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Recent Notable Transactions and Projects
Since 1993, TheAustinGroup has placed more than 5,000 separate groups for its clients in every major meetings market in the world. Recently, the firm has completed the following projects:
May 2007
Monaco Incentive Program Bundled Placement and Negotiation
Assisted with negotiating multi-year placement of group at five star properties for 2008-2010 client incentive campaign. Over the course of three days, assisted clients in seeing six hotels and one cruise ship for incentive program, in addition to touring Monaco and the surrounding area.
November 2006
Bangkok-Chiang Mai Incentive Program Placement
Created RFP, preliminary budgets, arranged all site inspection details, and escorted client on her first visit to Thailand for a 100 person incentive. Spanning cross-country, TheAustinGroup made all schedule changes while on site, and arranged back-of-the-house tours, local excursions, and meetings with key management and conference services staff at each hotel as well as with a luxury passenger train.
October 2006
Las Vegas Contract Renegotiation and Cancellation/Rebooking
950 person meeting for Las Vegas, placed by previous association management, was rebooked at a preferred hotel after cancellation of the original hotel contract (with zero damages) was negotiated by TheAustinGroup with client’s blessing. Despite contract language specifying substantial damages, TheAustinGroup was able to obtain a release from the original host hotel for the client, enabling the booking of a superior hotel under preferential terms.
May 2006
Beijing Sales Incentive Placement at 5-star Hotel
Created RFP, preliminary budgets, arranged all site inspection details, and escorted client on her first visit to China for a 350 person USA sales incentive. Made all schedule changes while on site, and arranged back-of-the-house tours, massages, and meetings with key management and conference services staff at each hotel.
March 2006
Los Angeles Launch of new Drug
From September 9-16, on behalf of Jack Morton Worldwide, TheAustinGroup created the RFP, pro forma budgets, and destination analysis for a major pharmaceutical firm’s launch of a new drug. 1400 sales reps and 300 key doctors involved. TheAustinGroup obtained film studio soundstages, convention centers, and 4 and 5-star convention hotels in each city during client’s preferred dates…all within the span of one week. Client estimates that TheAustinGroup’s efforts saved them more than 60 man-hours and $45,000 of direct expenses, before contractual concessions in excess of $200,000 were negotiated.
January-December 2005
Ongoing Strategic Contract Negotiation and Meetings Placement for a Financial Services firm and a Association of Insurers
Consolidated all meetings contracting, RFP creation, and assured conformity with company policies for two strategic clients. Negotiated and placed more than 90 meetings for the two firms during a four-month period, 135 over the course of 12 months. Implemented contractual riders and addenda for legal staff of each company, and generated annual direct savings of approximately $650,000 for one (Chicago) and $800,000 for another (Atlanta).
August 2005
Short Lead Placement of 110 Sales Leaders at 5-star Hotel in Las Vegas
With two weeks notice, sourced and negotiated with 6 hotels to provide client’s top Leadership group with a hotel for a 3 day meeting in late August. Hotels selected and contract finalized in 72 hours while rate plunged from $179 to final rate of $129…generating savings of $15,000.
May-July 2005
Copenhagen, Dubai, Paris, Brazil, Colorado, Las Vegas, and Vancouver Site Visits
During this time period, TheAustinGroup’s conference consulting staff continued their practice of gaining firsthand destination and hotel expertise by visiting these destinations and personally inspecting seeing more than 80 hotels and resorts and every reputable DMC in the areas. Reports on each destination were generated for all staff and strategic alliance clients.
July 2005
St. Louis Convention Center + Renaissance Grand + Adam’s Mark
1,900 District Sales Managers and Division Managers for a major beauty company. Savings of more than $250,000 generated for client organization. Group originated, RFP created, site inspections coordinated, budgets created, and contracts negotiated by TheAustinGroup during a ten-day period ranging from November 21-December 1, 2004.
July 2005
Sarbanes-Oxley, ROI Tools, and Procurement Roundtable at MPI
During the Miami Beach MPI World Educational Conference, July 11-12, Tim Brooks moderated MPI’s meeting planner and supplier discussion on the critical areas of Sarbanes-Oxley and its repercussions for planners and suppliers, ROI measurement tools, and how to work with corporate procurement departments to make the right decisions for each company.
March/April 2005
Hong Kong and Beijing
80 top sales leaders from key global sales territories for a World Sales Leaders incentive. Additional top 15 company executives from NYC headquarters participated with spouses. RFP creation, budgeting, waiver of meeting room rental charges, rate and DMC negotiations managed by TheAustinGroup. Savings of more than $90,000 achieved for the client.
May 2004
Full Ship Charter of 5-Star Cruise Ship for 5-Day Mediterranean Cruise
For a major beauty client, TheAustinGroup conducted what the host cruise line termed “the most detailed and complex charter negotiations” that they had ever experienced. In conjunction with client’s Risk Management and Legal staff, TheAustinGroup assisted with the port itineraries and negotiated more than $150,000 of concessions on an $800,000 cruise, and established the forward price of fuel and hedges against price divergence on the client’s behalf.
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