CLIENT STORIES

One of our most valuable assets is our ability to formulate innovative solutions under pressure. Here are just a few examples of how we’ve exceeded client expectations under very special circumstances:

Mother Nature in Rare Form

One AMI client holds an annual convention every October for approximately 200 people. In 2004, it was scheduled in the Bahamas.  AMI had contracted the hotel, scheduled meeting space, organized island tours and golf tournaments, planned banquets and off-site parties etc.   With the hurricane season being an active one in 2004, we took a proactive stance and considered alternative locations, just in case we needed to move the meeting... and we did.

After the second hurricane hit the island, our hotel notified us that there was significant damage.   Within 10 days we were able to offer our client three new destinations with hotel options, tour activities, banquet venues and budget estimates.  Once the new location was selected, we updated the website for registration and communicated with all attendees. The new property was not only a five-star resort, but we were able to negotiate a lower room rate for all guests compared to what they were paying before.

The Group Air department then pulled a report of all ticketed passengers to Bahamas, contacted the passengers to rebook/re-ticket to the new location or refund tickets if the travelers were not able to re-book.  The Group Air department kept abreast of all rules and waivers given by the airlines due to the hurricane and, as a result, avoided additional fees for reissuing or refunding tickets.

At the end of the program, event attendees said it was one of the best conventions they had ever attended.

A Night to Remember

An AMI client asked us to plan a “spectacular” 50th birthday party….. and spectacular was exactly what we created.  The party of 100 flew to Cancun for an unforgettable weekend experience.   The theme was “Margaritaville.”  Upon arrival into Cancun, guests were given beach bags, parrot pins, a parrot t-shirt and a shot glass to wear around their neck.  They enjoyed cheeseburgers in paradise and beach Olympics at the hotel, which was bought out for the weekend. 

We were able to hire a Jimmy Buffett-type band for the first night’s entertainment and actually hired Jimmy Buffett himself for the main birthday event on Saturday night.  The highlight of the evening took place when the back up band came on stage and began to sing a song.  Half way through the song their voices faded out and the real Jimmy Buffett sang from behind a volcano that was built on the stage.  He walked out onto the stage with his complete band and the guests went wild.   It was a night no one will forget!

Airline Strike

We had a group scheduled to fly from the continental U.S. to St. Thomas.  As luck would have it, American Airlines went on strike while the group was in St. Thomas.  To get attendees home, AMI chartered two planes from Miami Air and coordinated flights on other airlines to ensure that all connections would be made.  Ironically, the strike ended on the evening that the group returned stateside. But at the end of it all, everyone was where they needed to be, on time and happy! A great way to end a wonderful incentive trip!

Winter Blizzard

In 2005, AMI arranged a corporate meeting in New Orleans for 800 attendees, 550 of which were air travelers. A blizzard hit Denver on the main arrival day.  In order to avoid penalties and potential customer frustration, AMI’s Group Air department was able to pull a report to find out which travelers were connecting through Denver.  We were then able to access the reservations and contact the travelers to notify them of the situation.  In addition, we contacted the airlines to rebook the travelers and notified the hotels to advise of late check-ins or canceled hotel reservations for travelers who could not make it.  AMI’s efforts helped many travelers to avoid what would’ve been a stressful travel situation and the corporate meeting was a great success.