Above and Beyond®, Inc. specializes in Site Selection Services. 

Let us help to make your next meeting or event a success! 

        Hotel Site Selection Services

HOTEL SITE SELECTION SERVICES

ABOVE and BEYOND®, INC. is a meeting and convention planning company that specializes in the

following areas:

• Hotel site search and selection

• Budget analysis

• Detailed availability reports

• Procurement of sales kits

• Site inspection arrangements

• Secure value-added extras

• Request hotel contracts

• Negotiate contractual terms

• Contract due date reminders

• Assistance with hotel disputes

• Room pick-up reports

  There is no fee to our clients for the above referenced services. We are compensated by the

  hotels in the form of guest room commission. We specialize in meetings of all sizes and types,

  from National Sales Meetings to Incentives, from Board Meetings to Training Meetings to

  Product Launches. ABOVE and BEYOND®, INC. is not a Hotel Rep Firm and not on retainer

  with any hotels, so we are able to offer you a wider selection of potential meeting and

  convention sites, instead of offering only hotels that we are obligated to steer business to.

  Our site selection services are COST FREE to you, as our compensation is derived from hotel

  guest room commission payments. Over the years, we have developed quality relationships with

  hotels and national sales offices throughout the country. Therefore, we are able to use these

  relationships to help negotiate a better rate and more "extras" for you.

THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS: SHOULD YOU USE ONE?

The tighter staffs associated with the age of corporate downsizing has given rise to an idea whose

time has come, third-party providers. We work hard to ensure the success of your meeting or event.

Your needs are our first priority.

• Here's how it works:

        Planners engage third-party providers for destination research and contract negotiation

regarding potential sites for their event. The company's fees are paid by the hotel in the form of a

commission for booking the rooms. Third-party providers say they can save you enough to absorb

their commission, and then some. The key to making this system work lies in engaging the services

of a true industry insider, one who knows the ropes. Most players agree that kind of savvy can often

translate into lower rates for you, even after covering the third-party provider's commission.

• Here's what to look for:

        To avoid those firms who may just be out for a fast buck, look for a provider that comes from a

hotel sales background. This is the person capable of bringing an insider's expertise to the negotiation

table.

• The core controversy:

        In whose interest is the third-party provider really working? Yours, the hotel's, or their own?

And, how objective are third-party terms? Why wouldn't these agencies steer your business toward

their hotel partners or to destinations that offer them more incentives? Again, the answer lies in

careful selection of the firm you choose to work with. Choose a group that is client-driven, interested

in building a long-term relationship with you. One marker of that? Look for a group that has chosen

not to forge any formal partnerships within the industry.

• The bottom line:

        Check references, both from clients and suppliers. Look for someone with solid experience in

the industry. The well-chosen third-party exec has enough clout and experience to deliver a package

with rates from 10 percent to 30  percent lower than their clients originally expected to pay. In

addition, they can negotiate better deals on food and beverage that you can get on your own.

Article from Practical Guide to Events Planning