Elite Meetings Debuts EliteMeetings.com Version 2.0

New site release packs powerful, time-saving tools for planners to search, locate, and negotiate dir

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. October 14, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, CA, June 16, 2008. Corporate planners and luxury hoteliers who frequent EliteMeetings.com will find a dramatic new look, numerous new features, and enhanced functionality when they visit the Web site beginning June 16. Elite Meetings International's Web site-a comprehensive and complimentary research tool-now saves corporate, association, and incentive meeting planners even more time thanks to added features, easily navigated pages, and an enhanced Speed RFP tool.

For Elite Meetings International CEO Kelly Foy, one new feature merits special recognition: Elite Meetings TV. The special "Elite Meetings Presents..." feature takes visitors on a 90-second virtual tour of the property hosted by a professional meeting planner. "We're pleased to roll out this new feature because it offers planners yet another way to make educated decisions about potential venues in a rich visual format." The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa and The Broadmoor represent the first properties to have an "Elite Meetings Presents..." video review, with many more properties coming soon.

Other highlights of the new site include: interactive property location maps, peer ratings and reviews of properties, a Community Forum, and relevant industry news and hotel updates to keep planners at the top of their game. Planners will also appreciate enhancements made to the Speed RFP tool. They will still enjoy the ability to submit and manage multiple RFPs with a click of the mouse. But the new version carries planners through all stages of the process-from the initial search, to instant updates, to awarding the business and notifying outstanding RFP recipients.

"Our ultimate goal is to facilitate business relationships between hoteliers and meeting planners," Foy says. "We think the site's many enhancements accomplish this by simplifying the communication process for both parties. The fact that nearly 900 users visit the site more than 200 times a month tells us that our site's content was already extremely valuable. But with the addition of exclusive, high-caliber features like Elite Meetings TV and the easiest RFP tool in the business, we expect that number to grow substantially."

EliteMeetings.com was built as an unbiased research tool for planners seeking the best hotels or resorts for their group's specific needs. Properties have not paid for their "Elite Certification," nor do they pay to be listed on the site. Therefore, planners can feel comfortable that every property listed is one of the best in its respective location. Once planners have found one or more options for their upcoming groups, Elite's Speed RFP system can easily submit online RFPs directly to each hotel or resort decision-maker. Once pricing has been received (typically within 24 hours), the planner may then negotiate directly with the hotel representative to ensure they receive the most accurate pricing for all components of their event.