Global Experience Specialists Acquires Housing Services Companies - onPeak and Travel Planners
October 8, 2014
Global Experience Specialists has acquired two housing services companies – onPeak, with headquarters in Chicago, and Travel Planners, which is headquartered in New York City.
The combined business will serve clients under the name onPeak, a GES Global Company (onPeak | GES).
“Our clients told us that they want GES to create unique, integrated experiences delivered by just one trusted partner for their most critical event needs,” said Steve Moster, GES’ president.
He added, “We are honored to have earned our clients’ trust and are really excited to offer a complete event experience to all of our clients - from exhibition organizers to corporate marketers, event agencies and now hotel partners.”
Adding housing services into GES’ current offerings gives its clients the ability to have one company as the go-to source for their event services, according to GES officials.
The three companies have 60 years of combined experience, and the new onPeak | GES will provide premium housing services to approximately 60 percent of the top 250 trade shows in the United States.
Leading the new onPeak team as executive vice president of onPeak | GES is Michael Howe, formerly president of onPeak. Howe will report to Moster.
Lisa Baez, formerly executive director of Travel Planners, will report to Howe as vice president of housing account services.
“Like GES, Travel Planners and onPeak were built on technical innovation and great service,” Howe said.
He added, “We’re thrilled to combine our expertise and advanced technology with the global resources of GES. This opens the doors to really exciting opportunities for our clients and employees.”
As the exclusive distributor of housing services for an event, onPeak | GES will utilize “its scale and industry-leading technology to offer convenient and affordable hotel accommodations to event attendees and exhibitors”, according to GES officials.
onPeak | GES will manage hotel booking administration before, during and after the event, including securing room blocks with local hotels, marketing those reserved blocks to event attendees and exhibitors, managing attendee and exhibitor reservations and addressing any housing concerns during the event.
This is the second big acquisition announcement for GES in the past month: Blitz Communications, an audio-visual service company for the live events industry in the U.K. and continental Europe, was acquired Sept. 12.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
Add new comment