Meetinguniverse

MeetingUniverse
Description/Relevance in the Industry
MeetingUniverse reviews and rates hotels for the meetings and events industry, giving a detailed picture of how a property performs for large scale clients. Additionally, the site offers reviews on ancillary service providers such as transportation, restaurants, decoration companies, and activity providers that are used by these clients when participating in their meeting or event. "It's about peers sharing information with peers." States Corbin Ball, a meetings industry expert on emerging technologies.
With increased scrutiny placed on the travel industry especially meetings and events the discussion is changing from luxury to performance to accurately measure the ROI of meetings and events. Meeting and Event Planners are moving away from the status quo of sites that do not provide sustainable data backing up their decisions to sites that give them justification for their decisions.
History
MeetingUniverse was first founded under the name of HotFire Ratings. HotFire stood for Hotels and Fine Resorts signifying the market in which the company operated. The founder, Russ Ridge, had serviced the meetings industry for many years with a successful transportation company. During this time his interaction with planners of meetings and events led him to understand the need for a ratings system of hotels for the planner market. This group was found to be underserved yet commanded larger budgets and spending power than the other market segments targeted through existing channels. To address this need Mr. Ridge and his team built an online tool to rate hotel properties according to professional planner criteria.
As the business developed and started offering services outside of hotel property ratings a name change was needed for marketing and branding purposes. Thus MeetingUniverse was born to signify the move into a full service analytics company serving the meetings and events industry.
The move was justified by HotFire management from the feedback received from their target markets. Professional meeting and event planners needed more in-depth analysis on more than just hotels. Suppliers used during the events needed to be vetted to ensure adequate performance standards. Planners also needed a forum for industry discussions. These three tools comprised the "Universe" that MeetingUniverse has established.
Current Situation
MeetingUniverse has over 100 hotels with reviews and 12 hotels that are fully rated. They are currently working with Hyatt; in negotiations with Starwood and in discussions with Hilton and Loews. Further development of the system is underway to implement features that will increase the ability of planners to plan and track the ROI of meetings and events. In this volatile economic climate the status quo is no longer a viable option. Increased government interest into the efficacy and ethical obligation of incentive and sales events, planners, corporations and trade associations alike need a third party tool to prove the moral efficacy of an event.
Independent 3rd Party Publications Discussing and/or Mentioning MeetingUniverse
Colorado Meetings and Events
Mi Meetings Mag [http://www.mimeetingsmag.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid1BC3F779EA2B4C33890AC56F0B7082FF&nmAll+Modules&typePublishing&modPublications%3A%3AArticle&mid8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier4&id534B8C4D908E4D9CB5F549A2DFD81136&AudID6F2750D090EA4ED581]
Meetings Focus
Corbin Ball Associates
Business-Opportunities.biz
Meetingsnet.com
Corbin Ball Associates
Washington Regency Hyatt
The Meeting Magazines.com

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