Travel Technology Group, Ambassadors Partner in Event Housing Management
Travel Technology Group, LLC (TTG) and Ambassadors (AMB), both industry-known for their event housing expertise and tenure in the meetings and conventions world, today announced a merger that forms an experienced event housing management power house with 50 years of combined experience.
While undergoing a strategic rebranding initiative, the new company will be referred to as TTG|AMB. The new brand identity for the merged organization will be unveiled by end of the year. TTG|AMB continues to offer expertise in the market as well as its existing suite of event housing services and products. The new company's first-class offerings include:
- Bargaining power with event hotels and hotel chains
- Maximizing room blocks
- Alleviating attrition risk
- Tailored event marketing programs
- Personalized exhibitor housing services
- Comprehensive housing management system
- Full event participant "one-stop-shop" - all inclusive booking experience for hotel, flight, car and destination attractions & services
New team appointments
With the merger comes a new leadership team consisting of executives from each company. Michael Howe assumes the role of president & chief financial officer of TTG|AMB (previously senior vice president & CFO of TTG), Bob Derham, co-founder & managing director of TTG, has been appointed vice chairman of the board.
Additional appointments of TTG|AMB include other key members of the TTG and AMB executive teams: Tim Whorton assumes the role of TTG|AMB managing director & executive vice president, sales & new business development; Todd Lambert as chief operations officer; Scott Tallarida as executive vice president & chief technical officer; Jennifer Kimball as senior vice president, operations; Rose Dubrovich as senior vice president, sales & new business development; Dahlia El Gazzar as vice president, marketing.
TTG|AMB is rapidly moving forward with business integration, implementing proven business practices from both the Chicago and Atlanta teams. Going forward, all events will be managed within a single event management system that continually leads the industry with new features and enhancements to greatly benefit all stakeholders of each event: planners, event participants, and event hotels.
TTG|AMB serves various event organizers such as Convention & Visitors Bureaus, tradeshow organizers, and event planners including: Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, Penton Media, True Value, The PGA of America, American Urological Association, Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society, National Restaurant Association, International Housewares Association, and RAI Amsterdam International.
The merger is a result of Lakeview Equity Partners, LLC, a Milwaukee-based private equity fund, acquiring the event housing and registration assets of Ambassadors, the Atlanta-based meetings, housing and event management provider on April 17, 2009. With this transaction, Lakeview became the majority shareholder of both AMB and TTG, recognizing the potential growth of the merger of both companies.