New Program Designed for Anyone with Meeting Needs Giving Access to Expert Planners, Contract Negotiators and Onsite Logistical Support

Las Vegas, NV – October 11, 2011 – American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events, a full service global meetings and events management provider, today announced the availability of MEETINGS EXPERT. This program provides expert planning and sourcing resources for those meetings that may be planned outside of a managed, centralized meetings and events program.

Many departments within an organization have the need to plan meetings. MEETINGS EXPERT was created with those professionals in mind who may not be trained meeting planners but are tasked with the responsibility.

“As companies direct more of their attention toward meeting and expense consolidation, MEETINGS EXPERT offers solutions for those who continue to plan meetings on an ad hoc basis,” said Issa Jouaneh, Vice President and General Manager, American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events. “Even for companies only requiring meetings sourcing support intermittently, implementing structure around the process is important. We expect that the MEETINGS EXPERT experience will demonstrate the value of managing meetings and associated expenses – one of the largest categories of uncontrolled spend for most companies.”

Companies who choose to use MEETINGS EXPERT can have the benefit of cost control with a focus on planning meetings that are compliant to standard meeting policy and employ leading sourcing practices. This service connects companies with experts to negotiate all aspects of a meeting contract including conference rooms, sleeping rooms, food and beverage, and ancillary spending for events with a minimum of 10 rooms per night.

MEETINGS EXPERT was piloted this year with companies in North America and is now broadly available in the United Kingdom. Continued roll-out is expected across Europe and Australia. For those clients using the services, they have achieved an on average savings of 28%* per meeting.

*Figure is based upon Meetings & Events closed business through end of June 2011.

About American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events
American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events, a division of American Express Global Business Travel, offers long-standing experience, expertise and leading capabilities spanning from program implementation to budget optimization in delivering powerful meeting and event experiences for clients. The team is comprised of more than 1000 employees world-wide focused on meeting and event sourcing, planning, contract negotiations, budgeting, expense management, reporting and benchmarking, combined with strategic counsel and integration of leading technology. This end-to-end approach focuses on creating visibility, driving savings and enabling effective meeting experiences.

With more than 40 years in the industry and an in-market presence in over 50 countries, American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events is uniquely positioned to manage meetings and events locally, regionally, internationally and across the globe. American Express Global Business Travel Meetings & Events works with market leaders to enhance its offering to clients.

Contact:

Erica Rose
212-640-2265
[email protected]

Jamie Colunga
212-446-1877
[email protected]

American Express Global Business Travel (“GBT”) is a joint venture that is not wholly-owned by American Express Company or any of its subsidiaries (“American Express”). “American Express Global Business Travel”, “American Express” and the American Express logo are trademarks of American Express, and are used under limited license.