies, brands and other companies that seek to reach corporate end-users. This combined effort, which includes highly cost-effective marketing opportunities for sponsors, as well as research on engagement, represents the industry’s most targeted means of reaching end-users in general management, as well as senior human resources, sales and marketing management. For more information, go to: www.nyirr.com

Don’t Forget the Trade

All of the major media players in the incentive industry, including Selling Communications Inc., offer solutions to reach end-users via media or face-to-face events. If you’re still getting a lot of your business from incentive companies, promotional products companies and marketing services firms, consider that Motivation Strategies magazine is the only integrated print and media property specifically targeting the “trade” and offering measurable results at rates well below most other media. Please contact us to learn about low-cost, high-impact integrated print, e-mail and web advertising packages to reach the resellers and power-buyers who probably account for most of your current business.

Connect Your Marketing to Transactions

Does your organization have a transactional website to handle bulk sales of merchandise to qualified buyers or points programs for incentive companies? The incentive industry is one of the few areas of business that doesn’t have a true transactional model to support its end-users and incentive companies. The Corporate Rewards Exchange is a cooperative effort of leading brands, incentive fulfillment firms and incentive companies to build a new distribution channel for sale of gifts to corporations, incentive companies and marketing services firms. The CRE enables brands to tap into a large ad hoc market for bulk gifts and rewards in a way they can carefully control, providing a powerful means for incentive companies to more effectively use their products in reward programs via a highly automated billing, redemption, tracking and customer service system. It’s designed to support all of the current players in the incentive marketplace by providing a more efficient means of offering rewards to end-users and incentive companies, at a very low cost. For more information, please contact us for a demo.

About Selling Communications, Inc.

Selling Communications, Inc. is a fully integrated, target marketing, media and technology agency that improves results for clients by focusing on the people who matter most. We can help your business grow and save you money by targeting key prospects, getting their permission and strategically integrating your marketing and sales communications with the specific audiences most likely to affect your business performance.

Take advantage of these SCI services to improve your business development:

• Results Marketing Agency Solutions: Identify and get permission to communicate with the people who matter most through an integrated program rooted in permission-driven databases, direct mail, e-mail, Web sites, brochures, newsletters, public relations and sophisticated telephone sales that produce results. Go beyond the traditional sales and marketing approach by providing useful information and resources to build better, more measurable relationships.
  
  
• Target media: Build your brand and bring it directly to your power buyers through our stable of established niche print and online magazines in the sales, marketing and meetings fields (including this newsletter), the Sales Marketing Network at Info-now.com and SMERF Meetings Journal.
  
  
• Integrated Communications Technology:Build permission-based databases through Solata software to effectively communicate with the people who want to hear from you and precisely track the results in real time. Solata is also available to other media companies and marketing agencies seeking to profit from integrated, permission-based marketing and communications.

For more information on Selling Communications, its products and services, contact Jim Kilmetis at 914-591-7600, ext. 229 or send an e-mail to jkilmetis@sellingcommunications.com.

Tapping new customers, and keeping those you already have, costs less than you’d imagine...

Web Sites For Meeting And Incentive Travel Planners:

Abercrombie & Kent brochures http://www.abercrombiekent.com/

Adventure Center (affordable adventures) http://www.adventurecenter.com/

Adventure Outfitters http://www.americaoutdoors.org/

Adventure travel planning
http://www.gorp.com/ 
http://www.adventurecenter.com/ 
http://www.wildernesstravel.com/

Adventure travel: American Wilderness Experience http://www.awetrips.com/

Adventure travel (Great Adventure People) http://www.gapadventures.com/.

African tour operator/groups, incentives http://www.africanhorizons.com/

Air charters for groups http://www.airchartertravel.com/

Airlines: http://www.easybiz.alaskaair.com/
http://www.aa.com/ (American )
http://www.british-airways.com/
http://www.delta-air.com/
http://www.frontierairlines.com/
http://www.lufthansa-usa.com/
http://www.nwa.com/ (Northwest)
http://www.swabiz.com/ (Southwest)
http://www.usairways.com/

AIPC (Association Internationale des Palais de Congr¶s) http://www.aipc.org/

Airports in U.S. and abroad; terminal maps http://www.quickaid.com/

Air Travel Safety http://www.airsafe.com/

Alabama Vacation Guide http://www.touralabama.org/

Alberta, Canada: travel packages, activities, and events http://www.travelalberta.com/

Alternative Hawaii http://alternative-hawaii.com/

Amazing Japan http://www.amazingjapan.info/

Amelia Island (FL) Tourism Council http://www.ameliaisland.org/
“Virtual” visit to the 18-sq.-mile barrier island
360-degree photography, Accu-Weather’s up-to-the-minute island weather reports.

American Hotel & Motel Association. http://www.ahma.com/

American Hotel & Motel Association reservations online http://www.worldres.com/

American Meetings & Conventions, Inc. (destination management, trade shows, conference management support, special events, team building) http://www.amcfl.com/

America Outdoors 2002 Outdoor Directory and Family Vacation Guide http://www.americaoutdoors.org/

American Society of Travel Agents http://www.astanet.com/

Anaheim/Orange County (CA): http://www.anaheimoc.org/

Anaheim (CA) Visitor & Convention Bureau http://www.anaheimoc.org/

Anchorage, Alaska http://www.anchorage.net/

Anchorage, Alaska Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.anchorage.net/

Arizona Tourism http://www.arizonaguide.com/
http://www.arizonavacationvalues.com/

Auction: Small independent hotel, resort stays http://www.bidtripper.com/

Austin-Lehman Adventure Travel (reservations, catalog) http://www.austinlehman.com/.

Australia http://www.australia.com/

Austrian Meetings info-@oewnyc.com

Bahamas destination management company sunsandsea_bs@yahoo.com

Banff/Lake Louise Canada Tourism Bureau http://www.banfflakelouise.com/

Bargains and travel advice http://www.1travel.com/

Bass Hotels & Resorts (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts): http://www.basshotels.com/

Belgium Tourist Office: http://www.visitbelgium.com/

Belize http://www.travelbelize.org/

Belize Tourism Board http://www.travelbelize.org/.

Biztravel: plan travel, buy tickets: http://www.biztravel.com/

Bid4Vacations: Helps resorts, golf resorts, spas and other vacation-oriented travel providers market last-minute or low season inventory through online auction. http://www.bid4vacations.com/ (Hoteliers, e-mail Pamela Bergeson at info@Bid4Vacations.com)

Budget travel http://www.budgettravel.com/

California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns http://media.cabbi.com/

California Tourism (more than 450 new vacation values from every region) http://www.visitcalifornia.com/.

California Travel & Tourism Commission (practical information and hundreds of discounts and special packages) http://www.findyourselfincalifornia.com/

Canada Tourism
Alberta http://www.travelalberta.com/
British Columbia http://www.hellobc.com/ 
Manitoba http://www.travelmanitoba.com/ 
New Brunswick http://www.tourismnbcanada.com/
Newfoundland and Labrador http://www.gov.nf.ca/tourism 
Northwest Territories http://www.nwttravel.nt.com/ 
Nova Scotia http://www.explorens.com/ 
Nunavit http://www.nunatour.nt.ca/ 
Ontario http://www.ontario-canada.com/ 
Prince Edward Island http://www.peiplay.com/ 
Québec http://www.tourisme.gouv.qc.ca/ 
Saskatchewan http://www.sasktourism.com/ 
Yukon http://www.touryukon.com/

Canadian art Canada House http://www.canadahouse.com/

Caribbean culture, news, and travel. http://www.caribbeansearch.com/

Carnival Cruises: http://www.carnival.com/

Car rental cos. http://www.alamo.com/
http://www.avis.com/
http://www.dollar.com/
http://www.hertz.com/
http://www.national-car.com/
http://www.thrifty.com/

Cayman Islands: http://www.caymanislands.ky/

Celebrity Access http://www.celebrityaccess.com/

Chicago (info for meeting attendees) http://www.meetinchicago.com/

Cheap Travel Listings: Farebeater (online booking that searches best price) http://www.1travel.com/

Colorado presents: “The first hospitality industry virtual trade show” http://www.coloradolodging.com/

Conference Centers of Europe (Historic) http://www.historic-centres.com/

Consolidator and Published Fares Database for Lowest International Airfares EconomyTravel.com

Convention/visitor bureaus http://www.imps.net/

Conworld (directory of meeting-related Web sites) http://www.conworld.net/dir/index.htm

Corporate Voyages at Sea http://www.corporatevoyages.com/

Cruise sites:
About.com. (Reviews, discounts) http://cruises.about.com/
Charternet http://www.charternet.com/ 
Cruise Ship Center http://www.cruise4.com/ 
Fielding’s Cruisefinder http://www.fieldingtravel.com/ 
Small Ship Cruises http://www.smallshipcruises.com/ 
The Wheelhouse (Names, addresses cruiselines) http://www.stutt.com/

Culture Finder: Find cultural events, buy tickets, anywhere in U.S.:www.Culturefinder.com

Currency converter online http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic

Custom multisport vacations for groups of up to 100 http://www.austinlehman.com/

Customized maps and door-to-door driving instructions http://www.mapquest.com/

Danish Tourist Board http://www.dt.dk/

Darwin, Australia, Northern Gateway Group of Companies (destination management): http://www.norgate.com.au/

Destination Kenya http://www.desken.com/

Destination management companies in many countries: http://www.euromic.com/

Destination management, tradeshows American Meetings & Conventions Miami Lakes FL http://www.amcfl.com/

Destination Management: USA Hosts http://www.usahosts.com/

Diners Club: http://www.dinersclubus.com/

Disabilities: U.S. Dept. of Transportation site for travelers (text of Americans with Disabilities Act, guide to lodging complaints, info on Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses, cruise and tour options for people with wheelchairs) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ada

Discount airfares and hotel specials http://www.cheaptickets.com/

Disney Meetings http://www.disneymeetings.com/

Disney World Vacation Planner http://www.disneyworld.com/
(custom or fast packages)

DMC Quick-Finder (1,856 DMC’s in 303 destinations around the world) http://www.conworld.net/quick-finder

Driving directions, info http://www.drivethere.com/

Dude ranch vacations http://www.gorpranches.com/

Durham, NC http://www.visitdurham.com/

Durham, NC
Meeting Planner info http://www.durham-nc.com/meeting/meeting_video.html 
Group Tour Overview http://www.durham-nc.com/group/overview.html 
Durham meeting venues: Magic Butterfly Wings House - http://www.ncmls.org/meetingsparties/meetpart.asp
http://www.durhamnc.com/group/features/magic_wings_butterfly.html
North Carolina Museum of Life and Science - http://www.durham-nc.com/visitor/things_to_see/nature_science.html
Doris Duke Center http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/future.html
Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University http://www.durham-nc.com/group/features/duke_gardens.html

e-mail address finder: http://dantzig.ee.ucla.edu/misc/eaddress.html.

e-mail retrieval anywhere http://www.worldroom.com/
http://www.thatweb.com/

Encyclopedia of Cities for meeting and event planners. http://www.meetingcity.com/

European Federation of Conference Towns http://www.efct.com/

Event home page http://www.event411.com/

Event management, customized Web sites, automated registration http://www.seeuthere.com/

Event Planners (Event Planners Plus software): http://www.certain.com/order.html

Event source (hotels, meeting facilities) http://www.eventsource.com/

Extraordinary Events (redone) http://www.extraordinaryevents.com/

Family travel planning info: http://www.familytravelfiles.com/

Finnish Tourist Board http://www.finland-tourism.com/

Fishing Incentives http://www.greatalaska.com/

Florida (“Culturally Florida” program) http://www.culturallyflausa.com/

Florida Keys http://www.fla-keys.com/

Florida meetings and incentive management http://www.floridatravelsolutions.com/

Florida vacation planner (Absolutely Florida and Delta Vacations and Continental Vacations): http://www.funandsun.com/

Florists worldwide: B. Brooks Fine Flowers http://www.bbrooks.com/

Foreign currency: Chase http://www.currency-to-go.com/

Foreign event planning (interact with peers) http://www.mpoint.com/

Foreign languages for travelers http://www.travlang.com/languages

Foreseeable risk analysis (includes guide to hotel safety) http://www.frac.com/

(For meeting planners) Sport fishing trips worldwide http://www.sfww.com/

Four11.Com: Find anyone, anywhere: http://www.four11.com/

Frequent flyer news and information http://www.webflyer.com/

Ft. Lauderdale, FL http://www.sunny.org/
Flash technology, simplified navigation

German Convention Bureau: http://www.gcb.de/

GES Exposition Services: http://www.gesexpo.com/

Golf Sites:
The Golf Channel Online http://www.thegolfchannel.com/ (Instruction)

Course Directories:
Golf Guide http://www.golfguide.com/ 
GolfCaddie http://www.golfcaddie.com/ 
GolfUniverse http://www.golfuniverse.com/

Amateur Golf Advisor (driving, buying clubs) http://www.tagagolf.com/ 
Bad Golf Monthly (for high handicappers) http://www.badgolfmonthly.com/ 
Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore Archive (pix, trivia, sound clips) http://www.bushwood.net/ 
Golf Online (tips, tournament reports, travel) http://www.golfonline.com/ 
Mr. Golf Etiquette http://www.mrgolf.com/ 
Tiger Woods Official Golf Web site http://www.tigerwoods.com/
Trivia Golf Country Club http://www.triviagolf.com/
United States Golf Association http://www.usga.com/

Government information for international travelers: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook (annual fact book with basic geopolitical info)

http://www.cdc.gov/travel (info on immunizations, disease outbreaks, cruise ship health, and safety violations)

Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (interactive; create and e-mail RFPs to 3,500 suppliers, 350 of them hotels) http://www.meetingpath.com/

Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau tours: http://www.bostonusa.com/

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.tropicoolmiami.com/

Greensboro, N.C.CVB http://www.greensboronc.org/.

Greensboro, NC (hot deals/discounts) http://www.greensboronc.org/

Green Route (Incentive/meeting information on South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique) http://www.greenroutedmc.co.za/

Harrison Conference Centers http://www.harrisonconference.com/

Hawaii, Big Island http://www.bigisland.org/

Hawaii’s Big Island: Big Island Visitors Bureau http://www.bigisland.org/

Kona Kohala Chamber of Commerce http://www.kona-kohala.com/

Kona Kohala Coast Resort Assn. http://www.kkra.org/

Bishop Museum Botanical Garden http://www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell/

Atlantis Submarines http://www.goatlantis.com/

Big Island Mountain Biking http://www.interpac.net/mtbike

Captain Zodiac Raft Adventures http://www.planet-hawaii.com/zodiac/kona.html

Destination Big Island http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ (travel section)

Flumin’ Da Ditch/HMV Tours http://www.kohalakayaks.com/

Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce http://www.gohilo.com/

Paniolo Hawaiian Cowboy http://www.rodeohawaii.com/

Parker Ranch http://www.parkerranch.com/

Hawaii: Research, comparison shop, and make reservations for Hawaii’s best attractions http://www.hawaiiactivities.com/

Helsinki-Finland Congress Bureau (site for meeting planners) http://www.hfcb.fi/

Historic Conference Centres of Europe: http://www.historic-centres.com/

Historic Palaces of London: http://www.hrp.org.uk/

Holland: http://www.goholland.com/

Hospitality Industry: http://www.hotel-online.com/

Hospitality Sales Workshops Virginia Tech http://www.conted.vt.edu/hospitalityreg.html

Hotel and meeting facilities http://www.meetingcity.com/

Hotel companies
http://www.meetings.basshotels.com/
http://www.fourpoints.com/
http://www.hilton.com/
http://www.hyatt.com/
http://www.luxurycollection.com/
http://www.marriott.com/
http://www.renaissancehotels.com/
http://www.sheraton.com/ 

Hot dates/rates http://www.hotdateshotrates.com/

Hot deals and updated info on 800 resort properties in NA and Caribbean; free monthly newsletter available http://www.resortsource.com/

Hotel de Crillon (Paris) http://www.crillon.com/

Hotel directory (destination-based); over 60,000 hotels worldwide: http://www.all-hotels.com/

Hotel discounts http://www.travelscape.com/

Hotel Sales & Marketing Assoc. Intl. (HSMAI): newly redesigned web site; new search function and design http://www.hsmai.org/

HotelView (online hotel directories with hotel video tours) http://www.hotelview.com/

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts (special corporate offer): http://www.hyatt.com/corporate/specialoffers/meeting/meeting_category.jhtml?ssnav=2

Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek (Avon, CO) live on net http://www.vail.net/hyatt

Hotel Reservations Network (buys hotel rooms in bulk; sells at discount): http://www.180096hotel.com/

IntelliTRIP engine that searches and compares fares from airlines’ own res system and FlightTRACKER, realtime info on flight arrival and departure http://www.trip.com/

International Association of Conference Centers: http://www.iacconline.com/

International SOS Assistance, Inc. (assistance for traveling abroad: pre-trip medical referral information, medical monitoring, medical repatriation, hospital admission deposit guarantee, dispatch of doctor or specialist, etc.) http://www.intsos.com/

Internet Address Finder: http://www.iaf.net/

Internet reservation service http://www.travelweb.com/

Intl. Assn. Of Convention & Visitor Bureaus http://www.iacvb.org/

Israel Ministry of Tourism: http://www.goisrael.com/
Updates on Middle East situation

Israel slide catalog (400 images) for travel trade use: http://www.goisrael.com/slides

Istanbul, Turkey Convention Bureau: http://www.icvb.org/.

Jacksonville, FL access to golf tee-times http://www.lastminutegolfer.com/

Japanese Museums http://www.dnp.co.jp/museum/icc-e.html

Japan National Tourist Org. http://www.japantravelinfo.com/

Japan National Tourist Organization (U.S/Canada info) http://www.japantravelinfo-com/

Kentucky Celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition: Filson Historical Society (significant L & C collection) http://www.filsonhistorical.org/

Re-enactment of 9 Kentucky landings of L & C Expedition http://www.lewisandclark.net/

Canoe Kentucky : Follow the re-enactments in canoes http://www.canoeky.com/

Korea National Tourism http://www.knto.or.kr/

Korea: Seoul Metropolitan Government (culture and tourism) http://www.visitseoul.net/

Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland (Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva) Lists programs with prices, programs, extras. http://www.lgrmice.com/

Lake Tahoe, NV http://www.virtualtahoe.com/meetings

Las Vegas: ( travel booking capabilities for airfare, hotel, car and golf, plus exclusive “insider tips” on everything from bachelor parties and weddings to golf, spas and shows. Even 24-hour itineraries. http://www.lasvegas.com/.

Lee Island Coast of Florida Visitors Guide. http://www.leeislandcoast.com/.

Letters sent by e-mail and mailed anywhere in world http://www.letterpost.com/

London Convention Bureau: http://www.londontown.com/

London hotels, restaurants, pubs, entertainment http://www.londonelite.com/

Looking4U Inc., Community bulletin board to find people, leave messages: http://www.looking4u.com/

Low air fares:
http://www.air-fare.com/
http://www.bestfares.com/
http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.etn.nl/discount.htm
http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.frommers.com/
http://www.1travel.com/
http://www.previewtravel.com/
http://www.skyauction.com/
http://www.sys1.com/
http://www.thetrip.com/
http://www.travelocity.com/

Luxury barge cruises http://www.bvassociates.com/ (Click on “Europe’s Grand River Boats.”)

MADSearch (puts meeting planners in touch with hotels and conference services worldwide; “access 90 percent of information needed to plan an event” at no charge): http://www.madsearch.com/

Malta (meetings and incentive travel management) http://www.demajo.com/sit

Manhattan Hotel Rooms (midtown) - discounted http://www.hotres.com/

Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan (Orlando, FL) http://www.marriott-village.com/

Mauna Kea Resorts, Hawaii http://www.westinhapunabeachprincehotel.com/
http://www.westinmaunakeabeachhotel.com/.

Medtronic Physio-Control (manufacturers of external defribrillators for hotels, airlines, conference centers, etc.) http://www.physiocontrol.com/

Meeting guide (entry level; tools) http://www.mmaweb.com/meetings

Meetings Industry Mall http://www.mim.com/

Meeting locations http://www.meetinglocations.com/

Meetings organizations
(American Assn. Of Assoc. Execs.) http://www.asaenet.org/
(Intl. Assn. Exposition Mgmt.) http://www.iaem.org/
(Intl. Congress & Conv. Assn.) http://www.icca.nl/
(Dest. Mgmt. Cos.) http://www.dmc-net.com/
(Meet. Professionals Intl.) http://www.mpiweb.org/
(Prof. Conv. Mgmt. Assn.) http://www.pcma.org/
(Trade Show Exhib. Assn.) http://www.tsea.org/.

Meeting Planning on the Web http://www.mpoint.com/.
"Virtual" site inspections.
View over 50,000 facility and supplier profiles. Compare facilities side by side.

Meeting Planning, site selection http://www.eventsource.com/

Meeting planner tips http://www.meetingplannertips.com/

Meeting Professionals International: http://www.mpiweb.org/

Meeting venues in New England http://www.meetingpath.com/

Meetings by Internet MyPlaceWare http://www.placeware.com/biztravel2

Melville Exhibition Services of London: http://www.melville-exh.co.uk/

Messe (Tradeshow) Dusseldorf http://www.mdna.com/

Mexico: http://www.mexico-travel.com/. Also, for tourists to check out safety precautions being taken by Mexico: http://www.safemexico.com/.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (redone) http://www.mgmgrand.com/

Miami Beach Marriott at South Beach http://www.miamibeachmarriott.com/

Micato Safaris http://www.micato.com/

Microtel hotels http://www.microtelinn.com/

Monaco Tourist Office: http://www.monaco-tourism.com/

Motivate with incentives http://www.incentivecentral.org/

MPIWeb: MPI Foundation Multicultural Initiative — Online forum to promote and expand business among multicultural markets; educate meeting professionals about multiculturalism. Research and demographics for untapped, yet economically viable, markets such as Hispanic, African-American and Asian. http://www.mpiweb.org/

Napa (CA) River Inn http://www.napariverinn.com/

Nassau/Paradise Island http://www.bahamas.com/

National Geographic Trip Finder http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explore

National hotel booking by state American Hotel & Motel Assoc. http://www.gotrooms.com/

Netherlands Tourist Office: http://www.incentiveholland.com/ or http://www.nlcongress.nl/

Nevada Carson City http://www.carson-city.org/

Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada test site) http://www.aleinn.com/

Humboldt Chamber of Commerce http://www.winnemucca.org/

Lake Tahoe Incline Village & Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau http://www.gotahoe.com/

Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce http://www.virtualtahoe.com/tdchamber

Eastern Nevada http://www.state.nv.us/stparks

Great Basin National Park http://www.nps.gov/grba

Northeastern Nevada http://www.elkocva.com/

Scenic Byways http://www.renotahoe.com/, http://www.redrockcanyon.blm.gov/

Norwegian Cruise Lines http://www.ncl.com/

Online City Guide w/discounts http://www.onlinecityguide.com/

New York City Special event venues http://www.paintthetownred.net/

Exciting things to do http://www.events-nyc.com/.

New York City Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.nycvisit.com/

Norfolk VA (online booking, RFPs) http://www.norfolkcvb.com/

North American Partnership for Responsible Hospitality (April 26 and October 25, online issue forums) http://www.hospitalityweb.org/naprh/forum/1-26

Northern Kentucky (Cincinnati area) online packages http://www.staynky.com/

Northern Lights: Kayaking Trips http://www.seakayaking.com/

Northwest/KLM Airlines: http://www.klm.nl.alliance/ Click either’s Seal.

Norwegian Cruise Line http://www.ncl.com/

Offsite: New, downloadable software that helps planners gauge airfare, hotel, and misc. costs for meetings. http://www.dscr.dla.mil/dorra/offsite/homepage.htm

Ohio tourism http://www.ohiotourism.com/

Online conferencing services (all fee) http://www.astound.com/
http://www.caucus.com/
http://www.clipscom.com/

Online events: Edu. News & Entertainment Network http://www.enen.com/
Intervu Netpodium http://www.netpodium.com/
Placeware http://www.placeware.com/

On-line registration services http://www.b-there.com/
http://www.eventregistration.com/
http://www.houseol.com/
http://www.register123.com/
http://www.isignupnow.com/

Orlando Convention & Visitor Bureau Meeting Planners http://www.orlandoinfo.com/cvb/meet/index.cfm

Orlando, FL (comprehensive) http://www.orlandoinfo.com/

Orlando, FL, CVB (meeting facilities) http://www.orlandoinfo.com/cvb

(restaurants) http://www.dineinorlando.com/

Orlando, FL, vacations http://www.orlandoinfo.com/

Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center (comprehensive meeting and convention information, virtual tour, interactive floor plans, client testimonials, "RFP express" (request for proposal), 24-hour customer response) http://www.marriottworldcenter.com/

Other Kentucky sites:
Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.gotolouisville.com/.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail (free tours of 7 distilleries) http://www.kybourbon.com/ 
Bourbon dining at Seelbach Hilton, Louisville http://www.seelbachhilton.com/ 
New $2.5 million Louisville Extreme Park (skateboarders, bladers, bicyclists) http://www.louky.org/skatepark 
Restored home of late Bill Monroe, "Father of Bluegrass" http://www.billmonroefoundation.com/ 
International Bluegrass Museum, Owensboro http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/

Oxnard, CA: Destination Guide oxtour@west.net

Visitors Guide http://www.ventura-usa.com/

Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts: http://www.panpac.com/

Party planning sites; managing beverage service http://www.hospitalityweb.org/partyline

Passenger rights for airlines http://www.passengerrights.com/

Pennsylvania Travel Planner http://www.experiencepa.com/

Perfect Meeting (Designs Event Consulting) http://www.perfectmeeting.com/

Perry Golf Travel Research http://www.perrygolf.com/

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.libertynet.org/phila-visitor

Poipu (HI) Beach Resort Association (visitors can plan their daily activities prior to arriving on Kauai, using Flash technology to view 56 activities; print out daily schedule) http://poipuadventure.com/.

Ponchartrain Hotel, New Orleans http://www.pontchartrainhotel.com/

Portugal meetings, incentives: http://www.mice.portugalinsite.com/

Portuguest Tourist Office: http://www.portugalinsite.pt/

Post your meeting specs online, at no cost, without using an RFP http://www.mpbid.com/

PRA Destination Management, Inc. http://www.pra.com/.
( Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, Palm Springs,
Phoenix-Scottsdale, San Antonio, San Diego, San Diego

PrestigeEvents (events management), NYC http://www.prestigevents.com/

Princess Cruises; nearly 1,000 electronic pages. Itineraries, destinations, downloadable screen saver, cruise-themed icons, on-board experiences, and BridgeCam: live views of scenery seen by ships’ officers, updated every 60 seconds. http://www.princess.com/

Promomart (business gifts): http://www.promomart.com/wsj

Public relations: Nadine DeGenova Public Relations Group http://www.prproof.com/

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau (complete a meeting accommodations criteria form, get list of properties that meet criteria, do online Requests for Proposal, e-mail your own RFP forms, download brochures, find complete member hotel information, meeting room layouts and photos): http://www.meetpuertorico.com/

Queensland, Australia: http://www.qttc.com.au/

Quirky guidebooks to interesting places http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Radisson Cable Beach Resort groups@radissonbahamas.com

Railroad incentive trips:
Verde Canyon Railroad, Arizona http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/ 
Georgetown Loop, Colorado http://www.georgetownloop.com/ 
Royal Gorge Rte Railroad, CO http://www.royalgorgeroute.com/ 
River Odysseys West http://www.rowinc.com/

Reno/Tahoe International Airport http://www.renoairport.com/

Rent LCD projectors and laptop computers nationwide http://www.rentquick.com/

Riverboat cruises (European) http://www.bvaassociates.com/
(click on Europe’s Grand River Boats)

Safaris, backpacking, mountain biking tours http://www.wildadventures.com/

Sales Marketing Network: www.info-now.com

San Jose (CA) Convention & Visitors Bureau Housing management system http://www.passkey.com/

San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau: http://www.sandiego.org/mpg

See America, sponsored by Travel Industry Assn. of America (links to all state and territorial travel offices, city visitor bureaus, attractions, and travel companies in the U.S.) Search by name, desired activity, mode of transportation, or type of accommodation. http://www.seeamerica.org/

Select Registry (Trip Planner Itineraries created by innkeepers from the East and West Coasts) http://www.selectregistry.com/

Sheraton Centre Toronto: http://www.toronto.com/sheratoncentre

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers: http://www.sheratonchicago.com/

Showtix: Group sales theater ticket agency for Broadway shows. http://www.showtixinc.com/

Singapore (animated graphics, multi-media http://www.meet-in-singapore.com.sg/

Skymall catalog online plus airline and other booking services, including Frequent Flyer management tool, tips on best use of earned miles http://www.skymalltravel.com/

Small ship cruises all over world: http://www.smallshipcruises.com/

Snoozeland (Group travel auctions) http://www.snoozeland.com/

Sonoma (CA) Wine Country Meetings http://www.winecountrymeetings.com/

South African Incentive Services: http://www.unwiniwinafrica.com/

Southern California Visitors Guide http://www.21stcenturyvisitorguide.com/

Southern Coastal Rhode Island 1999 events listing. http://www.southcountyri.com/

Speakers: Nationwide Speakers Bureau, Inc. http://www.nationwidespeakers.com/

Sports Empire (moderately priced land packages to sports and special events in North America) http://www.sports-empire.com/

Sports events incentive packages:

Roadtrips Inc. http://www.roadtrips.com/:
Established relationships with online reward programs like SalesDriver.com, Netcentives, and Company DNA.

Rose Bowl/Rose Parade http://www.sports-empire.com/html/footballold.html#toprose
Jan. 3, 2002 (For the first time, the Rose Parade will not be held on the morning of the game.)

Super Bowl, New Orleans http://www.sports-empire.com/
NBA and NHL All-Star Games Daytona 500

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the Beaches http://www.myfloridameetings.com/

St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association (USVI) http://www.stcroixhotelandtourism.com/

St. Croix, USVI: Small Inns http://www.smallinnsstcroix.com/.

St. Louis (new Web site) http://www.explorestlouis.com/

St. Louis Visitors Guide http://www.explorestlouis.com/

St. Thomas’ Marriott Beach Resorts (secure online reservations and information) http://www.marriott.vi/

Stars and attractions for your meeting (Gordie Brown, the Pointer Sisters, Tony Bennett, The Four Tops, Jay Leno). John Bernardoni Production Group. http://www.bernardoni.com/, click on "Stars and Attractions."

Stay in touch while on the road http://www.myfamily.com/

St. Thomas USVI: Live footage from St. Thomas http://www.st-thomas.com/
(select "live video)
Weather conditions: http://www.st.-thomas.com/view

Sun International: http://www.sun-international.com/

Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce: http://www.visitsunvalley.com/

Swarovski Crystal Worlds http://www.swarovski-crystalworld.com/

Switzerland CD ROM: PocketWeb™
size of a business card; contains 50 links, video, pix Fax 212-262-6116

Switzerland Tourism http://www.myswitzerland.com/

The Reefs, Southhampton Bermuda resort http://www.thereefs.com/

Tickets for sporting events http://www.wstickets.com/

Top business events and restaurants, arts, sport events, museum exhibits, by city http://www.ontheroad.com/

Toronto, Canada: Gay Toronto Guide http://www.torontotourism.com/; go to link: http://www.gayguidetoronto.com/

Toronto Star CitySearch: http://www.toronto.com/

Trade Show Advisor http://www.tradeshowadvisor.com/

Trade Show Central http://www.tscentral.com/

Tradeshow services: Bekins Tradeshow Services http://www.bekinstradeshows.com/.

Trails (hiking, biking, skiing) http://trailfinder.gorp.com/

Travelogs (tapes with educational tours of many areas, including updates on special events and attractions, road construction and detours http://www.travelog.com/

Travel Advisories U.S. Dept of State http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html

Travel management http://www.austintravel.com/
http://www.balboa.com/
http://www.carsonwagonlit.com/
http://www.garber.com/
http://www.maritz.com/
http://www.nwtm.com/
http://www.strattontravel.com/

Travelers Health U.S. Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/travel/travel.html

Travel price auction site http://www.priceline.com/

Travel safety: Airport and plane security http://www.airsafe.com/

Auto safety http://www.drivers.com/

Hotel security http://www.frac.com/

National Center for Infectious Diseases (travelers’ health) http://www.cdc.gov/travel

U.S. State Department (traveler warnings and consular information sheets) http://www.travel.state.gov/travelwarnings.html

TV on the Web http://www.tvontheweb.com/

United Touring Co. (DMC services in East Africa, South Africa, Dubai) http://www.unitedtouring.com/

Unusual vacation properties http://www.vacationspot.com/

USA Hosts (destination management): http://www.usahosts.com/

V Associates -meetings & incentives industry consultants e-mail: associates@home.com

Venue search: http://www.allmeetings.com/
http://www.businessmeetings.com/
http://www.hotelsonline.com/
http://www.industrymeetings.com/
http://www.meetingauctions.com/
http://www.meetngcity.com/
http://www.mtonline.com/
http://www.meetingvelocity.com/

Virginia (Coastal): http://www.coastalvirginia.com/

Virtual Bellhop will pick up your luggage or other items, airfreight them, and deliver them to your hotel.
http://www.virtualbellhop.com/

Visit Britain (global) http://www.visitbritain.com/

Visit Britain (info for U.S. travelers) http://www.usagateway.visit/ britain.com

Webcast Central http://www.webcastcentral.com/

WebSentric (conferencing/telecasting) http://www.websentric.com/

Web site creation http://www.hway.com/expresstart

Weekend bargains newsletter http://www.weekends.com/

Westin Hotels & Resorts: http://www.westin.com/

Women on Their Way (Wyndham Hotels & Resorts) http://www.womenontheirway.com/

World Golf Village (includes World Golf Hall of Fame) http://www.wgv.com/

World Weather - NBT News Intellicast http://www.intellicast.com/weather/intl

Send Your News

Send your meetings and incentive travel news to dspencer@info-now.com .