An online meetings, conference and events management tool has been launched by Expotel, which the award-winning hotel booking agency claims will revolutionise the booking process.

Called ex-act, it has been developed in collaboration with ABC Connection, and takes the traditionally manual request for meetings (RfM) process online, “allowing Expotel staff to be more consultative in their discussions with clients”.



The future of booking? – Expotel's new online solution

 
“Our clients require professional meetings and conference management, but in addition require consolidation of all meeting and conference spend combined with comprehensive management information,” said Sherie Starkey, Expotel’s commercial and operations director, conference and events.
 
“The time-consuming process of identifying venues, checking availability, creating shortlists, proposals and confirmations has been automated and will generate a comprehensive audit trail of activities. This in turn will provide a full suite of management information for our clients.”

Expotel’s chief executive Ian Burnley was equally excited about the new online tool. “The database of venues is over 160,000, allowing our domestic and overseas clients an enormous amount of choice,” he said. “The ex-act solution will clarify the process giving greater visibility of spend, by type of meeting or conference.”
 
ex-act is currently being used by Expotel staff and will be available to all the company’s customers via “unique client-facing portals” in January 2008.