HelmsBriscoe expands its international operations in China

HelmsBriscoe (HB) a US based meetings resource firm has expanded its international operations in China.

With a 2004 booking record of 2.8 million room nights and over 16,000 meetings for more than 8,000 clients, HelmsBriscoe is one of the world’s largest purchasers of group hotel rooms. The company has over 700 associates in 28 countries and provides support for clients from and to any location worldwide. HB’s core services include site selection, contract negotiations, hotels and resort evaluation and inspection, full-service planning, and Web-based housing and registration.

The creation of an Asia team that can provide its international associates with grass-root knowledge of the local industry and a better understanding of the local needs has proven to be an excellent strategic decision for the company said Ms. Pat Durocher, Managing Director of HelmsBriscoe International (HBI), “This is a golden opportunity for HBI to expand their services into the growing Asian Meetings market. We have been bringing groups into Asia for many years, but having our team members on the ground will be invaluable to the worldwide network of HelmsBriscoe Associates.”

Mary Ann MacCartney is the first HelmsBriscoe International Associate in the Peoples Republic of China. She has been with HelmsBriscoe’s for many years in the United States and with her relocation to China has been appointed Regional Director for the Shenzhen/Guangdong area. Along with other associates, she is part of the growing Asia HBI team. Ms. MacCartney has found that the Asian market, with its booming economy and growing number of international meetings held in its territory, was ready for a major player like HelmsBriscoe. She said, “Many of or multi-national client’s Asian offices were not familiar with this type of service and are delighted to find the headache of site selection and contract negotiation can be handled by unbiased HBI professionals at no cost to their organizations. HBI’s aggregate buying power is a boon them and our hotel partners are pleased to be able to negotiate with seasoned professionals”.

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the international branch of HelmsBriscoe has locations in 28 countries world wide with Asia/Pacific offices in China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, the Philippines, and New Zealand, with projects to expand to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and other Asian locations in the near future.

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