Post on 19-Jan-2021
Dan Ketelsen | Director of Sales
Associated Luxury Hotels International
Convention Poachers
and PiratesWho are they are they, how do they affect your meetings and
how do you stop them?
Housing “Pirates” and “Poachers” are third party companies that
misrepresent themselves by claiming to be the housing provider for a given
convention or tradeshow who profits by booking registrants outside of the
official room block.
Who are these
guys?
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Pirating companies research online event lists and convention calendars
then typically target exhibitor lists, then using deceptive tactics such as;
● Claim to have hotel rooms available at lower rate
● Inform registrants that the hotel is “Sold out” and to book immediately
● Represent themselves as being affiliated with the event, illegally using
logos and proprietary materials
● Distribute forms and offers that look official and legitimate, but are not
How do they find
your attendees?
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Often, poachers do not deliver on their promises, leaving attendees and
exhibitors at risk;
● Arriving on-site to find their reservations don’t exist and their credit cards
have been charged
● Not receiving the original rate quoted, sometimes at a different hotel
● Hotel may not be close to convention center or bus route
● No protection should a reservation need to be cancelled
Risks for
Attendees
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
● Trademark your show name. This bars pirates from using it in their solicitations. It
also lays the groundwork for potential legal action on the grounds of trademark
infringement.
● Prepare a cease and desist letter. Quickly inform poachers they are committing a
tort by interfering with the legal show housing contracts.
● Protect digital logos, this prevents them from being copied and pasted by
poachers.
● Proactively alert attendees that piracy exists.
● Use a single system for registration and housing.
● Protect past registration lists
● Alert the hotel of poacher activity. They will be better prepared to help out
attendees that arrive without a reservation.
● Offer incentives for attendees to stay within the official block
How to Stop Them
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
● Clearly post pirate information on your event website, send emails to
your potential attendees. Some associations even send recorded
voicemails.
● When booking a hotel, always check the website’s URL carefully.
Legitimate hotel sites are secured, with https:// and have a lock symbol
in the upper left hand side of the search bar
Educating Your
Attendees
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF
BLUFFTON, SC
New Members
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia - 293 Rooms & Suites
Scottsdale, Arizona
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
The Scott Resort & Spa - 204 Rooms & Suites
Scottsdale, Arizona
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa - 607 Rooms & Suites
Carlsbad, California
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite - 297 Rooms & Suites
Fish Camp, California
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay - 379 Rooms & Suites
Monterey, California
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
InterContinental San Diego - 400 Rooms & Suites
San Diego, California
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
InterContinental Washington DC - The Wharf - 278 Rooms & Suites
Washington, District of Columbia
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate - 769 Rooms & Suites
Orlando, Florida
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort - 404 Rooms & Suites
Amelia Island, Florida
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - 1,059 Rooms & Suites
Atlanta, Georgia
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Omni Louisville Hotel - 612 Rooms & Suites
Louisville, Kentucky
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
InterContinental New York Barclay - 702 Rooms & Suites
New York, NY
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Hotel Bennett - 179 Rooms & Suites
Charleston, South Carolina
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
The Guest House at Graceland - 450 Rooms & Suites
Memphis, Tennessee
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
The Hotel Contessa - 265 Rooms & Suites
San Antonio, Texas
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
The Woodlands Resort - 402 Rooms & Suites
The Woodlands, Texas
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
The Chateaux Deer Valley - 140 Rooms & Suites
Park City, UT
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley - 180 Rooms & Suites
Park City, UT
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Loews Hotel 1000, Seattle - 102 Rooms & Suites
Seattle, Washington
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Banyan Tree Mayakoba - 123 Villas & Residences
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Our Members New Members
2018 ASSOCIATED LUXURY HOTELS
INTERNATIONAL – PROPRIETARY AND
CONFIDENTIAL
Q & A
SURF & SAND RESORT
LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Thank You