Global travel network WIN launches M&E offer

Global travel network WIN has launched a meetings and events offering, WIN M&E, to provide support its 6,000 travel agent members in 70 countries. WIN’s majority shareholder, Advantage Travel Partnership launching its meetings and events UK offering in June last year headed up by Andrew Winterburn and Ian Quartermaine. The new WIN M&E division was born from a desire for a centralised meetings and events solution and will provide resources, expert knowledge and a white-labelled full-service event management offering for all WIN members. Armorgie (pictured), CEO of WIN, commented: “There is major growth in the SME sector which is driving the need for small to mid-size meetings. The global M&E market is estimated to be worth approximately US$800bn globally so this new solution will provide our members with the fantastic opportunity to grow their revenues within this sector, service the needs of their existing clients and pitch for new business.” Quartermaine added: “Over the course of our careers, Andrew and I have arranged everything from small meetings to corporate overseas events for hundreds of people. We’ll be able to share this experience with WIN members to help them grow their own businesses across the globe.” WINM&E assistance will range from access to expert M&E knowledge and venue-finding to marketing support and event technology, as well as training and development. WIN members will also have access to pre-negotiated hotel rates. Advantage Travel Partnership claims to be the UK’s largest independent travel agent partnership. Advantage says that leisure and business travel agents who are part of the group are each independently owned, but as a collective they produce over £4.5bn of travel sales each year. More information: http://win-me.org/