AboutSteve Collins Expertise My main area of expertise is in meeting and event planning. I can help answer questions on how to find the best hotel for a specific group, ways to make a group more attractive to a hotel so that they will offer better rates, and negotiation strategies for working with hotels. I can also give tips on items that are and are not standard in hotel contracts, although I am not an attorney.
I am not as familiar with the specifics of food and beverage functions (i.e. how many appetizers would you need to order for a reception of 250 people?).
Experience I had been working as a hotel sales manager for 11 years when I decided to "jump the fence" and become a meeting planner myself. I feel that my background can be very helpful in the negotiation process because I know what the hotels look for when evaluating a potential piece of business.
Question I need to purchase a lot of airline tickets for a consumer incentive/promotion I am running. Here is the deal, I need tickets at a flat rate (for ex. $300 each) good for travel anywhere in the US at any time. I am sure there are restrictions that will apply. I DO NOT want gift cards or certificates. The people that I have talked to have not gotten me very far. Your advice is appreciated. Thanks, Blair
Answer Hi Blair!
I need to do a little research on this before I can give you a good answer--because there are SOOO many rates out there, I am not sure if it is possible to buy a ticket that would be valid anywhere. I am definitely willing to check with some of my contacts, though.
A couple of follow up questions for you:
How many tickets do you think you will need?
Can they be valid within the Continental US, or would you need them to include AK and HI as well?
Just making sure you understand--"good for travel anywhere in the US at any time" may be subject to significant blackout dates and restrictions--and it will always be subject to availability (they can't give you seats on an overbooked flight...). Will something like that work for you?
If you can get back to me with these answers, I can check with some of my sources to see what I can find for you. Probably the most direct way to communicate with me (if you don't want to continue going through the AllExperts site) is via my regular e-mail: Steve@ResortMeetingSource.com. Let me know your thoughts on the above questions, and I will do some digging for you.
