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Published:
17/03/2009
REAL-TIME ONLINE MEETING BOOKING IS A HIT
De Vere Venues’ real-time online booking service ‘Instant Meetings’ has increased the booking of small meetings by 17 per cent since its launch in October.
According to Ian Conder, sales director, De Vere Venues, the innovative service has also attracted new customers to the chain.
He said: “Other people publish inventory that you book off and when you think you’ve made a booking you’ve just sent an enquiry – you can’t actually pay for it. With our system you can check availability and make a booking in just four clicks.
“People love it; it’s attracting lots of new customers, particularly from the banking sector and retail.”
De Vere Venues’ decision to invest £105,000 in the online service was supported by industry research by BDRC, which found that 80 per cent of bookers are using the internet, with two in five associations having booked an event online in the last year, a substantial increase on previous years.
Using the system, available rooms can be booked instantly for parties of 25 delegates or less from Monday to Friday, for full day or half-day meetings. Reservations can be booked six months in advance, or up to 1.30pm the day before the room is required.
It also provides users with the opportunity to book additional extras, such as jugs of orange juice, Danish pastries, warm breakfast rolls or even a car, at selected venues.
http://www.deverevenues.co.uk/business-events/instant-meetings-video.html