IACC Selects SpeedRFPTM

Santa Barbara, CA (USA) – September 1, 2012 – The International Association of Conference Centres integrated SpeedRFP to its website, IACCOnline.org to facilitate the distribution of online RFPs to IACC member properties around the world. A product of Elite Meetings International, SpeedRFP provides meeting planners an efficient, time-saving tool to solicit bids for group business to multiple venues without having to rekey data. The system enables planners to enter their group’s requirements one time using SpeedRFP’s standardized format, submit that information directly to any IACC-member conference centre and even repurpose the information on other SpeedRFP-enabled sites.

According to Peter Stewart, President of IACC, “We have wanted to increase the quantity and quality of the online RFPs that our members receive, and SpeedRFP is an ideal partner to help us achieve that goal. Their community of nearly 30,000 buyers can now easily submit new, or previously entered RFPs on the IACC website in just a few clicks—without rekeying their information. Thanks to early adoption by Dolce Hotels and Resorts, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Hotel Group and others, SpeedRFP is a time-tested eRFP system.”

Kelly Foy, Chief Executive Officer of Elite Meetings International Inc., added, “We are very pleased Peter and the IACC team selected SpeedRFP to power their website, and look forward to helping them achieve their objective of sending more high-quality group business opportunities to their member hotels.”

“Our objective in creating SpeedRFP,” Foy said, “is to provide our industry with a standardized format for submitting online RFPs. As the overall community continues to grow, we anticipate many more independent hotels and well-known brands will implement SpeedRFP. ”

According to Jim Bressler, IACC Marketing Committee Chair and Director of Sales & Marketing at The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, SpeedRFP will improve the buying experience for visitors who come to the IACC web site and IACC members will experience increased volume, quality and conversion of RFPs. In addition, member properties will save time and money by being able to keystroke the specifications of each meeting just once and by incorporating RFPs into their existing hotel property management systems.

About IACC
Mission Statement: The International Association of Conference Centres is the thought leader on the meeting experience. IACC represents its members by defining and promoting the IACC Meeting Concept and providing learning opportunities.

Founded in 1981, the International Association of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference centre industry and to giving member properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptional meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, England, The Netherlands, Germany and Japan. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org. “There are meetings and then there are IACC meetings.”

About SpeedRFP™: SpeedRFP is a cutting-edge product for creating, submitting and tracking Requests For Proposals (RFPs) online. SpeedRFP recently surpassed the 28,500-user mark, and is rapidly generating RFPs for meetings planners and hotels in the U.S. and internationally. SpeedRFP is a plug and play RFP technology that any hotel/conference center/destination, can easily add to their existing website, and it is free to meeting professionals. More information is available at www.SpeedRFP.com.

About Elite Meetings International: Based in Santa Barbara, Elite Meetings International (EMI) provides free, time-saving tools for planners and integrated marketing solutions to suppliers that enhance the connection of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technology, direct sales support, customized marketing programs and face-to-face business-building events. Additionally,www.EliteMeetings.com serves as a comprehensive vehicle for sourcing luxury, upper-upscale and upscale properties. EMI’s innovations include FaceTime™ Appointment Scheduler (www.FaceTimeScheduler.com) a sought-after program for helping conference attendees identify synergies, manage appointments and make direct connections with one another; and SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a new time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online.

Media Contact:
James M. Mahon
Global Director, Marketing & PR
IACC
914-548-5835