Park Plaza Hotels sees 150% increase in enquiries and bookings for conferences and meetings

(London, 29 October 2009)  Park Plaza Hotels has received a significant increase in the number of enquiries and bookings for its meetings, conference and events business in the first two months after signing with online publisher ABC Connection.  Within August, a typically quiet month for corporate and government business, the group doubled the number of online enquiries and bookings received via ABC Connection’s Request for Meetings (RfM) system across its UK hotel portfolio year on year.  The number of enquiries and bookings increased even further in September, rising by 150% compared with the same month in 2008.

Manju Goel, Director of Sales & Revenue UK for Park Plaza Hotels, said: “We are very pleased indeed to see such a rapid and positive impact on our business after signing with ABC Connection. Their Request for Meetings system makes it really easy for our reservations team to respond in minutes to meetings organisers and travel management companies who need the best options for their clients. The fact that we have great property and meeting facility displays is really making a difference and already it is proving to be a valuable part of our marketing drive to grow our meetings and events business. We have received more RfM enquiries in the first two months than at any other time during the last two years. “

“With the imminent opening of our stunning Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London in 2010, the timing of our agreement couldn’t be better,” continued Goel.  “We have already received a good number of enquiries from companies whose clients are keen to experience the affordable luxury of our new landmark facility. Based on what we’ve seen so far, ABC Connection is already delivering a solid return on our marketing investment.”

Generating business through the Request for Meetings system is just one benefit of Park Plaza Hotels’ agreement with ABC Connection. The hotel group has real-time control over the detailed descriptions and images loaded into ABC’s database, ensuring that the latest information about its properties is managed and displayed consistently throughout ABC Connection’s extensive network of distribution partners. It also enables the group to keep its carbon footprint low by reducing the need for printing and distributing brochures to travel management companies, hotel booking agencies and meetings organisers.

ENDS

Media Contact:

Alison Pickering, Head of Communications & Brand, ABC Connection

alison@abcconnection.com   Mobile: +44 (0)7787 504 331

About Park Plaza Hotels

Park Plaza Hotels Limited is owner, operator and franchisor of hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The majority of the group’s 35 hotels and aparthotels operate under the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand (part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide), over which the Group has exclusive rights in 56 countries in EMEA, or art’otel, a brand which the company fully owns. By the end of 2012, the Group’s committed projects and territorial franchise agreements are expected to increase the number of rooms to over 13,000.  For more information about Park Plaza Hotels visit www.parkplazahotels.net, or to book our hotels www.parkplaza.com.

About ABC Connection

ABC Connection is the foremost online publisher of data and rich content as an integrated solution for the hospitality community, promoting collaboration between buyers and sellers of meetings, events and accommodation.   Its core competency is its content management capability, delivered through data services and technology tools that simplify processes and generate corporate and leisure business for hotels and venues.  For more information visit www.abcconnection.com

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