CP Hotels (800) 458-8915 or (703) 524-2201 in the U.S.; (416) 367-7197 in Canada
For small meetings, the national sales office checks availability and rates, and guarantees express turn-around service within 24 hours, including a proposal faxed or e-mailed to client with rate confirmations, availability, etc. Each hotel has a "one-stop shopping" salesperson who handles all the details of small meetings, including banquet event orders.
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts (800) 2-CROWNE
Crowne Plaza Hotels is in the process of developing a new Small Meetings Initiative, scheduled to debut in late summer or early fall. Each hotel has a meeting expert on site.
Delta Hotels and Resorts--Great Meetings Guaranteed (800) 387-1265
Delta guarantees the following: same-day telephone response to space requirements; function rooms set up as requested; AV equipment on time and in working order; refreshment breaks on time; supplies in the meeting room. Clients receive packages that include fact sheet or layout of hotel indicating meeting locations; meeting planner pins that identify them as VIPs to hotel staff; hotel restaurant menu and list of daily specials; and telephone numbers of key hotel staff. Each meeting room is equipped with a tackle box of essential supplies (markers, masking tape, stapler, ruler, etc.). Available at 21 Delta hotels in Canada and Florida.
Hilton Hotels Corporation--Hilton Direct (800) 321-3232
Inbound account executives handle all calls for any Hilton worldwide. Services offered include: group planning hotline to secure guest rooms and meeting facilities; toll-free 800 office and fax numbers; toll-free 800 number for each account executive; 24-hour response; Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Central Standard Time; well-trained and experienced staff; product knowledge; ability to check multiple destinations; immediate communication with hotels through state-of-the-art computer system; one contact for all Hilton hotels; and recommendations on appropriate hotel destinations.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts--Hyatt Meeting Connection (800) 543-1818
For meetings of ten to 100 attendees, written proposals are issued within 48 hours of initial request. Preview of room set-up at least 30 minutes prior to meeting and frequent refreshing during day. Meeting Request Line is a special on-site phone number that connects directly to the Meeting Connection team for any special requests or questions on the day of the meeting.
Loews Hotels--Loews Access Contact individual hotels directly.
One hotel representative coordinates all group arrangements, including guest rooms, banquet functions, and meeting space. "Rush" program allows clients to call upon a special dispatcher for last-minute requests or changes at meetings. Adding an enhanced website section specifically dedicated to Loews Access.
Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites-- Marriott Meetings Network Executive Meeting Manager Program (800) 831-4004
EMM offers meeting planners one contact at the hotel to arrange all their meeting needs without the hassle of going from department to department. Developed with the small meeting planner in mind, the program guarantees continuity and simplicity through standardization of contracts, master billing, group resumes, and post-convention reports across member properties (41 meeting and convention hotels in the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, and Bahamas). "Red Coat Program" ensures immediate on-site response to meeting requests from associates in red blazers. EMMs have the Marriott training and experience to take care of all the details with one-stop shopping.
Omni Hotels--Omni Express (800) THE-OMNI
Targeted one-stop shopping program for small meetings. Information about a meeting taken during initial phone call is immediately passed on to the individual hotel, which responds within 24 hours. One hotel contact handles all needs, including the meeting, catering, AV, etc. Standardized short contract.
Radisson Hotels Worldwide (800) 444-3344
Your meeting solution is Radisson Meeting Solutions. Call the professional meetings sales desk, and it will provide immediate answers regarding dates, rates, and space. Ask about the 10-point meeting promise.
Renaissance Hotels and Resorts--Meeting Express (800) 872-MEET
Phone staffed by sales managers who take all information, then convey it to Meeting Express coordinator at individual property. Client is contacted within 24 hours to review and discuss meeting arrangements. Sales managers handle all reservations and meeting/banquet arrangements including AV, food and beverage, technical equipment, administrative needs, and so on. Available internationally.
ITT Sheraton (800) 500-1282
Offers a dedicated small meetings group sales department geared to groups using ten to 100 rooms at any Sheraton property worldwide--including the Luxury Collection, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Inns, and Four Points Hotels. Response to requests for information on dates, rates, and availability is guaranteed within 24 hours. Help determining best location for group demographics and budget.
Westin Hotels & Resorts--Westin One Call (800) 301-1111
Professionally trained personnel staff the toll-free number and fill out a comprehensive checklist, which is faxed directly to the appropriate hotel's One Call sales manager. Clients are contacted by the sales manager within 24 hours of the initial call and contracts are sent within 48 hours of verbal acceptance. One Call sales managers are the sole hotel contact for the client and handle the inquiry, confirm availability of guest rooms and meeting rooms, negotiate rates, complete all contracts and banquet event orders, and handle all meeting details. Available in U.S. and Canada.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts--Wyndham One (800) 327-8321
Program for meetings of 30 or fewer guest rooms per night. Meeting executives work with one manager from start to finish, including rate quotes, contracts, menu planning, and on-site coordination. Confirmation within 24 hours. Special rates packages for small meetings include Full-Day Meeting Packages at Wyndham Garden Hotels.
SOME HOTELS ARE SLOW TO RESPOND TO SMALL MEETING INQUIRIES Many hotels lose small meeting business simply because of the way they respond to initial phone inquiries, according to a survey of 300 hotel sales executives by Richey International, a performance rating company for the hospitality industry, and New Castle Hotel Corporation, a hotel ownership and management company.
Richey phoned the sales departments of approximately 300 hotels in every category, asking for help in booking a small meeting for 50 to 75 persons, citing specific dates within a two- to six-month time frame. They asked for information such as room rates and the prices of catered meals and breaks. More than half the sales representatives did not return the phone calls in a timely manner (27 percent did not call back in two hours and 26 percent did not call by a promised time). A full 62 percent neglected to mention amenities or specialized meeting services offered by their hotels. Nineteen percent were not even able to quote room rates.