Lanyon, Inc. has integrated small meetings into its 2012 transient bid process, widening the possible scope of requests for proposals. Corporations, which are already seeking bids for stays in 2012, can now include small meetings in their RFP processes, use Lanyon’s data and audit tools to help manage these meetings as part of their hotel program, integrate the small meeting rate data gathered from their own transient RFP process into their custom hotel directories and the Lanyon Meetings Marketplace.
The integration is expected to boost compliance as well as save time and money. Preciously, Lanyon’s clients could get the information, but had no way to use it or share it efficiently. Now everything can be captured and shared online inside of the company. Hotels, meanwhile, get improved marketing reach and cost savings.
For many years, every individual company has always been able to capture small meetings information (rates, terms and conditions) via their transient RFP process, explains a company spokesman. “What we are doing is exposing the small meeting rates and T&C information in the client’s online hotel directory for each participating property; adding a link for each participating property so that a small meeting request or RFP can be created directly from that page; and building the small meeting rates and T&Cs directly into our meetings solution for use by the meeting planning department in each company.”
“Not only does this integration enrich the RFP process, but it also helps customers strategically manage their small meetings program and policy compliance,” says Todd Tyler, president and CEO of Lanyon. “Customers can utilize the system they are accustomed to, and now receive the benefit of the new small meetings add-on, giving them a real cost-savings advantage for no additional cost.”
Lanyon users can now capture day meeting package rates (DMPs), complete meeting package rates (CMPs) and other small meeting pricing as well as view data in both Custom Hotel Directories and Lanyon’s Meetings Marketplace. Administrators and planners can take advantage of pre-negotiated rates, driving adoption of preferred suppliers and company compliance with meeting policy.
The added features provide a bridge between those in charge of the transient RFP process and the meetings team. By going to the Group Meetings tab in the RFP and utilizing the custom questions, customers gain greater efficiencies in sending out meeting RFPs helping them build a more robust small meetings program, representing real savings to their business.