St. Louis-based Maritz Travel Acquires Experient
April 2, 2012
One big meetings and events supplier bought another, with St. Louis-based Maritz Travel acquiring Twinsburg, Ohio-based Experient. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Maritz Travel is a global leader in providing full-service meeting, event and incentive travel programs to corporate clients, and Experient is a provider of meeting and event services to associations, tradeshows, corporations and the U.S. government.
“As a result of this deal, Maritz Travel will lead the industry in four key areas – corporate, association, tradeshow and strategic meetings management. Coming together this way will fuel our shared objective to grow in the markets we serve,” said David Peckinpaugh, president of Maritz Travel.
He added, “By combining, we will expand the capabilities we bring to clients beyond what either of us might offer independently.”
According to Martiz officials, their company’s end-to-end service delivery model will be enhanced by Experient’s ability to provide additional full and select services, including registration, housing, site sourcing/contract negotiation and lead retrieval.
As a result, the combined companies will be able to tailor services that better align with clients’ specific needs, Maritz officials added.
Clients also will benefit from 12 regional locations and the ability to serve clients across corporate, association, tradeshow and government markets.
“This is a great day for Experient employees and our clients. I’m particularly excited about the cultural fit between Maritz and Experient,” said Jeff Price, CEO of Experient, who played a key part of the acquisition with Maritz.
He added, “Our companiesshare core values, especially our commitment to helping clients achieve better business value by delivering exceptional event experiences for their participants.”
In 2011, the combined impact of Maritz Travel and Experient represented more than $2 billion in industry volume spend and nearly 3 million travelers served.
“Both Maritz Travel and Experient have been stable and innovative forces on behalf of our clients over the challenges of the last few years,” Peckinpaugh said.
He added, “The event industry has had to evolve as a result of a volatile business environment. Spend is returning to pre-recession levels, and together Maritz Travel and Experient are leading the market in delivering the flexibility and range of services organizations need to achieve growing and increasingly aggressive business results.”
As a result of the acquisition, Price will step down, and Experient will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Maritz Travel.
“Jeff Price has done a great job of leading Experient to its current market position. As a result, this deal with Maritz Travel represents great promise for both companies, our clients and the industry,” Peckinpaugh said.
He added, “Clients at both Experient and Maritz Travel will continue to experience the stability, breadth of expertise and resources of both companies while tapping into enhanced service offerings.”
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
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