Events company WRG links up with American Express
LIVE events specialist WRG has signed a deal with the business travel arm of American Express, which should boost its growth plans by giving it access to a bigger slice of a global market worth $140bn a year.
The Manchester company, which sealed a £12m investment deal with private equity firm LDC last month, describes the ‘trading agreement’ with American Express Meetings & Events, as a “wonderful and exciting opportunity.”
The rationale behind the deal is for the two companies to be able to provide UK-based corporate clients with a complete service for their meetings, conferences and events.
American Express M&E will handle, travel. logistics, airport transfers and hotel booking, while WRG will manage and produce the event.
WRG, chairman, Mark Wallace said: ““The collaboration of WRG and American Express Meetings & Events is a landmark offering in the business of live events and meeting management.”
Managing director Barry Day added: “It’s early days, but this is a really great opportunity for WRG. Clearly American Express has a very well established client base of large corporates.
Peter Manning, UK director of American Express Meetings & Events, which is part of the organisation’s Business Travel arm, said: “Corporate spending globally on meetings and events is estimated to be $140 billion annually. We know that corporations are facing challenges with increased scrutiny over their meetings budgets and need to understand and meet new regulations while not compromising on the ultimate design and creativity of their meetings and events.
“That is why this exclusive agreement is so appealing – through the integration of WRG’s creative marketing services and production capabilities with our planning, sourcing and expense management expertise, corporations will have access to an unmatched approach in all areas of meeting organisation.”
WRG has offices in London New York, Qatar and most recently Abu Dhabi. It has around 110 full time staff. It has produced and delivered a number of major live events such as the G20 Summit in 2009 and last year’s Papal visit to the UK.
