No more ten-tab venue hunts–Preferred’s new planner site keeps everything in one sleek place
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Tracking down the right luxury venue has always required patience—and multiple browser tabs. Preferred Hotels & Resorts is trying to streamline that search.
The brand, which represents more than 600 independent hotels across 80 countries, has rolled out a revamped Meeting Planner website that puts meeting-specific data front and center.
Accessible through the main PreferredHotels.com site, the new platform, Preferred Meetings & Events, merges hotel profiles with detailed event content—everything from meeting room sizes and group capacities to airport proximity, taxes, and ancillary fees—all in one place. For planners accustomed to piecing that information together manually, it’s a time-saver that could make a real difference.
Search That Speaks “Planner”
The site’s redesigned search experience focuses on practical filters and relevant results, not flashy visuals. Users can narrow options by location and meeting criteria such as event size or layout, while search results surface the most critical specs right away.
Future updates, expected in 2026, will expand those tools to include filters for group rates, buyout availability, natural light, and room configurations, as well as a cloud-based library of floorplans, menus, and virtual tours.
The relaunch was informed by insights from the company’s MICE Advisory Board, a mix of internal stakeholders and external experts who help the brand stay aligned with industry needs.
“This relaunch marks a major step forward in how we support planners and sellers,” said Amy Butterfield, Senior Vice President, Global Sales – Group. “The updates reflect our deep commitment to the meetings and events space and ensure we continue evolving in step with the needs of our planner community.”
Points That Actually Count
The upgrade also folds in the I Prefer Planner Program, which lets organizers earn five points for every US$1 in actualized room revenue booked through Preferred’s global sales team—up to 500,000 points per program.
Those points can be redeemed for free nights, Cash + Points stays, or Reward Certificates that cover room rates, dining, or spa services at select hotels. Companies can also route points to a Corporate Custodial Account for centralized tracking and team-wide redemption.
It’s a loyalty model that acknowledges planners as part of the value chain, not just intermediaries.
Seen and Heard at IMEX
Preferred unveiled the new planner site at IMEX America (October 7–9), where over 17,000 attendees—including 6,000 meeting and event planners—packed the show floor in Las Vegas.
At booth E1241, the brand hosted live demos and daily giveaways of 100,000 I Prefer Points for lucky attendees. The timing couldn’t have been better: IMEX’s planner-heavy audience has been vocal about wanting more intuitive sourcing tools, and this one drew plenty of interest from both the corporate and incentive sides of the aisle.
Less Ctrl-F, More RFP
Venue sourcing remains one of the least efficient parts of meeting planning—fragmented, time-consuming, and too often reliant on outdated information. Preferred’s refresh doesn’t reinvent the process, but it does make it work a lot smarter.
By prioritizing data transparency and usability, the company gives planners what they actually need: clarity, speed, and fewer dead ends.
In a business built on logistics, the new site may not replace the site visit—but it might just make getting there a whole lot easier.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo courtesy of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
