HelmsBriscoe opens Office in Japan

HelmsBriscoe, a global leader of independent site selection and RFP services for the expanding meetings business, recently opened its first ever Japanese office in Tokyo’s thriving downtown Roppongi district.

The opening of the new office comes on the heels of the company’s most successful annual business conference recently held in Orlando, Florida and a record breaking year in its 16 year history, booking $620 million in room revenue in 2007, which represents total meeting spend in excess of $1 billion. For the first half of 2008, the momentum has continued, with a 20% increase over 2007.

The establishment of HelmsBriscoe’s first Japanese foothold in Tokyo’s popular Roppongi Hills is an indication of the growing global requirement for specialized venue selection services.

“There is a tremendous need not only in Japan, but throughout Asia, for the services that HelmsBriscoe provides. Kayoko [Kayoko Inoue, HelmsBriscoe’s new Regional Manager Japan] and her team bring exceptional skills and experience to the marketplace. Japan is a traditional market where planners prefer suppliers that are trusted, efficient and easy to do business with. We will continue to aggressively pursue our international distribution plan by selecting the right people in the right locations” said Bob Gilbert, Senior Vice President, HelmsBriscoe’s International Division.

HelmsBriscoe offers independent site selection and RFP services for over 8,000 corporate, association and government clients that plan off-site meetings and conferences. HelmsBriscoe associates accelerate the decision making process for meeting planners by researching hotels and other meeting venues that match their clients’ criteria, negotiating rates and concessions by leveraging its volume purchasing power, and facilitating the contracting process. Founded in 1992, HelmsBriscoe today has 950 associates spanning 38 countries.

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