SDCVB iLead Program Garners Rave Reviews
By Joanne DiBona, dibona@sdcvb.org
iLEAD is the San Diego CVB’s newest electronic resource to make the meeting selection process quicker and smoother than ever. With just a click of a mouse, meeting and convention planners can submit their meeting requirements to receive electronic proposals that can accommodate their specific needs.
Following are some comments recently received from planners who found this new service exceptional and extremely helpful:
Karen E. Venditti, CMP Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Just a short note to say hello and to let you know that I finally completed the survey emailed to me by Marriott regarding my sales experience. I rated the experience as Excellent.
When asked is there were any problems or if there was anything more that could be done, I replied, "There was nothing further that could have been done. What augmented the positive sales experience was the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau. Their Sales Team was knowledgeable, professional and a pleasure to work with.
Receiving the hotel proposals using the "I Lead" web-based system was the ultimate in the request for proposal stage of planning a meeting."
Kristie Gray, Event Promotions Manager,NurseWeek Magazine:
This is by far the most organized and most effective way I have seen this process handled! We're trying to book 30 events for 2005 in 20 different cities. No one is as organized in their system as you. Thanks a million!
Dawn Aronson, National Account Manager, Conference Direct:
The iLead concept in my opinion is a great system-- one click into e-mail and it gives you all the hotels in a snapshot view. It gets my vote.
What I like most about its feature is that it gives me regular updates as the hotel reports their findings. This, in turn, makes my response time to my client faster. I like quick glances with rate and availability. Sometimes that is what I need when I am handling a volume of searches. Very efficient!
Thank you, San Diego CVB, for this wonderful tool.
Patty Becker, Meetings and Events Manager, Convention Management Associates (CMA):
I must say the iLead system you developed is an awesome resource and the response has been GREAT. Coming from someone who, up until recently, worked in marketing at another high-profile convention bureau, I think your response system is an entirely more efficient method and a great benefit to the client. Keep up the good work...!
Cindy Harper, Reunion Planner, Kubasaki & Kadena High School Reunion:
Just wanted to let you know that our reunion committee decided to go with the Loews Coronado. The location speaks for itself, so we count ourselves lucky to have had them submit a proposal for us via iLead.
I have to tell you that iLead has been absolutely wonderful! When one year of planning fell through, I was an absolutely mess! I know for a fact that availability in San Diego would be at a bare minimum only one year from the date of an event, which had already been advertised for a year. So I can honestly say that I was beyond stressed - I had no idea what to do or where to start.
Then you and ILead came into my life! You saved me from having to call each and every hotel on the waterfront for my "Back to the Beach" event. But at the same time, you also saved each hotel sales rep from having to call us both whether they had availability or not. It was definitely a win-win situation for everyone involved, but I feel as though I benefited the most. My event will now be held at the Loews Coronado! iLead was it for me. Had it not been for you and the efficiency of iLead, I never would have considered contacting ANY hotel on Coronado. Instead, iLead allowed Loews Coronado, including several other hotels, to contact me. What a fantastic service!
I just can't thank you enough for your help, patience and guidance. You've been wonderful to work with! I'm so grateful to you and iLead; and I hope many more out there will also benefit from this incredible service!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you
