Mantra Group is set to launch the world's first real-time booking engine for the business events industry in partnership with iVvy, one of Australia's leading events software companies. The partnership will see Mantra offering seamlessly integrated customer experiences, real-time efficiencies, better accessibility and more dynamic solutions to its conferencing and meetings customers.

Two years in the making, the new platform will be rolled out across 94 Peppers (www.peppers.com.au) and Mantra (www.mantra.com.au) conferencing properties in Australia and New Zealand. Seizing the opportunity to capitalize on recent technological advancements teamed with a determination to bring about real change to the industry, iVvy CEO Lauren Hall, is keen to pioneer a real revolution in the industry.

The launch in July 2014 will initially provide online Request For Proposal capabilities, and then move to Live Real Time bookings towards the end of the year. Once live, customers will have the ability to manage every aspect of their conferencing requirements in real time. This includes securing accommodation block bookings, submission of banqueting event orders, making menu choices, managing function diaries and registrations, marketing support and supplier procurement.

According to Kent Davidson, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Distribution, Mantra Group, “This is a real game changer for Mantra Group and for the business events industry as a whole. The conference market requires a more dynamic solution to the planning and booking of both large and small scale conferences and events and iVvy provides a seamless automated solution for our team, clients and partners.

The iVvy solution provides us with full visibility and real-time reporting across all our properties, live bookings for short-term business, automation of back end processes which save huge amounts of time and cost. It also provides us with a multi-faceted distribution strategy driving inbound business at the lowest cost of channel.”

Lauren Hall, CEO of iVvy said, “One of the biggest problems faced by hotels globally is the lack of real-time access to conferencing and meeting space tools that enable quicker decision making and increased efficiencies across the board. Our vision is not just to provide great platforms for the hospitality and events industry, but also to facilitate great experiences for every individual. The partnership with Mantra will see this vision brought to life. Mantra Group is a dynamic company and their progressive approach to business has been an integral part of the success of this program.”

The iVvy project was officially launched at the HotelsWorld conference in Sydney last week. Pictured are iVvy CEO, Lauren Hall and Mantra Group's Executive Director Sales, Marketing & Distribution, Kent Davidson.

About Mantra Group

Mantra Group is a leading manager and marketer of hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. The Group owns and operates 113 properties and over 11,600 rooms under three well-known brands – Peppers, Mantra and BreakFree. Mantra Group is the second largest accommodation operator in Australia and offers both leisure and business style accommodation ranging from self-contained apartments and city hotels to luxury resorts and retreats.

Further information: 

www.mantragroup.com.au; www.peppers.com.au; www.mantra.com.au; www.breakfree.com.au

About iVvy

iVvy is a cloud based Software as a Service Technology company providing solutions to the Events and Hospitality Industry.  iVvy's Sales and Catering application is used by venues to manage their leads, quoting and bookings for function space and group accommodation. The software enables venues to publish their function space pricing and availability onto their website allowing event organisers to search, book and pay in real-time – something not currently possible in the marketplace. For more details on iVvy, go to www.ivvy.com/venues

For further information:

Yvette.Peverell@mantragroup.com.au 0403834111

Krupa.myers@icloud.com 0421 008 010