New scheme aims to support planners facing fewer event bookings and growing demands
BWH Hotels GB has recently extended its global BW Rewards programme to meetings and events, to better support planners and group bookers.
The scheme, called Planners Advantage, now offers exclusive rewards for meeting and event organisers booking stays, conferences and group events at participating hotels.
It comes as planners face growing pressure, as 2024 data demonstrates request for proposal volumes down four per cent year-on-year*. While there are fewer events, budgets and expectations are higher than ever.
Recognising these pressures, BWH Hotels has created Planners Advantage to offer planners up to 30,000 points per booking. The points can be redeemed on free night stays, retail vouchers, charity donations and more, with planners earning two points per dollar spent. It applies to a range of bookings including corporate conferences, executive meetings, sports team travel and group leisure stays.
Nicola Wood, Head of Sales at BWH Hotels GB, said: “We know corporate bookers and event managers are currently working in a challenging market with smaller teams, increased costs and higher expectations. They’re doing more with less and they deserve to be recognised for their efforts.
“Planners Advantage is our way of recognising their influence and value, streamlining the booking process and giving something back in the form of usable rewards.
“We also want to make it easier for planners to access the great event spaces and accommodation across our portfolio. From newly developed to characterful historic properties, many in prime city centre locations and often at more competitive rates than expected.”
The Weston Hall Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western, was the first hotel to receive a booking via the scheme, a conference with Procter and Gamble, worth over £2,000. Ian Bednall, general manager at the Weston Hall Hotel said: “We were thrilled to receive the first official booking via the Planner’s Advantage scheme- worth £2,100. This scheme is a win for both planners and hoteliers. We know how much thought goes into choosing the right venue and anything that makes that process easier and more rewarding is a positive step.
“For us as an independent hotel, Planners Advantage helps us build stronger, longer-term relationships with bookers, especially in a market where loyalty is increasingly hard-won.
“What’s more, for larger groups, whether it’s a conference, executive meeting, or a sports team stay, we can now reward planners not just for the event space, but for the room bookings too. It’s a more joined-up approach that benefits everyone.”
Planners Advantage is live and features across all BWH Hotels brands including Best Western and WorldHotels. The benefits of the new programme will be showcased to attendees of the Meetings Show on 25th and 26th June at London’s ExCel. Find out more at stand G71.
