Having been trialled in the US and Canada for the last 12 months, the app is now ready for download free of charge through the iPhone App Store and on Android at Google Play.
KUCHING, MALAYSIA – The Global Industry Development Network (GIDN) launched their newest business development tool for use by Convention Bureaus and Centres who target the international association conference market, with a mobile app called “GNR8”. For the meetings industry it can be used to match an Association’s “call for bids” with potential local hosts from within the user’s city.
Having been trialled in the US and Canada for the last 12 months, the app is now ready for download free of charge through the iPhone App Store and on Android at Google Play, to receive qualified and exclusive leads there is a subscription version which can be accessed through the App or by visiting globalidn.com which accesses full business development services.
One organisation involved in the testing phase, Tourism Saskatoon in Canada’s Saskatchewan province, found the app extremely beneficial. In 12 months, over 22 new leads entered their sales pipeline which have so far resulted in 4 bid wins, representing almost 5,000 delegates and $4.7 million in direct delegate expenditure.
Another user involved in the trial, the World Trade and Convention Centre Halifax, also from Canada, in just 8 months was able to generate another 42 new conference leads into their sales pipeline with 3 wins so far. These conferences will start to materialise as they open a new state of the art convention centre in 2016.
How GNR8 works is simple, says Scott Campbell, Executive Director of the Global Industry Development Network, “a user subscribes to GNR8 and then receives up to 5 qualified leads per month which are matched to potential local hosts from within the user’s city and which have been aligned to their industries or sectors of excellence, such as science or agriculture”.
“Whilst you can just accept the lead and work it yourself, GNR8’s unique feature is that it allows you to not just stop at receiving the lead but rather use the app to develop it all the way through to bid win, it gives you a complete roadmap from prospect to win” adds Campbell. “When a lead has been selected you can request more information such as introductions to conference decision makers, you can seek interviews from past conference organisers, obtain lists of potential and past sponsors, and much more. Support is available through the complete sales lifecycle from prospect to lead, to opportunity, bid stage and bid win. At each stage the user can access support services from GIDN’s team members in 16 countries”.
GNR8 was launched in partnership with the not for profit society, the STEM States Incorporated, as part of their announcement that the 2014 International Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMfest) will be held in Adelaide Australia in partnership with the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. GNR8 was trialled at STEMfest 2013 and will again be the official app used by STEMfest partner associations in identifying grants and sponsors, and for exhibitors being matched to new business leads.
GNR8 is being aligned to different industry sectors so that the users can get access to bidding opportunities and new relationships. As of today, 38 destination marketing organisations and venues have started to use the app for business development. To download GNR8 and enjoy the many free services on offer, visit the iPhone App Store or Google Play and search for GNR8, or to get customised leads started register through the partner section.
Amongst its many features, GNR8 also includes free webinars each month where users can meet with decision makers for conferences.
Photo caption: Senior Association and Corporate Executives join a panel discussion during the launch of GNR8 at STEMfest 2013. Pictured from left, Dr Megan Groome New York Academy of Sciences, Mr Pascal van den Nieuwendijk, Director of Public and Private Alliances from Microsoft, Mr Joshua S Fouts, CEO of New York Science House Foundation, Dr Michael Padilla, International Council of Associations for Science Education, and Mr David Goncalves, President of STEM States Incorporated.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
