Elite Meeting Alliances to gather the industry's top corporate and association planners with leading luxury hotels

SANTA BARBARA, CA – December 10, 2015 - Elite Meetings International (EMI), a leading provider of integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals, today announced the dates and locations for its 2016 Elite Meeting Alliances (EMAs). All hotels were selected among EMI's certified Platinum Collection.

• January 24 - 26, 2016 - Salamander Resort & Spa, Middleburg, VA
• March 20 - 22, 2016 - The Ballantyne - A Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte, NC
• April 3 - 5, 2016 - The Island Hotel Newport Beach, Newport Beach, CA
• September 25 - 27, 2016 - Paradisus Playa Del Carmen, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
• November 6 - 8, 2016 - Pasea Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach, CA

"We think the lineup of the hotels hosting our 2016 EMAs is tremendous. All present our planner attendees with incredible prospects for future group needs," said Kelly Foy, vice president of sales at Elite Meetings International. "As experts in the luxury hotel space, we strive to provide our attendees with outstanding experiences as they convene at our premier direct buyer–supplier events. Plus, we consistently raise the bar in providing invaluable education and networking opportunities for both planners and hoteliers."

Attendees who participate in education sessions are eligible for CMP credits. In addition, networking opportunities round out the EMAs agendas that focus on strategic business discussions. Each invitation-only event brings together roughly 200 of the industry's top corporate and association buyers, hotel suppliers, sponsors and speakers.

All attending hotels must be certified as Gold or Platinum by the Elite Meetings Advisory Board, and qualifications for buyers include a booking history of, and future need for, above-average room rates and spending for food and beverage.

Registration for the January 2016 Elite Meetings Alliance at Salamander Resort & Spa is now open at: www.EliteMeetingsAlliance.com.

About Elite Meetings Alliance (EMA)

The EMA is a three-day, invitation-only event that brings together prequalified corporate and association planners with leaders in the luxury hotel industry to cultivate relationships and build business. It centers on private, personalized business development meetings, continuing education breakout sessions for CMP credit, and unique networking activities.

About Elite Meetings International

Based in Santa Barbara, California, Elite Meetings International (EMI), a subsidiary of Cvent, provides integrated solutions to enhance the performance of meeting and hospitality professionals. EMI supports this community through a combination of innovative technologies, direct sales support, customized marketing programs, face-to-face business-building events, and an annual publication, Elite Meetings magazine. Additionally, www.EliteMeetings.com serves as a commission-free RFP-generating tool and a comprehensive vehicle for sourcing luxury, upper-upscale and upscale properties. EMI's innovations also include SpeedRFP™ (www.SpeedRFP.com), a time-saving product for creating, submitting, and managing RFPs online. For additional information, please visit www.EliteMeetings.com or call 805-730-1000.