Worldhotels’ Participating Properties to Increase Their Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions Business (MICE) Through StarCite’s Global Supplier Marketplace
Frankfurt, Germany, 7 March, 2012 – StarCite®, part of Active Network (NYSE: ACTV), and a leading global supplier marketplace that connects meeting planners with hotels, destinations and venue suppliers, today announced a partnership with Worldhotels, one of the leading groups for independent hotels worldwide. This new partnership will allow Worldhotels’ properties to increase brand awareness through strategic positioning and enhanced content within the StarCite Supplier Marketplace. Additionally, hotels that are part of the group can drive sales opportunities by reaching a broad audience of qualified leads and responding to RFPs quickly and efficiently.
“We are extremely pleased to partner with StarCite to provide a new source of revenue for our participating properties. Corporate group business is an important revenue stream for our hotels and StarCite’s online platform is an important leverage to take our meeting segment to the next level,” explained Paulo Salvador, Global Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Worldhotels.
Active Network currently serves more than 50 percent of Business Travel News’ Top 100 Corporations and more than 1,000 associations. In addition, Active Network’s event technology solutions power events organized by 10 of the top 15 financial organizations and technology corporations and 9 of the 15 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world1. In turn, Worldhotels’ portfolio now stretches to almost 500 properties in 250 destinations and 65 countries across the globe with plans to add 80 new affiliate properties in 2012.
"Partnering with Worldhotels will allow us to significantly expand our Supplier Marketplace and provide more options for professional meeting planners looking for unique venues to host events worldwide," said JR Sherman, senior vice president and senior general manager of the Business Solutions division at Active Network. “Through StarCite’s innovative meetings and events sourcing technology, we can provide Worldhotels’ properties a host of programs to market their properties to prospective customers."
1Based on 2011 Fortune 500 data.
About Worldhotels:
Worldhotels is an exclusive collection of the world's most unique independent hotels. Under the banner "Unique Hotels for Unique People", it now has almost 500 affiliate properties in 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide. With over 40 years of excellence, the company's mission is to offer business and leisure travellers easy access to a wide range of 4 and 5 star hotels with character and distinction. Each hotel in the Worldhotels portfolio has passed a rigorous selection process and meets the group’s stringent quality standards. Over 1,000 quality criteria are anonymously tested on an annual basis. Worldhotels' guests benefit from an extensive selection of partnerships, including frequent flyer programmes from 21 of the world's leading international airlines, including Air France/KLM, United Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa.
Through an unparalleled range of services covering global marketing, sales, training, and e-commerce as well as state-of-the-art distribution and technology, Worldhotels gives independent hotels the collective strength of a global hotel brand whilst still allowing them to retain their individual character and unique identity. In addition to its classic “affiliation model”, the group offers a “full licence” branding solution for independent hotels which is the perfect alternative to standard franchise contracts.
For reservations or information, visit worldhotels.com. Photographic material is available in the “news & press” section of worldhotels.com or from ebehringer@worldhotels.com. For most recent news, follow Worldhotels on Facebook and Twitter.
About StarCite, Inc.
StarCite, Inc. provides a technology platform that is designed to make meetings and event planning, booking and management easier and more cost-effective for corporations, hotels, venues and meetings suppliers worldwide. StarCite delivers visibility, cost savings and control over meetings spending for businesses and enhanced revenue opportunities for suppliers. Through Web-based, on-demand technology, StarCite automates and supports every key element of the meetings planning and procurement process: planning, budgeting, buying, attendance, payment, and results measurement. Using StarCite’s proprietary online marketplace, meeting buyers can connect and conduct business with thousands of hotels, venues, destinations and suppliers globally. StarCite is based in Philadelphia, PA. For more information about StarCite please visit www.starcite.com.
About The Active Network, Inc.
The Active Network, Inc. is the leading provider of organization-based cloud computing applications with over 51,300 global business customers and 80 million annual transactions reported last year. Our technology platform, ActiveWorks®, transforms the way organizers manage their activities and events by automating online registrations and streamlining other critical management functions, while also driving consumer participation to their events. Our flagship media property, Active.com®, is the leading online community for people who want to discover, participate in, and share activities about which they are passionate. Headquartered in San Diego, California since 1999, the Company has over 25 offices worldwide. To learn more, visit www.ActiveNetwork.com or www.Active.com. Follow Active Network on Twitter @ActiveNetwork, @Active and on Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Active Network, Inc. cautions you that the statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Any such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including the Company's ability to generate revenue and control expenses in order to achieve and maintain profitability, the Company's ability to maintain an adequate rate of growth, including growing its registrations and revenue from registrations, and the Company's ability to successfully manage its acquisitions and investments in businesses, applications and technologies, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
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© 2012 The Active Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Active.com and ActiveWorks are registered trademarks of The Active Network, Inc. Active Network is a trademark of The Active Network, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Mona Klausing, Active Network
Mona.Klausing@ActiveNetwork.com
+1 858-964-3813
Elisabeth Behringer, Worldhotels
ebehringer@worldhotels.com
+49 69 66056-257