Internet Destination Sales System with ASP-Hosted Member Interface

Abstract

An integrated computerized sales system for destination events includes a member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP) and accessible to a plurality of independent service providers that are members of a convention visitor bureau (CVB) organization. Members periodically log into the MUI to review information on a request for proposal (RFP) from a potential destination event organizer. The MUI includes a tentative response booking agreement (TRBA) electronic form to be completed by a member for any services responsive to the RFP that the member is willing to make available. A projected service availability database automatically incorporates information from the TRBA and is accessible only by the CVB. The projected service availability database is reviewed by the CVB in order to prepare a response to the RFP that includes information about services from members of the CVB that is then communicated to the potential destination event organizer.

1 . A method of providing a computerized integrated sales system for destination events comprising:
 receiving a request for proposal (RFP) from a potential destination event organizer requesting information from a convention visitor bureau (CVB) organization on hosting a given destination event;   having the CVB organization compile related information about the RFP and electronically publish the RFP and related information on a member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP) and accessible to a plurality of independent service providers that are members of the CVB organization;   having at least two of the members of the CVB organization periodically log into the MUI to review the RFP and related information and, in response, complete a tentative response booking agreement (TRBA) electronic form on the MUI for any services responsive to the RFP that the member is willing to make available;   automatically incorporating information from the TRBA electronic form into a projected service availability database maintained by the ASP and accessible only by the CVB;   having the CVB organization review the projected service availability database for the RFP for the given destination event and prepare a response to the RFP that includes information about services from at least two members of the CVB that is then communicated to the potential destination event organizer; and   if the potential destination event organizer accepts the response to the RFP for the given destination event, having the CVB electronically communicate with each of the at least two members of the CVB that the response to the RFP has been accepted and that the member can enter into direct bilateral contracts with the potential destination event organizer for the services identified in the TRBA electronic form for the given destination event.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein updates to information in an RFP provided by the potential destination event organizer is automatically made available by the CVB to members via the MUI. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, once the TRBA electronic form is submitted by a member, any changes to the TRBA electronic form made by a member are made to the projected service availability database only when approved by the CVB. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ASP automatically maintains an audit trail of all information submitted each member via the TRBA electronic form to the projected service availability database and all changes approved by the CVB. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the RFP includes a date by which the response is due and the ASP automatically sends email reminders to members if the members have not submitted a TRBA electronic form for the RFP prior to the date by which the response is due. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the members of the CVB organization include at least two hotel members and the TRBA electronic form for the hotel members includes availability and prices for blocks of hotel rooms in response to the RFP, and wherein the projected service availability database includes a projected occupancy room flow for the destination that the CVB organization utilizes in preparing the response to the RFP. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the ASP includes a software module that automatically analyzes the projected occupancy room flow and generates a hotel availability portion of the response to the RFP. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ASP hosts a software module that selectively integrates portions of the projected service availability database in order to display on the MUI non-confidential summaries of the future availability of selected services for the destination by date. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ASP also hosts a customer webpage interface and the potential destination event organizer submits the RFP for a given destination event via the customer webpage interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein software modules that support the MUI and the projected services availability database are updated and maintained by the ASP and not by the CVB organization. 
     
     
         11 . An integrated computerized sales system for destination events comprising:
 a member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP) and accessible to a plurality of independent service providers that are members of a convention visitor bureau (CVB) organization, wherein at least two of the members of the CVB periodically log into the MUI to review information on a request for proposal (RFP) from a potential destination event organizer requesting information from on hosting a given destination event that is published on the MUI by the CVB, the MUI including a tentative response agreement (TRBA) electronic form to be completed by a member of the CVB for any services responsive to the RFP that the member is willing to make available; and   a projected service availability database maintained by the ASP that automatically incorporates information from the TRBA electronic form and is accessible only by the CVB and is reviewed by the CVB for the RFP for the given destination event and in order to prepare a response to the RFP that includes information about services from at least two members of the CVB that is then communicated to the potential destination event customer.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the MUI further includes electronic means for notifying members if the potential destination event organizer accepts the response to the RFP and that the member can enter into direct bilateral contracts with the potential destination event organizer for the services identified in the TRBA electronic form for the given destination event. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein, once the TRBA electronic form is submitted by a member, any changes to the TRBA electronic form made by a member are made to the projected service availability database only when approved by the CVB. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising an electronic audit trail maintained by the ASP of all information submitted each member via the TRBA electronic form to the projected service availability database and all changes approved by the CVB. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the members of the CVB organization include at least two hotel members and the TRBA electronic form for the hotel members includes availability and prices for blocks of hotel rooms in response to the RFP, and wherein the projected service availability database includes a projected occupancy room flow for the destination that the CVB organization utilizes in preparing the response to the RFP. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising a software module hosted by the ASP that automatically analyzes the projected occupancy room flow and generates a hotel availability portion of the response to the RFP. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a software module hosted by the ASP that selectively integrates portions of the projected service availability database in order to display on the MUI non-confidential summaries of the future availability of selected services for the destination by date. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a customer webpage interface hosted by the ASP that the potential destination event organizer utilizes to submit the RFP for a given destination event. 
     
     
         19 . An integrated computerized sales system for destination events comprising:
 a member user interface (MUI) accessible to a plurality of independent service providers that are members of a convention visitor bureau (CVB) organization;   a convention sales module accessible to the members of the CVB;   a convention services module accessible to at least selected ones of the members of the CVB;   a membership module accessible at least to the CVB;   a projected service availability database that includes a first portion with information supplied by the members that is accessible only by the CVB and a second portion that is accessible by any given member of the CVB and includes only information for that given member and non-confidential totals information for the projected services availability.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 an inkind services module and accessible to the members of the CVB, the inkind service module including interactive web pages that permit tracking of availability and value of inkind services donated by members. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the MUI, convention sales module, convention services module, membership module and projected services availability database are hosted by an applications service provider (ASP).