Until now, customers seeking short lead time meetings have had to fax, phone and email and then wait for manual responses to RFPs. But planners increasingly want the freedom to book meeting space, catering, audio visual and guest rooms for small groups on the Internet. For hotels, letting customers view live proposals and book small meetings on-line can drive market share and customer satisfaction, while reducing administration, sales and marketing costs. John Arenas provides tips on how to offer your availability of free-to-sell, inventory directly to buyers 24 hours a day, seven days a week for incremental revenue. RFP. RIP?.

Is the RFP Process for Day Meetings History?

Is it possible that the RFP, familiar as a favorite old pair of shoes, may soon have walked its last mile? Before we get too nostalgic and maybe fearful at the passing of an era of people-doing-business-with-people, let's consider what can be gained by hotels, planners and customers in bringing booking of small corporate groups on-line.

It wasn't so long ago that hotels received letters in the mail such as the following: "Dear Sir or Madame, I should like to reserve a guest room at your hotel for the second week of June this year. ...