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
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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