Designed just for meetings requiring 25 rooms or less, Hilton Hotels Corp.’s new e-Events online booking tool allows users to make complete meeting arrangements without going through the RFP process.
Applicable for over 2,300 participating hotels in North America, covering all 10 brands in the Hilton portfolio, the tool is accessible at www.hilton.com as well as at specific Hilton hotel brand websites.
Believed to be a first in the industry, e-Events enables planners to book up to 25 rooms as well as book meeting space in selected configurations. Users can also make online arrangements for food and beverage functions, including full meals and coffee breaks, and for audiovisual needs.
Available on a 24-hour basis, the bookings require a major credit card, and detailed confirmation is sent to the planner’s e-mail address. Planners also receive a follow-up phone call from the selected hotel during the next business day.
According to Bob Brooks, vice president, e-sales for Hilton Hotels Corp., the product is a result of demand for a fast and efficient way to handle a growing number of small meetings.
“Currently, 60 percent of all incoming sales leads represent 25 rooms or less, while bookings through our website have increased at a steady 30 percent every year since 2002,” Brooks says, adding that the e-Events tool will be capable of handling meetings of up to 50 rooms by the end of the year.
After planners log onto e-Events, they enter criteria for their meeting, such as desired location, price range, amenities, and other details. They can then browse among a list of hotels that meet the criteria. As they go through the booking process, a window allows then to enter any additional comments they may have about meeting requirements.
According to Brooks, over 1,000 meetings have so far been booked through e-Events, which was rolled out in selected markets during the past year. Now that it is officially launched, Hilton expects that at least quadruple that amount will be booked through e-Events this year.
Right now meetings booked through e-Events are eligible only for prevailing group rates, but a second version, expected to be launched next year, will enable planners to access any negotiated rates that their organizations may already have with the hotel.
Planners who prefer to speak with a representative from Hilton Direct, the company’s national sales office devoted to small meetings, can be guided through the e-Events booking process on the telephone.
Hilton has also rolled out a related online booking tool called Guest List Manager, which is also available at the hotel company websites. With Guest List Manager, which is available for meetings of any size, users can manage their room blocks by viewing information that lets them know who has booked rooms for the event. They can also use the tool to reserve additional rooms.
