FICP Welcomes a Wide Variety of Suppliers

The following supplier categories constitute FICP hospitality partner eligibility:
 

Hotel Sales

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Hotel Sales — Chain

A group of hotels totally or partially owned and/or managed by the same company or owner, and having its own president, headquarters, marketing agreements, sales agreements and internal operating systems. A Chain Hotel can have multiple brands.

Criteria: An FICP Chain Hotel must have 35 or more properties within Continental North America or a minimum of 100 hotels worldwide. Continental North America is defined as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and Bermuda.

Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a hotel property or conference center associated with an FICP-recognized Hotel Chain and with direct sales responsibility in the insurance and financial industry.

Hotel Sales — Small Collection

A group of hotels from 5 to 34 worldwide that are totally or partially owned and/or managed by the same company or owner, and having its own president, headquarters, marketing agreements, sales agreements and internal operating systems. A Small Collection Hotel can have multiple brands. Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a hotel property or conference center with direct sales responsibility in the insurance and financial industry.

Hotel Sales — Independent

Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of an independent hotel property or conference center, either domestic or internationally, whose primary responsibility is sales in the insurance and financial industries.

Independent Representatives that sell multiple hotel properties are not included within this category.

Destination Management Company (DMC)

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A professional services company with local knowledge, industry-specific expertise and extensive community contacts and resources specializing in the design and implementation of events, activities, tours, transportation and program logistics, and that works directly with meetings professionals. Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a destination management company that has been in business for at least two years.

Independent Representatives that represent DMCs but are not in fact DMCs are not included within this category.

Destination Marketing Organization (DMO)

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Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a convention and visitors bureau/ association/authority (CVB/CVA) or tourism authority (a not-for-profit organization) that promotes a town, city, region, or country in order to increase the number of visitors. It promotes sales, tourism marketing, and services, and is supported by transient room tax, government budget allocations, private membership or a combination of any or all three.

Airline, Cruise Line, Riverboat or Passenger Train

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  • An airline is an organization that owns and operates airplanes and provides a public or private service of air transportation on one or more routes.
  • A cruise ship is a passenger vessel with rooms and amenities used to transport guests to various predetermined destinations.
  • A river boat is a voyage along inland waterways, often stopping at multiple ports along the way.
  • A passenger train is a voyage along a designated rail route, often stopping at multiple locations along the way.

Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of an airline, cruise line, riverboat line or rail train, working in a sales capacity.

Independent Representatives that represent these companies are not included within this category.

Independent Representatives

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Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a company that provides global sales services for multiple defined chain, small collection or independent hotels, cruise lines, destination management companies or other services that meet FICP requirements for eligibility as outlined within each of the hospitality partner categories. Those corporations promoting program operations (e.g., operations, billing or analytics) are not eligible. Independent representatives who also market third-party incentive services cannot market those services to FICP members.

Audio Visual and/or Production Company

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A company whose primary purpose is to provide audio visual support and production for meetings or events, including staging, lighting, sound and video. Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of an AV or production company.

Speakers Bureau

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A company that represents a collection of speakers who talk about a particular subject, and that operates to facilitate speakers for clients requiring, for example, motivational speakers, celebrity appearances, emcees or conference facilitators, or keynote speakers. Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a speakers bureau; individual speakers are not eligible.

Entertainment Company

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A firm representing the interests of multiple entertainers, including those who work within the company but must also be able to hire outside acts. Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of an Entertainment Company. Individual entertainers are not eligible.

Technology Company

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Individuals under this category must be an employee or designated representative of a company that provides technology services that offer unique solutions or specific value to the meetings and events industry.

 

Not Eligible for Hospitality Partner Affiliation: Third-party incentive houses, giftware companies and venues.

Third-party incentive house is any company that provides the full complement of tools necessary for complete program operations including but not limited to design, sourcing, operation, billing or post-program reporting and analytics.

Giftware company is a company that represents, either directly or indirectly, the ability to provide goods or merchandise as gifts.

Venue is a place where an organized event such as a meeting, conference, concert or sports event can happen.

Please note: Hospitality partner eligibility is based upon acceptance by the association into one of the categories described above. If a hospitality partner is no longer eligible, it is the duty of that person to notify the association immediately.

FICP will review these definitions on a regular basis to ensure they represent the evolving nature of the industry and the types of companies that meetings professionals source.

Hospitality partner affiliation with FICP is voluntary on an annual calendar year basis. All rights, privileges and interests of a hospitality partner shall cease upon non-renewal or termination. Any hospitality partner may resign by giving written notice to the association. Any hospitality partner resigning shall be liable for payment of fees for the current year, as well as any other obligations owed to the association.

FICP reserves the right to change these policies at any time without notice. All matters and questions not covered by these definitions are subject to the decision of FICP.

For more information, or if you have questions, please email FICP Headquarters or call (312) 245-1023.

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