Worldwide: GroupSync Engage, a direct group booking solution by Groups360, has been launched at Hilton and Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Groups360 uses cloud-based technology to enable group bookings at hotels. The company’s solution GroupSync allows suppliers to distribute inventory, engage with planners, and optimise group revenues.
GroupSync Engage provides an instant booking solution for meeting and event planners to reserve guest rooms and event spaces in real-time.
Hilton has deployed the technology at the majority of its hotels (5,000 worldwide) and Omni Hotels & Resorts has implemented the solution at four of its Dallas-based hotels before extending to almost all properties in North America by the end of the summer.
“GroupSync Engage is reshaping the hospitality industry in a way that makes booking small groups simple, transparent and efficient for both hotels and event planners,” said Kemp Gallineau, CEO at Groups360. “Our company exists to empower event planners with integrated supplier technology that simplifies group bookings. We are pleased to partner with Hilton as an industry leader in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions space.”
Oral Muir, vice president of global distribution at Hilton, said: “This integrated booking solution is resolving a long-standing frustration among event planners — the inability to see at a glance whether a hotel has the guest room capacity to accommodate their group. By expanding direct online booking for small group room blocks to nearly all of our properties around the world, we are creating a more seamless and reliable group booking experience for everyone. At Hilton, we’ve always been in the business of people serving people, creating innovative solutions with strategic partners to advance the overall experience to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
Gallineau added: “Omni is an important brand to feature in the GroupSync direct booking marketplace, as these properties embody not only luxury experiences but also the highest standard of service for meeting planners. As meeting specialists, Omni staff will greatly benefit from how GroupSync Engage automates group bookings for smaller meetings, giving them back invaluable time to focus on larger, more complex events.”
Peter Strebel, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said: “We take great pride in being innovators in the meetings and events industry, so we jumped at the opportunity to adopt paradigm-shifting technology destined to change the way hotels have been booking groups. We’re dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for meeting professionals and their guests, which is why all of our hotels have ample programming across outlets so that guests can enjoy their stay outside of the business setting, too. At an Omni, it’s not just another convention or work trip.”
Groups360 anticipates 20,000 of the nearly 200,000 properties in GroupSync will be equipped to offer GroupSync Engage by the end of 2021.
Further information about online group bookings can be found here.
