For Immediate Release
Dec. 5, 2011
Contact: Kristie Greco, Joanne Peters
Democratic
National Convention Committee Names Housing Services Provider
Winning team connected using
convention vendor directory
CHARLOTTE – The Democratic National
Convention Committee and the Committee for Charlotte in 2012 today
named the team of EventSphere, Akintayo Management Group and It’s My
Affair to serve as the housing services vendor for the 2012 Democratic
National Convention.
“This team, along with the resources of the Charlotte hotel
community, provides us with the experience and local connections to
ensure that convention attendees receive a superior housing experience
in Charlotte,” said DNCC Chief Executive Officer Steve Kerrigan.
“With the local resources and valuable relationships of It’s My Affair
and the institutional knowledge and expertise that EventSphere and
Akintayo Management Group bring from the 2008 Democratic National
Convention, this team will be able to effectively manage the thousands
of hotel rooms that will be needed for the convention.”
The three firms bid as a team. EventSphere and Akintayo
Management Group identified Charlotte-based It’s My Affair for their
partnership using the convention vendor directory, a tool that allows
organizations and individuals to search for local companies to meet
their convention-related needs. Local business can register for
the vendor directory at www.charlottein2012.com. Future request for
proposals will be issued through the vendor directory.
The housing services vendor will work closely with the DNCC housing
department to manage the DNCC’s hotel room blocks for convention
week. The vendor will be responsible for providing support teams,
including call centers, website reservation services and fax machines;
building on existing housing inventory, handling contracts and
assisting with housing inspections; managing housing inventory,
wait-list procedures and post cut-off procedures; providing reservation
services and meeting space management systems; and managing deposits
and refunds, conducting audits and producing ongoing reports.
The DNCC is responsible for housing approximately 6,000 convention
delegates, as well as certain elected officials, some media, security,
production staff, allied groups, campaign staff, and other special
guests.
The DNCC evaluated the proposals based on numerous criteria, including
experience, reliability, relationships to Charlotte, North Carolina,
and the surrounding region, women, minorities and persons with
disabilities, and local resources to support the endeavor.
This is the fourth contract the DNCC and the Committee for Charlotte in
2012 have awarded. The first set of contracts for construction
manager, event architect and event and exposition services provider
were awarded in October.
EventSphere
EventSphere’s mission is to be a dynamic housing company that offers
its client partners a solution-driven and results-proven housing
services platform. The team is composed of seasoned industry
veterans with an average of 20 years of hospitality and housing
expertise. EventSphere works with some of the largest annual
conventions and events in the United States. EventSphere’s team
provided housing services for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Akintayo Management Group
Akintayo Management Group is an innovative company that provides
notable services in project oversight and business development, with
expertise in the hospitality industry. AMG’s President and CEO, Tina E.
Akintayo, served as the Director of Housing for the 2008 Democratic
National Convention, developing, managing and greening the housing
process for several thousand convention attendees. Tina is a LEED
accredited professional with 20 years of experience in the hotel
industry.
It’s My Affair
IT’s My Affair, LLC is an SBA 8(a) certified small disadvantaged,
minority and woman-owned business providing full-service conference,
meeting and event management services. IMA’s Charlotte-based team
supports a diverse list of clients with site selection, budget
development and contract negotiation, full meeting and event planning
services, travel and housing support. Karen Lawrence, Founder and
President, has more than 14 years of experience managing meetings and
special events. Karen served as Co-chair of the Educational
Dream Team for Meeting Professionals International, Charlotte
Chapter.
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