Meeting News - December 17, 2007 - (Page 54)

Cover Story PRA continued from cover management services from 26 locations, spanning eight countries on three continents. Allied will retain its offices in England, France, Italy, Monaco, Scotland, and Spain along with PRA’s 19 destinations in the U.S. In addition, from Allied Arabia’s site in Dubai, the company will represent Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Oman. “The overall goal, with the addition of PRA, is to expand the global reach of our clients while continuing to enhance our quality of service and support,” said James Hensley, CEO of Allied International, who had been overseeing Allied Europe and Arabia before. Meeting and incentive planner customers of Allied who’ve worked with one of the DMC’s offices will have their ways of doing business communicated to the company’s other offices, rather than having to repeat their procedures or renegotiate contracts 25 times, according to Laura Rednour, president of PRA Destination Management. Customers will likely be able to reach their PRA or Allied representative faster; the merger boosts the firm’s sales force to over 75 people. The different firms that comprise Allied International will continue to market themselves under their separate brands. In addition, the coming together of the two firms will boost both companies’ ability to help clients manage their DMC spend, something that PRA has been doing for about two years while Allied Europe begun dabbling in this area recently too.“Our combined business systems allow us to provide the tools and resources to clients to collectively manage all their programs from the RFP through invoicing and post program evaluation,” said Rednour. “This includes all 26 of our destinations and the opportunity to incorporate unlimited global destinations.” The combined company has ambitious expansion plans: it is calling for a 50-percent spike in franchises within the next three years. PRA and Allied were a good fit for each other because the two companies had very similar corporate cultures, she said. “Our approach is to build strong associations within the local community and to take a long-term approach to client relationships. Plus, PRA and Allied have always remained true to their core business, being a DMC, while other companies have branched out into other fields, such as event production.” PRA’s founder and most visible staffer in the industry, Patti Roscoe, will decrease her day-to-day responsibility for the company but she is still serving as an advisor to Allied, where she now holds the title of director. “As is traditionally the case in a merger, the influx of new energy will no doubt accelerate the pace of PRA’s growth, said Roscoe. “I’m excited to see the next stage of our evolution.” H 54 MeetingNews December 17, 2007 AD INDEX Advertiser Page Advertiser Page Air France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29 www.airfrance.com/us Albuquerque CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 www.itsatrip.org/meetings American Express . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 www.americanexpress.com/meetingsolutions Beau Rivage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 www.beaurivage.com Bellagio Hotel & Casino . . . . . . . .33 www.bellagio.com Boston Convention and Exhibition Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 www.AdvantageBOSTON.com/challenge Boston Convention and Exhibition Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 www.AdvantageBOSTON.com Cancun CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 www.cancun.info Caribe Royale . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17 www.cariberoyale.com Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 www.choosechicago.com Gold Strike Casino and Resort . . . .25 www.goldstrikemississippi.com Gran Melia Cancun . . . . . . . . .12-13 www.GranMeliaCancun.com Greater Louisville CVB .1, 10A (insert) www.gotolouisville.com Harrah’s/Harvey’s Lake Tahoe . . . . .15 www.harrahs.com, www.harveys.com Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 www.irvingtexas.com Jackson CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 www.visitjackson.com JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa55 www.jwlasvegasmeetings.com Leader’s Institute, The . . . . . . . . . .7 www.leadersinstitute.com Long Beach CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 www.visitlongbeach.com Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB . . . . . .35 www.gulfcoast.org Monona Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 www.mononaterrace.com Myrtle Beach Convention Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 www.myrtlebeachconventioncenter.com Newport Beach CVB . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.visitnewportbeach.com/sales Regal Sun Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 www.regalsunresort.com Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 www.worldgolfrenaissance.com Rosen Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 www.rosencentre.com Rosen Plaza Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . .53 www.rosenplaza.com Rosen Shingle Creek . . . . . . . . . . .45 www.rosenshinglecreek.com San Antonio CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 www.visitsanantonio.com Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre . . . .39 www.acc.com.sg Texas Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 www.TravelTex.com/meeting Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin . . . . .27 www.swandolphinmeetings.com The Index to Advertisers is published for the convenience of our readers. Every effort is made to list advertisers’ names, web addresses and page numbers correctly. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions. www.meetingnews.com http://www.airfrance.com/us http://www.jwlasvegasmeetings.com http://www.itsatrip.org/meetings http://www.leadersinstitute.com http://www.americanexpress.com/meetingsolutions http://www.visitlongbeach.com http://www.americanexpress.com/meetingsolutions http://www.gulfcoast.org http://www.beaurivage.com http://www.mononaterrace.com http://www.bellagio.com http://www.AdvantageBOSTON.com/challenge http://www.myrtlebeachconventioncenter.com http://www.visitnewportbeach.com/sales http://www.AdvantageBOSTON.com http://www.regalsunresort.com http://www.cancun.info http://www.cariberoyale.com http://www.worldgolfrenaissance.com http://www.rosencentre.com http://www.choosechicago.com http://www.rosenplaza.com http://www.goldstrikemississippi.com http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com http://www.GranMeliaCancun.com http://www.visitsanantonio.com http://www.gotolouisville.com http://www.acc.com.sg http://www.harveys.com http://www.harrahs.com http://www.TravelTex.com/meeting http://www.irvingtexas.com http://www.swandolphinmeetings.com http://www.visitjackson.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - December 17, 2007

Meeting News - December 17, 2007
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Inside the Meetings Industry
MN Webcast Report
Successful Meetings University
Malibu Hospitality Safe After Third City Fire
Advertisers Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - December 17, 2007