In an effort to take the hassle out of paying and tracking meeting-related expenses, American Express has launched a credit card specifically for meetings and events.
The Corporate Meeting Card, which in November finished a year-long beta period with nearly 200 companies, is intended to help planners on the front-end by identifying them as the corporate meeting planner and eliminating the need to complete multiple credit applications, and on the back-end by consolidating meeting bills onto one statement. Planners can receive an electronic file to feed into their accounting software, allowing them to designate charges to specific cost centers and track spending.
American Express is working with the major hotel chains to get the new card accepted for unlimited meeting charges. It currently has more than 80 hotels and resorts in the program, which means that credit applications are not necessary for those properties.