ACCESS Destination Services to accept payment of deposits via Meeting Escrow

ACCESS Destination Services to accept payment of deposits via Meeting Escrow

Meeting Escrow (www.MeetingEscrow.com) is proud to announce that ACCESS Destination Services (www.accessdmc.com) has officially confirmed acceptance of payment via its industry-leading deposit escrow service.

Chris Lee, DMCP, CEO of ACCESS comments, “Meeting Escrow is a long-overdue financial and risk management solution to challenges the Meetings Industry has been facing for years – how to protect client funds and ensure timely payment to supplier-partners. It provides our clients with 100% transparency and confidence for the advance payments they make to vendors around the world. ACCESS is proud to show its leadership by confirming its acceptance of this new standard of accountability for the industry.”

Grant Snider, Meeting Escrow President & CEO adds, “This is another exciting development for our company. As we expand our range of financial and risk management solutions for the Meetings Industry worldwide, we are proud to see a prestigious Destination Management organization such as ACCESS add their support for a new way of doing business.”

Meeting Escrow was founded by Grant Snider in 2015 to bridge a gap in the marketplace between buyers and sellers of Meetings Industry services. Both parties sign an escrow contract with Meeting Escrow for the total amount to be protected. Funds are wire transferred by the buyer directly to a distinct, uniquely identified Meeting Escrow bank account to the benefit of the supplier-partner and then the individual deposit payments are wire transferred out per the deposit payment schedule in the contract. Client funds are secure and fully protected and supplier-partners are paid on time.  In addition, escrowed deposits can be held in US dollars, Euros, Canadian dollars and 17 other foreign currencies, thereby shielding clients from exchange rate fluctuations. Meeting Escrow Inc. holds $5 million in liability coverage, underwritten by Lloyds.

Founded in 1969, ACCESS Destination Services sets the standard for excellence in award-winning destination management services throughout North America and the world.  Through global alliances with Pacific World and Amstar, ACCESS serves over 100 destinations throughout 30 countries. With global coverage and local expertise, ACCESS meets client objectives and exceeds expectations for corporate, incentive and association groups.

http://www.meetingescrow.com
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#Meetings #Access #meetingescrow #MICE #DestinationServices

PACIFIC WORLD AND ACCESS GLOBAL DESTINATION INDEX REPORT IDENTIFIES TOP DESTINATIONS FOR MEETINGS, INCENTIVES AND CONFERENCES

PACIFIC WORLD AND ACCESS GLOBAL DESTINATION INDEX REPORT IDENTIFIES TOP DESTINATIONS FOR MEETINGS, INCENTIVES AND CONFERENCES
Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore recognized as top destinations in Asia
Italy and France most popular in Europe, UAE top destination in Middle East
Texas, Florida and Las Vegas top the list in the USA

Results from a recent global Destination Index, compiled by the leading Global DMC and Event Management Companies, Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com) and ACCESS Destination Services (www.accessdmc.com), have identified the top destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States for meetings and incentives.

Patricia Silvio, Global Marketing Manager, Pacific World, commented, “The Pacific World global Destination Index report identifies each year the countries and cities most thriving within the meetings, incentives and conferences industries. This year overarching themes that led to an increase in popularity were improvements in transportation/flights, an increase in venues and hotels, investment in technology, attractive exchange rates, and safety and stability.”

Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore were recognised as the top countries in Asia for meetings and incentives, with Bangkok and Bali voted as the most popular cities, and meetings and incentives being the most requested event types in Singapore. Governmental stability, attractive exchange rates and improved flight connections were factors contributing to the increased attention from source markets including North America, Australia and other Asian regions.

In Europe, France and Italy were identified as the top countries for meetings and incentives. Improved transport links and investment in infrastructure resulting in the opening of a number of new hotels and venues were factors accountable for the fact that Milan and Paris have both been voted as the most popular European cities for Meetings and Incentives, with increased interest from source markets such as the Middle East, USA, UK, Germany, and Brazil.

The UAE was recognised as the most popular destination for incentives and conferences in the Middle East, with the UK, Saudi Arabia and India identified as the key source markets placing inbound business into the destination. Accessible flight routes, new hotels, and an investment of time and resources in the latest technology and set-ups to facilitate large-scale events have pushed the UAE to the top of the list.

Texas topped the list as the most popular destination for meeting and events in the USA, followed by Florida and Las Vegas. New venues, restaurants and an increase in international and regional flights have boosted the popularity of these destinations while the abundance  of available VIP experiences have established Dallas, San Antonio, Miami, and Las Vegas as key cities for conference and incentives in the U.S.

For more details about the Destination Index, please go to: www.pacificworld.com

 

Meetings Industry Veteran Grant Snider Launches New Company

“Meetings Industry Veteran Grant Snider Launches New Company”

Meetings Industry veteran Grant Snider has launched a new company, Meeting Escrow Inc., to protect client deposits and ensure timely payment to supplier-partners. Using the company’s segregated account system, planners and their clients are guaranteed their advance deposit payments are 100% secure prior to program operation while supplier-partners are relieved of the burden of constantly chasing payments.

“Unfortunately, our industry is not regulated so there is no global standard for the protection of deposits. Standard practice is to mix client deposits with general operating accounts which means these monies are potentially at risk. Recent high profile failures have highlighted these risks and left planners reluctant to part with their money causing huge challenges for the entire supply chain,” said President and CEO, Grant Snider.

Snider continued: “Meeting Escrow was founded to bridge this ‘trust gap’ in the market. Planners and supplier-partners sign an escrow contract with Meeting Escrow for the total amount to be protected. Funds are wire transferred by the client directly to Meeting Escrow and safeguarded in a segregated bank account to the benefit of the supplier-partner. There is no commingling of Meeting Escrow’s own operational funds with client funds; nor is there any commingling of any client’s funds with any other client’s. The individual deposit payments are then wire transferred to the supplier-partner per the deposit payment schedule in the escrow contract. Client funds are secure and fully protected and supplier-partners are paid on time. Meeting Escrow offers security and efficiency, a win-win for everyone”.

Sandy Monkemeyer, Senior Vice President & Corporate Travel Director for Captive Resources, LLC, welcomed Snider’s new initiative. “Meeting Escrow is an important addition to our industry as it provides Meeting Planners with the guarantee that any funds paid by way of advance deposits are 100% secure and only released to supplier-partners when they fall due. This provides great comfort for companies where internal regulations and due diligence are increasingly important.”

Katherine Wright, CMP, CMM, President of Toronto-based meeting planning company The Wright Solution, added that “Meeting Escrow finally provides the solution planners have been looking for: how to give our suppliers commitment without jeopardizing the often large deposits we pay months in advance to book future programs. I can’t think of a better person in this industry to be spearheading such a venture – Grant Snider embodies trust, confidence and fairness in all of his business dealings and will help streamline the whole process so we can focus on what we do best: planning and executing meetings and events.”

Grant Snider brings lifelong Meetings Industry experience and an indisputable reputation as a person of integrity and trust to Meeting Escrow. Following an early career in the hotel industry, Snider moved to the destination services sector eventually becoming co-owner of JPdL, Canada’s largest DMC. He sold his stake in the company in 2014. Over the years he has served in a variety of leadership positions in meetings industry associations such as ADMEI, SITE and FICP.

Pacific World expands into the Philippines

Pacific World expands into the Philippines

Increasing support in the leading emerging destination in Asia

Februray 2015 – Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com), the integrated global DMC and Event Management organisation, announced today the opening of a new partnership in the Philippines. With this expansion, Pacific World now operates in 30 countries and over 100 destinations around the world and has the widest and most comprehensive presence of any DMC business in Asia.

Pacific World Philippines is a commercial partnership between Pacific World and leading local DMC, Blue Horizon Travel & Tours, Inc. Both companies have joined hands to combine Pacific World’s global experience and standards with Blue Horizon’s local expertise and knowledge in order to provide clients with expert services supported by local experience in the destination. Pacific World Philippines will operate from a central office in Makati, Metro Manila, and also has operational support from offices located in Cebu, Boracay and Bohol.

Harsha Krishnan, Strategic Development Director at Pacific World commented, “The Philippines has been a big gap in the Asian presence of Pacific World and we are pleased today to be able to fill it with the support of Blue Horizon Travel & Tours, Inc. With this expansion Pacific World will have added capabilities to deliver a one-stop solution for all our clients across Asia.”

Gregor Zajc, MD Blue Horizon Travel and Country Director, Pacific World Philippines mentioned, ”We are proud to open the Philippines to global meetings, incentives & events clients, through the launch of Pacific World Philippines. The Philippines is a land that is still relatively un-discovered and has much to offer, from stunning venues and properties in Manila that are exceptional value-for-money, to cultural and social experiences that can add an unforgettable touch to any incentive program.”

For more information on Pacific World please visit: www.pacificworld.com

 

PACIFIC WORLD HARNESSES PIONEERING EVENT TECHNOLOGY AT EIBTM

PACIFIC WORLD HARNESSES PIONEERING EVENT TECHNOLOGY AT EIBTM

Leading DMC for the Meetings and Event Industry Hosts Key Meetings Industry Figures at Technology Themed Networking Event

Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com), the leading DMC for the Meetings and Events Industry, hosted a technology themed network event at EIBTM, which was attended by over 120 meetings industry professionals from across the globe including key clients, suppliers and publication representatives.

The event, which was hosted on November 19th, at Passatge Utset Nº 14, (an old garage transformed into a meetings venue) was designed to showcase some of the latest innovations in meetings industry technology whilst providing a dynamic platform for networking between meetings industry peers.

Patricia Silvio, Global Marketing Manager, Pacific World commented, “We were delighted by the turn out at our latest event in Barcelona. The old garage was the perfect location for delivering a warehouse themed party where everyone could come together in a relaxed and informal atmosphere and enjoy the power of leading technology first hand.

“During the night, the guests were able to discover and play with the Reactable, an electronic musical instrument with a tabletop multi-touch interface. It’s a really cool tool that until now has only been used for music festivals. Reactable is now jumping into the corporate world due to its potential to reinforce the branding and corporate culture during various events,” Silvio continues.

Attendees were also invited to attend an interactive Goggle Glass demonstration where they were able to try the glasses and discover the different applications. There was also a virtual reality station where guests were able to test the technology. Innovation was present in all areas including catering. During the night, interesting canapés were designed and served specifically to challenge perceptions.

“Some of the dishes which were served throughout the event were prepared in front of the guests using molecular gastronomic techniques,” Silvio concludes.

To see the video of the event, please go to: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&feature=vm&video_id=Cv1vVMTQ8aA

For photos of the event, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.785720878156890.1073741835.290744704321179&type=3

MARK SEARLE TO EXTEND FOCUS TO ALL PACIFIC WORLD DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE

MARK SEARLE TO EXTEND FOCUS TO ALL PACIFIC WORLD DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE

January 2014 – Following the announcement made early last year, that Mark Searle was appointed as UK based sales manager (developing business in Europe, Middle East and Southern Africa), it has since been confirmed that Searle’s role will now extend to all destinations where Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com), the global DMC, Event Management and PCO organization, operates.

Hervé Joseph-Antoine, Global Managing Director, Pacific World comments, “Mark’s combination of MICE agency background and the knowledge he has gained around the DMC offering has strengthened our presence in the UK market, and we look forward to supporting him in driving representation forward into 2014 across the whole Pacific World portfolio.”

Searle’s new appointment was effective from January 2014. As part of the new role he will be responsible for representing destinations including China, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Greece, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Southern Africa, France, Monaco and England.

Joseph-Antoine continues “Unfortunately this does mean that we will be ending our partnership with MM & Co (www.mm-and-company.co.uk) at the end of December. David Marks and his team have been a great partner and an important representative for Pacific World”.

Following their worldwide rebranding in November 2011, Pacific World as a global brand is recognised for delivering operational excellence, creativity and best-in-class customer service across the world. Through working closely with local governments and convention centres, the global MICE company currently delivers event solutions in over 25 countries.

For more information please visit: www.pacificworld.com

DMC Warning – Russian DMC

RUSSIAN DMC – Travel Warning DMC Baikal Complex

For those of you who travel a lot – here are some recommendations and hints about places to go and to avoid.
First of all, here come a warning in case you plan to travel to Russia and Mongolia.

Baikal-Complex / Incoming Russian Travel Company
please be very carefully. Usually they try always to charge you more at the end of the trip.
Even or especially if all was paid in advance… Once you are in the country the owner Youry Nemirovsky is trying to rip you off. Better avoid this tour operator and use another one!
Mr. Youry Nemirovsky even did bring a whole group of travellers in a lot of problems and they almost missed their train. Mr. Youry Nemirovsky also keept the passports of some of his clients and gave back the passport only after they paid 500 Euro!!!

Baikal Complex
P.O. Box 30
Irkutsk 29
664029 RUSSIA

The next company which is not really to recommend is based in Mongolia.
GEREL-UST offers trips and trekkings allthrough Mongolia, Siberia and China.
But be aware the service here is very poor and they just do everything very minimized, still for to much money.
Beside that the tour operators don’t really know the area or do missinformation on purpose, just to have a more easy job.
Unfortunately this company is also the organising part of the Gobi Marathon, which is a pity – but you can imagine what kind of service you get here…
Even that the company owner is a German does not make anything better here!!! No wonder they work together with the Siberian DMC Baikal Complex.

GEREL UST
Mongoltours
Frau Udvaa Jambaldorj
Herr Joachim Göttel
P.O.Box 1581, Ulaanbaatar 211 213, Mongolia

We would recommend also to check out the official website from the Mongolian Tourism Department.
http://www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn/

EIBTM OFFICIAL DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

PACIFIC WORLD CONFIRMED AS EIBTM OFFICIAL DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR 10TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Pacific World, the global DMC, Event Management and PCO organisation has confirmed that they will once again be partnering with EIBTM, the global event for the meetings and events industry, to deliver operational support for all aspects of the show which will take place in the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona (19-21 November).

Mónica Sala Reyna, Country Manager of Pacific World Spain, commented, “EIBTM moved the show to Barcelona ten years ago and we are delighted to have been working with them to deliver the show since then. Each year, the show attracts over 15,000 meetings industry professionals to the city. As the official DMC, our role is to ensure that each of those attendees receive the best service.”

As the official DMC, Pacific World is responsible for managing over 5,000 hotel room nights, working with a list of official hotels to secure attractive rates for EIBTM delegates.

In addition to this, the global DMC are also responsible for coordinating all official transportation services for Hosted Buyers and visitors attending the show. This involves over 200 daily transfers, which are coordinated by nearly 100 members of staff. They also arrange private transportation services for CEOs and VIP’s, according to the individuals bespoke requirements.

Graeme Barnett, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Senior Exhibition Director commented, “We really value the relationship we have with Pacific World. Implementing EIBTM each year is an enormous task and it is incredibly important to us that we work with suppliers whom we can trust implicitly. Year on year, Pacific World prove themselves beyond expectation and we are looking forward to working with them for years to come.”

Following their worldwide rebranding in November 2011, Pacific World as a global brand is recognised for delivering operational excellence, creativity and best-in-class customer service across the world. Through working closely with local governments and convention centres, the global MICE company currently delivers event solutions in over 25 countries including China, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Greece, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, Southern Africa, France, Monaco and England.