| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 10/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 22 |
| Copyright: Other |
Corporate plans
Bass bids to boost meetings business with new products
Report by HELEN CONWAY
BASS Hotels and Resorts is aiming to boost its meetings business by 10% each year over the next five years with the roll-out of individually branded meeting programmes for all its hotels.The new products are Meeting Success at Crowne Plaza, Conference Network at Holiday Inn and Meet Smart at Express by Holiday Inn. Similar to The Meeting Place, which was launched last year for the Inter-Continental brand, each meeting product sets out a list of standards that organisers can expect when they book a conference or meeting at any Bass hotel.
Bass senior vice-president sales and marketing Europe, Middle East and Africa, Robin Wicks said the hotel group wanted meeting organisers to know the group could cater for any size or style of event.
“Organisers need to know immediately that we can help them, whether their brief is a one-day training session at an Express by Holiday Inn in Manchester, a sales meeting at a Holiday Inn in Paris, a new car launch at the Crowne Plaza in Berlin or an international management conference in Prague,” he said.
As part of the launch, Bass has set up dedicated telephone numbers in each of its key European markets whichorganisers can call for details of all the group’s meeting products.The number for UK organisers is 0800 854 068.
Examples of the new standards include a hotphone at all Crowne Plazas within Europe to provide direct contact with the conference concierge at all times, quality coffee machines and refrigerators in smaller meeting rooms in Holiday Inns throughout Europe and 24hr fax and copying facilities at all European Express by Holiday Inn properties.