 
In February 2003 the EventConnect website was launched to venue operators and event product and service suppliers within the business events industry in Australia. Offering a unique ‘performance-based system’ and a highly measurable marketing opportunity the listing process began.
Sellers were excited about being able to sign in and change the content of their listings, add hot specials and change the images at any time.
Buyers were also happy because they could see the benefit of using this free online service. With the ability to find venues that matched their exact requirements, to check the availability of these venues within their time-frames, and to get quotes from the venues they selected at the touch of a button, EventConnect was soon recognised as a great time saver and a comprehensive and up to date library of venues, products and services.
Suppliers pay for genuine leads only
As an option to the annual fee offered, the performance-based ‘pay-per-lead system’ means that sellers, after reading the full enquiry form from a buyer, only needs to pay a small lead fee to ‘accept’ the enquiry rather than having to pay hefty commissions on actual confirmed business, based on room-nights. If the event is not suitable, for example the dates the buyer requires are not available, then the seller can decline the client’s enquiry and pay nothing at all!
Since inception, EventConnect.net has been so successful that it has generated in excess of 6000 leads to venues and product and service providers in the MICE business. It is estimated that this equates to more than $30 million of business, not counting telephone or email contacts of which another 50 per cent of enquires are made.
“Event connect has created just what the events industry has needed for so long,” says Lauren E. Bourne from the Commonwealth Bank.
“The previous methods of searching and booking venues could be a very time consuming process. This service provides me with just what I need at my fingertips.”
“EventConnect has made researching locations and suppliers for our company events easier than I ever thought possible,” says Kelly McKenzie of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
With the introduction of a dedicated mice.net magazine for Asia (miceASIA.net) mid last year the timing was right to bring on the popular Asian destinations and so the target date to launch EventConnect Asia was set for AIME in February 2007. It is expected that these new regions will be as useful for Asian-based buyers as they will be for the many Australian buyers who take conference and incentive groups into Asia.
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