MPBid is poised for growth in 2004. The 10-employee site-selection service, which is centered on an online tool that facilitates requests for proposals and allows hotels to bid on meetings online, plans to begin building a base of sales reps for the first time.

Jim Etkin, CEO of the Pembroke Park, Fla.-based company, says he hopes to hire 10 to 15 independent reps around the country in 2004 to drive business to MPBid's database of 4,500 meeting properties and its online bidding tool. Etkin also recently brought on Enrique Hernandez as director of sales and is “in the process of mapping out a consolidation tool. We should have it in place by the end of the year,” he says.