Original artical can be found here.

i-Meet.com, the professional and social network for people who plan meetings and events, announced today the launch of its e-RFI tool. Aptly named "Ask The World," the engine is the industry's first effort to formalize Requests For Information (RFIs), and it connects its planner members directly to over 40,000 suppliers around the world.

"Planners seldom start the process of placing an event with a formal Request For Proposal (RFP)," said John Pino, i-Meet's Founder and CEO. "More likely, they initially do the research and evaluate destinations and venues by requesting information (RFI) and general pricing guidelines. When they have enough to connect the dots, they move to an RFP. This RFI to RFP Continuum is exactly what we're targeting. The objective is to get planners and suppliers engaged early and easily, with an honest evaluation of where the request sits in the Continuum."

The benefits for planners include the ability to quickly secure important information, open up new relationships with suppliers, and have access to i-Meet's exclusive "Expert" network around the world.

"Many planners don't use a formal RFP process," according to John Buschman, VP Americas for ODS, the leading destination management company in Turkey. "This RFI process is fast and easy, and it's a big step forward for suppliers to identify opportunities when they are first being considered. We like to have influence on the destination and venue selection, and making connections with busy buyers early on helps us to provide them with our destination knowledge and expertise when it can do them the most good." i-Meet has always stressed that its social network is also a relevant lead generation channel for suppliers. "We look forward to working with i-Meet and our own network of destination partners to build relationships between meeting planners and suppliers. i-Meet brings an important function online, and we like the way planners can research, network and learn before they begin the meetings procurement process with us," said David O'Donohoe, Senior Vice President of Global Supplier Sales and Operations for StarCite.

i-Meet's RFI capability includes private communication threads with suppliers, and can be used along with major RFP platforms, like StarCite. RFIs fill the need for planners who need information but are not ready to block space or to book. They also improve work flow and significantly reduce response times for suppliers. i-Meet also features an RFI Management section at its site, allowing planners and suppliers to file, organize and track all information.

"We're excited about the enthusiasm of our members with this new tool," said Pino, "and it supports the view that our industry social network can also enjoy a business overlay that drives more personal connections and more revenue opportunities. With a member base worldwide of over 7,000 members, our community ( www.i-meet.com ) is now a relevant channel for companies looking to implement a social media strategy."

About i-Meet

Created by the Founder of StarCite, i-Meet.com is focused on building the industry's most relevant worldwide online community for the meeting and event industry, and was officially launched on November 18, 2008. With over 7000 members from 100 countries around the world to date, i-Meet brings social networking, web 2.0 tools, work flow and relationship opportunities, and industry intelligence to its members and suppliers.

For further information, contact: Chip Stockman Email Contact