Need to put together a meeting in a hurry? Dolce International, a Montvale, N.J.-based conference center management company, launched a program in October that promises a response to meeting planners' inquiries within 30 minutes and a proposal within one business day. “We have people on property who walk around with portable phones,” says Dolce's chief marketing officer, Joanne Swahn. “They can walk someone through the process by taking them to our Web site, help them fill out the information, take it directly to our partners, and get a quote back in 24 hours.”
The program, called Dolce Conference Solutions (www.dolce.com/conference solutions), is a one-stop shop for space at the company's 14 conference centers as well as air travel, rental cars, and ground transportation.
Dolce is partnering with American Airlines, Avis, and Empire International, and the quick-turnaround proposal includes estimated costs from all the partners. Dolce's deal with American includes 70 percent off published coach and business-class fares, a waiver of the Saturday night stay requirement, and special site-inspection fares. Avis gives discounts and free rental days.