Case Study AE Ventures

About AE Ventures

AE Ventures was founded by President, John Galante in 2008 after heading development and production of several award-winning B2B events and B2B media for a decade at EH Media. Galante has additional tech and event industry experience as an executive leader at the Consumer Technology Association, Security Industry Association and Reed Exhibition Companies.

For its first several years, AE Ventures operated a mix of traditional trade shows (the Electronic Security Expo which AE founded in 2008 and produced through 2014) and hosted events, including the Total Tech and TecHome Builder Summits. In 2015, AE turned its focus exclusively to producing hosted-style events and developing online media platforms that align with and enhance the hosted-style event.

The Problem – Situation Pre-AmTrav

Before partnering with AmTrav, AE Ventures faced several challenges in their event travel coordination. They heavily relied on traditional Advisor-assisted travel arrangements, which raised concerns about the ease of use and adoption of a new travel platform. Additionally, travelers lacked autonomy and control in choosing their flights, while the approval, rejection, and rebooking process proved to be time-consuming.

Reliance on traditional Advisor-assisted travel arrangements
Concerns about the ease of use and adoption of a new travel platform
Lack of autonomy and control for travelers in choosing flights
Time-consuming approval, rejection, and rebooking process

AE Ventures' experience highlights the drawbacks of traditional Advisor-assisted travel arrangements, including concerns about ease of use, lack of traveler autonomy, and time-consuming approval processes.

What AE Ventures Needed:

AE Ventures had specific needs for their event travel coordination that required a user-friendly solution. They sought a tool that would allow travelers to easily choose and book flights during event registration.

A user-friendly tool for travelers to quickly choose and book flights during event registration
Availability of AmTrav for prompt assistance with travel coordination issues
Clear and accessible arrival manifests for efficient cross-checking with hotel dates
Streamlined approval rejection and rebooking process

AE Ventures' search for a user-friendly tool to streamline event travel coordination led them to AmTrav, where their specific needs were met. With the introduction of AmTrav Gather, travelers were able to quickly choose and book flights during event registration, while AmTrav provided prompt assistance with travel coordination issues.

Results With AmTrav

The collaboration between AmTrav and AE Ventures yielded impressive results, transforming the way event travel coordination was managed. Through the implementation of AmTrav Gather, AE Ventures experienced a range of positive outcomes, addressing their specific needs and enhancing the overall travel experience for their attendees.

Successful adoption and positive feedback on the user-friendliness of AmTrav Gather
Increased autonomy and satisfaction for travelers in booking their own flights
Responsive and prompt support from the AmTrav team, addressing flight upgrade requests and other travel coordination issues
Accessible and accurate itinerary data, facilitating efficient cross-checking with hotel bookings
Planning to use Gather for future events, showcasing the platform's value and potential for streamlining event travel coordination

AmTrav Gather proved user-friendly, empowering travelers to book flights and enhancing their satisfaction. Responsive support and accurate itinerary data streamlined travel coordination. AE Ventures plans to utilize Gather for future events, highlighting its value in efficient event travel coordination.

The Full Story...

Homebuilders require the latest technology for their new homes, and AE Ventures helps them find it. They host events like the TecHome Builder and Housing Transformation Summits, connecting homebuilders with technology manufacturers and peers for in-depth discussions.

AE Ventures has relied on AmTrav Travel Advisors since 2018 to handle travel arrangements for their events.

However, for their TecHome Builder Summit in Phoenix in 2022, they decided to try something new: AmTrav Gather.

Leigh Sullivan, Customer Success Manager for TecHome Builder, was initially hesitant about the change. She had grown comfortable with the previous Advisor-assisted process. "I was a little nervous to change to Gather, but I was very pleasantly surprised," Leigh admits.

The travelers attending the Summit found Gather to be a user-friendly tool, allowing them to quickly choose their flights and book their travel when they registered for the event

According to Leigh, "Travelers appreciate the autonomy. I don't think I ever got a single question. Nobody was confused about how to use the platform because it was very, very user-friendly."

One of Leigh's concerns was whether AmTrav would be readily available to assist with the various issues that can arise during travel coordination. But her fears were quickly assuaged. "Deb and the team always responded quickly to help with things like flight upgrade requests. I passed those to you and didn’t have to think about them again, which was really helpful," Leigh recounts.

Gather's itinerary data provided another bonus, offering clear and accessible arrival manifests. Leigh could quickly cross-check these with hotel dates to ensure everyone was booked correctly.

Leigh did have one suggestion for improvement. She wished for a more streamlined approval rejection and rebooking process, a feature that AmTrav has noted for potential development.

Despite this, Leigh's overall experience with Gather was extremely positive, labeling it as "super user-friendly" for both herself and the travelers. The AE Ventures team was so impressed that they're already planning their second meeting using Gather for their upcoming Housing Transformation Summit in Seattle.

This success story from AE Ventures highlights how AmTrav Gather can simplify and streamline event travel coordination, leading to a more efficient and pleasant experience for all involved, one that shouldn’t be ignored due to fear of change.