In most business relationships, clients have a need and they seek a vendor to fill it. We can do that – that’s our admission ticket to your consideration. But we have a philosophy about our event management industry and our work that can be contagious. The way we see it, this is a fun business – people love event planning and going to events. Professionals in event planning are glad to be here, lucky to be here – if you’ve been associated with other industries, you understand.
Our people buy into that thinking.
As such, we bring a vibrancy, joy and energy to any assignment, full of can-do people obsessed with perfection. Our people are not nine-to-fivers, they don’t tire and get bored, and (by the way) they are the best in the business at what they do. They have drive, ambition, and a real passion to see you succeed. Meet the team.
We have our rules and procedures, but we empower our people to think creatively and respond on the spot in any way to help a client. We invite you to experience our commitment to excellence.
What we see in your world
Meetings management is nothing new, but in this day and age it has never been more important. In recent years, many organizations have taken a hacksaw to their meetings budgets, either out of fiscal necessity or from a belief that meetings simply aren’t worth it. Makes you wonder why they allowed so many for so many years without questioning them. You know what we say? If you can’t justify the value of events and meetings, cut away.
The truth is anyone on this page understands the value of meetings.
That doesn’t mean sharing fishing tales, family photos, and barbequed shrimp – real goals and objectives need to be set. And they need to be measured. And they need to be accomplished. And they need to be delivered in a seamless and efficient manner in which the cost of the meeting pays back for itself in value – and/or extended business – to the sponsoring organization.
This happens in part with a Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP).
SMMP provides a structured way to look at your meetings business and your meetings spend. Within this framework are the event planning software tools to better understand meeting activity and costs. A strong online registration component is part of a good SMMP, freeing staff time and increasing productivity as well as enhancing communications to attendees. Web-based software modules for budgeting, scheduling, planning and marketing further improve efficiency. This is where etouches comes in.
How we got to where we are
Today, etouches is an event planning Software as a Service (SaaS) provider to the $3 billion global meeting and event technology marketplace. When our company was formed in 1998, it didn’t look anything like it does now.
Initially, we did business as The Global Executive – founded by our current CEO and lifelong entrepreneur Leonora Valvo. The company operated as an event logistics management and marketing company.
We recognized a void in the market and realized our task would be simpler if someone could develop an online suite of integrated event planning software tools that streamlined the entire event registration and event planning process combined with an easy-to-analyze dashboard of progress across the event lifecycle.
That “someone” was us.
Interest grew such that the business was re-launched to focus on event planning software itself while providing event management guidance and professional services as needed. Our heritage as meeting planners reconfirmed the integrity we brought to the process and the confidence we instilled in customers.
Along the way, etouches was recognized by INC. magazine as one of the “5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America” and by Trade Show Executive with its prestigious “Innovation Award.”
With the transition complete, etouches reached an important milestone in June 2010 when we closed on an initial round of venture capital financing from an investment group led by Greycroft Partners II – the firm started by renown venture capitalist Alan Patricof—along with Connecticut Innovations and Cava Capital. The funding was a clear endorsement and validation of our product and the market we serve.
Who got us here
The driving force behind the brand is Leonora Valvo, founder and CEO, who knows how to make things happen. As a lifelong entrepreneur, she has launched four successful companies in the travel and conference industries.
As CEO of etouches, she has grown the business exponentially on a global level. In response to the dramatic consequences of the post 9/11 slumps in the events business, she reengineered the company, refocused her target markets and succeeded in transforming the company into a position of industry leadership.
