STAR ALLIANCE launches meetings plus product at EIBTM

BARCELONA, Spain. Star Alliance, the way the Earth connects, will be launching its new Meetings Plus product at the EIBTM, the leading global event for the meetings and incentive industry, which is being held in Barcelona from December 1st - 3rd, 2009.

Meetings Plus is the alliances’ global product for the meetings market and is aimed at companies, meeting planners and incentive agencies that need to organise gatherings with participants from different countries. The dedicated product allows this target group access to the entire Star Alliance network by contracting their travel needs through just one Star Alliance member airline.

“Following the soft launch of Meetings Plus three months ago, we have already received numerous requests for proposals, of which one quarter have already been converted into contracts”, said Christopher Korenke, Vice President Commercial at Star Alliance. “With Meetings Plus now available on a world-wide scale, business is bound to grow. We are, after all, building on experience and expertise which we have gained in providing an alliance conventions product for more than eight years”.

As part of the launch activities, Star Alliance will host a cocktail reception during EIBTM at MPI booth O105, on December 2nd, 2009, from 17:00 -18:30.

Meetings Plus can be used for most meetings of 50 people or more, with attendees originating in at least three different countries. Interested meeting organisers send an online request for proposal (RFP) via www.staralliance.com/meetingsplus. The organiser will then be contacted by the Star Alliance member carrier designated to handle the travel requirements for the requested event. Bookings will be made through the organisers appointed travel agency. The Star Alliance member carriers are offering fare discounts ranging between 10 and 20 per cent off the published fare in either Business or Economy Class.

In addition to Meetings Plus, Star Alliance also offers Conventions Plus, a simplified travel solution to event organisers by allowing them access to the entire alliance network through one of the member airlines. The organiser also receives a support programme which includes tickets and promotional assistance.

In general, delegates are entitled to fare discounts ranging from ten to 20 percent, depending on the type of fare, class of travel and airline used. Travel can be either in Business or Economy Class, and one companion may also travel on the delegate fare discounts.

In order to qualify for Conventions Plus, the designated event must be of a global scale, with a minimum number of 500 international delegates from at least three different countries and two continents. The lead time to the event should be at least six months.

Note: Different conditions apply to Meetings Plus for meetings to be held in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. At present Meetings Plus is not available for travel on ANA, South African Airways and THAI.