Services
The Meetings Network services are available to meeting planners or anyone in need of a hotel guest room block. We work with clients from corporations, associations, and the public sector.
SITE SELECTION
We do the legwork to source the perfect hotel for your meeting, conference, or event.
Research
We conduct extensive research into the preferred region to investigate which hotel properties may work for your group. Leveraging our wide network of hotel and hospitality professionals, we compile a complete picture of the possible hotels in an area and the many pros and cons of each option.
Summary Report
Our research findings are summarized in a concise report delivered to our clients for review. This report will provide a high-level overview of each property’s offerings. Our goal is to provide information that can be shared among stakeholders and used to make informed decisions.
Communication
We start communicating with hotels at the very beginning of this process. The Meetings Network will contact the right folks at the local and national level in order to secure your bid. Communication with multiple properties is maintained throughout the site research, review, and selection process.
Site Visits
Our clients may want to see the space in person before moving to the contract phase. If this describes you, The Meetings Network can schedule these site visits for you. Our connections with Convention and Visitors Bureaus ensures that our clients always have a seamless experience on site. No need to compare calendars with the hotel sales representative — we’ve got you covered.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
You’ve made your selection, now we get to work negotiating the contract on your behalf.
Advocate For You
As a third party provider, The Meetings Network has no allegence to hotel chains or specific cities. Our only allegence is to our client’s best interest. We take pride in going to bat for our clients. And because we have over 30 years in this industry, we know exactly how to address our client’s needs in the contracting process.
Manage Back-and-Fourth
The site selection process often requires substantial back and forth communication via email and phone calls. Managing these communications is our job as your third party representative. Our clients are kept in the loop through periodic progress updates.
Secure Group Concessions
Over three decades in this line of work, have exposed the many opportunities for discounts and amenities for your group. The hospitality industry is all about guest experience and a great experience starts with a solid contract. The Meetings Network will work with you to determine the most valuable concessions to your group. Then, we will work with the hotel to negotiate a contract that favors our clients as much as possible.
Mitigate Risk
Hotel contracts are legally binding documents that can pose risk to your business if not negotiated properly. We understand our client’s needs on an experience level and can execute that on a contractual level. As part of our process, we ensure that all necessary contract clauses are in place before you step foot on site for your event.
EXPERT SUPPORT
Wendy Hand is your advocate.
Our greatest service offered to our clients is her expertise in this industry. Wendy holds a stellar reputation amongst her peers. She is ready to leverage that reputation for her clients.
When you work with The Meetings Network, you can rest easy knowing that you are getting the greatest value to your company delivered at the best rate.
COST OF SERVICES
The Meetings Network’s services are offered at no cost to our clients.
We receive a small commission from the hotels based on volume, much like a travel agent.
Profit is not our goal. Our goal is to save time and money for your organization. In order to do that, we utilize our experience and resources to your advantage.
HAPPY CLIENTS SPEAK VOLUMES
Wendy is the best in the business! I know that when I’m working with Wendy my hotel accommodations are going to exceed my expectations. Wendy is all about the customer and will ensure that you get the best.
Wendy can handle any type of contract from a small private group to large conferences of over 700-night room blocks with ease. Wendy’s network is vast she can present you with every possible option. I’ve done over 5 million dollars worth of hotel reservations with Wendy and every contract has been executed to perfection.
It has been my pleasure to work with Wendy for over 16 years. She is a true professional who understands the importance of long term partnerships. She keeps the best interest of her clients in mind, while maintaining strong relationships with hotels, to achieve a winning outcome for everyone involved. Because of this, she has a strong reputation with customers and suppliers alike.
Wendy is very responsive and always professional. Wendy is detail oriented and great at negotiating for her clients. Wendy’s years of experience have lead to many great connections in the industry and this has helped with her continued success. It’s a pleasure to know and work with Wendy.
Wendy Hand has been a great partner to Hyatt Hotels over the years and a true professional at every turn. She is a pleasure to work with and understands what is important to both her customers and our hotels. I appreciate our relationship greatly and look forward to many more years of continued success working together.
Wendy has helped us locate and secure incredible venues across the US. She takes the stress off the team, so we can focus on event planning and execution. From managing the complex multi-city RFP process to scheduling site visits to supporting contract negotiations, post-event audits, and more(!) her services are invaluable. I would highly recommend her and the Meetings Network to anyone looking for that perfect meeting or conference venue!
The Meetings Network is an absolutely must have partner for our company and all of our organizations. Wendy Hand is a wonderful person to work with and an ultimate professional. She has and continues to make us look good. I cannot imagine being as successful as we are without Wendy as part of our team.
Having Wendy to rely on has made a wonderful difference in my ability to coordinate multiple RFPs. I really rely on her strong negotiation skills and eagle-eye contract review to make me feel confident and productive with site selection. It’s a partnership that works so well for me that I don’t understand why so many planners “go it alone”.
The Meetings Network has been making my life easier for years. Wendy is a consummate professional and great to work with. Her negotiation skills with hotels and other venues are second to none. Whether it’s a board meeting for 12, or a large event for 500, Wendy always comes through with great recommendations and proposals. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking site selection services.
The Meetings Network has been a partner of our organization for many years and provides excellent service in assisting us with our convention and meeting site selection needs. Wendy’s attention to detail is outstanding and I consider her an extension of our staff. She listens to what the needs of each meeting involves and does extensive research with many hotels and locations that may fit the needs of the group. Her negotiating skills are exceptional and she follows up on every aspect of the contract process from beginning to end. The ease of site selection with a well-organized spreadsheet of options makes it easy to look over our choices and make the final selection. I would highly recommend using Wendy Hand and The Meetings Network for any site selection service needs you may have for your company.
When a weather disaster closed my convention hotel, Wendy was able to get my hotel moved and attendees rooms at new hotels within a matter of hours. This speaks to her ability to work so well with hotels. She goes above and beyond to ensure she is representing her clients and holding hotels to the highest standard.
Wendy Hand is always a great pleasure to work with. Her professionalism, excellent organization, great communication and extreme hospitality can be attributed to the passion that she holds for the job that she does. I treasure this girl and appreciate all the support that she gives me and the hotel that I represent, as I am sure all the hoteliers will confess.
As the director of meetings for a large association, I can’t imagine what I would do without the Meetings Network. Wendy is like having another member on my team. The amount of time I save by having her research, gather and respond to all the leads we put out is beyond important; it’s a lifesaver. The collaboration that we use to negotiate is like a perfect partnership. The secret weapon, however, is that she goes through my contract with a fine tooth comb! Her years of hotel experience, combined with staying up on current trends and knowing what’s important for my organization takes such a load off my mind and makes me feel that together we got a contract that works for everyone. I rest easy knowing that the needs and wants of my association are so well cared for by Wendy and The Meetings Network.