Why choose us?
1 - We have business orientation unparalleled in the industry
Not only does our staff have over 30 years of meeting planning experience, our leadership has experience with McKinsey and Company and Bain & Company, two of the leading strategy consulting firms in the world. As part of our unique value proposition, we will:
- Provide strategic input on theme, overall agenda, and specific agenda items
- Consult on content, presentation templates, presentation skills
- Evaluate and negotiate with potential guest speakers, entertainers, and teambuilding companies
- Offer full budget management and exceptional negotiating skills
- Provide full communication planning and execution, e.g. weekly incentive emails
2 - We provide exceptional service
Sure, every meeting planning company and incentive house says they provide great service, but we can back it up with facts. Over the past year on post-event surveys, more than 99% of attendees have rated A-Plus' service as "Good" or "Excellent", and our clients come back year after year. On our most recent post-incentive survey, our attendees rated "quality of onsite meeting planner" as the single most important criterion in making for a successful incentive trip, more than the destination and more than the hotel. Here's what makes our clients so happy:
- A "Never say no" attitude
- A single point of contact Program Manager ensures no handoffs and maintains "meeting memory" throughout the program
- 24/7 access before, during, and after programs
- Limited use of outside contractors onsite. Our staff knows our clients better and knows our standards better than temporary staff for hire used by larger firms
- Our long-term relationships with clients lead to better service year after year
3 - We provide extreme cost control, with no "nickel and diming"
We treat every penny of the budget as though it's our own. We negotiate tirelessly to ensure our client gets the most value for their money. We:
- Negotiate every item prior to purchase
- Treat the budget as sacred. We don't go over budget unless the agenda changes. Our clients never get surprises, other than happy ones.
- Use national reps for hotel, airlines, and AV extensively. They understand the volume A-Plus can deliver is more than any individual client, and we get the best rates and superior support on the program
- Negotiate to remove/reduce attrition/cancellation penalties. When attrition or cancellations occur, we use our contacts and volume to minimize the damage.
- Provide Nth degree management of room blocks, meal guarantees, transfers (we hate paying for unused services!)
- Don't charge for additional reports, meetings, or other tasks. Again, the budget is the budget. There will be no surprises.
- Provide numerous additional onsite services, all at no charge. We regularly:
- Act as facilitator for customer advisory board
- Provide babysitting services
- Use staff auto for short trips rather than hiring transfer company
- Take attendees to clinics
- Stock hospitality suites and act as bartender, saving hotel charges
- Scribe in meetings (at no charge) rather than outsourcing
- Create complete communication plan and materials
- Manage AV tech table and call the show to save on AV tech time
- Edit highlight videos and prepare daily photo slideshows
- Do anything required...with a smile
