Maritz Whitepaper Aids Meeting, Event and Incentive Owners During Era of Mistrust and Economic Downturn

A new whitepaper released by Maritz, a global leader in sales and marketing services, advises corporate meeting, event and incentive travel program executives and planners on how to demonstrate the value ME&I programs have in achieving business results and ways to successfully mitigate the reputational risk associated with operating these programs during an economic downturn.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) January 19, 2009 -- The fear, uncertainty and doubt due to the recent collapse of the financial services industry coupled with the current economic recession has caused corporations to link inappropriate and excessive executive compensation to meeting, event and incentive (ME&I) programs. This reaction has chilled investments in programs that have the ability to dramatically enhance and improve business performance and results. A new whitepaper released by Maritz, a global leader in sales and marketing services, advises corporate meeting, event and incentive travel program executives and planners on how to demonstrate the value ME&I programs have in achieving business results and ways to successfully mitigate the reputational risk associated with operating these programs during an economic downturn.

"The current tone of the public conversation has caused an unnecessary 'stop all meetings, events and incentive trips' reaction," said Chris Gaia, vice president of marketing, Maritz Travel. "Maritz can help conference planners and event management teams form a more thoughtful view on how to use the current situation as an opportunity to make more effective investments that demonstrate business performance."

According to Gaia, the foundation for success in this changed environment is transparency - transparency into spend, the value created and participants targeted by ME&I programs. Maritz' strategic meetings management solution helps corporate meeting planners and the people that impact these programs, which now includes compliance and legal resources, better understand, track and report on the business value created by their corporate meetings, events and incentives.

Maritz' whitepaper, "Financial Services Crisis and Its Effect on the ME&I Industry" (http://www.maritz.com/tlps/Meetings-Events-Incentives-Challenging-Economy.aspx?source=meiwp0109) is available for free download.

About Maritz

St. Louis-based Maritz (http://www.maritz.com/?source=meiwp0109) is a sales and marketing services company, which helps companies achieve their full potential through understanding, enabling, and motivating employees, channel partners, and customers. Maritz provides market and customer research, communications, learning solutions, incentive initiatives, meetings and event management, rewards and recognition, travel management services and customer loyalty programs.

For more information, visit Maritz.com (http://www.maritz.com/?source=meiwp0109) or contact us at 1-877-4MARITZ.

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