Launched at the beginning of June by Antoine de Corson, a former Accor employee, the Group Corner website aims to provide a new model for hotel booking platforms, aimed exclusively at groups. Its aim is to simplify the booking process for users, whether they are companies organising a seminar, associations planning a sporting or cultural event, or individuals heading off on a tourist trip. Travel professionals - travel agencies, tour operators and other event agencies - also have access to the platform, although users must enter their status to identify this type of intermediary. All this after creating a free account, which can then be used to send group requests for quotes based on different search criteria tailored to group customers.
For hoteliers - there are currently some 8,000 establishments listed on the French market, all categories included - the Group Corner portal offers a new online search tool, relaying basic information about the hotel and its 'group' offer free of charge. Establishments can also 'take control' of their listing, by changing some of the incorrect information or providing a different visual. To expand and enhance their facilities, hoteliers must then upgrade to the paid version, the "visibility pack", which allows them to add information and visuals for a modest annual subscription fee, proportional to the number of rooms, while enjoying greater visibility. So there's no commission in the business model of this new MICE tool, which aims to match supply and demand through direct contact, after requesting a quote. User comments are also included, to benefit from feedback on the quality of the facilities or the waiting time for a quote, and the catalogue should rapidly expand in France and even beyond the domestic market.
