The Right Venue. The Right Partner: How metroConnections & HelmsBriscoe Save Time and Money.

Planning a meeting, conference, or incentive program has never been more complex. Budgets are tighter, timelines are shorter, destinations are more competitive, and internal teams are stretched thin. Organizations need partners who not only understand the event landscape but can simplify it. On top of all this, within the world of instant gratification, clients want their venue options faster than ever.    

 As the strategic engine behind every program, metroConnections leads the planning process—and leverages HelmsBriscoe as a powerful extension of that strategy. It’s a partnership designed for impact: HelmsBriscoe taps its global network to identify and negotiate a strong slate of venue options, and metroConnections pushes the process further, applying deeper vetting, spatial intelligence, and program‑specific strategy to curate a shortlist that aligns with each client’s goals, flow, and experience design.  

It’s a partnership built on shared values—responsiveness, expertise, and a commitment to delivering measurable results—and one that gives clients a smarter, more efficient way to plan. 

“Since 2009, our partnership with HelmsBriscoe has been a strategic accelerator for metroConnections. Their sourcing expertise allows us to move faster than the competition while uncovering meaningful savings that we reinvest directly into our client programs and the attendee experience. It’s a model that strengthens both operational efficiency and the overall impact of every event we deliver.” — Tom McCulloch, CMO

The Foundation of Every Great Event Starts with the Right Venue 

Venue sourcing is more than a logistical step. It’s the strategic foundation that shapes the entire event—budget, attendee experience, production design, flow, and even the story the brand wants to tell. 

Yet for many internal teams, sourcing is also the most time-consuming part of planning. Researching destinations, comparing proposals, navigating hotel relationships, and negotiating terms can take days or even weeks. 

This is where metroConnections with HelmsBriscoe flexes their specialized ski

Saving Clients Weeks of Work Through Smarter Sourcing 

One of the biggest advantages metroConnections delivers is the time saved on venue sourcing—powered by our partnership with HelmsBriscoe. Instead of spending weeks researching destinations, evaluating properties, and negotiating proposals, we tap into HelmsBriscoe’s global network and proprietary tools to accelerate the process. 

Before any outreach begins, metroConnections defines the program’s picture: objectives, attendee flow, exhibit hall needs, breakout counts, and the square footage required for a quality stage production. We translate those details into a clear sourcing brief that guides HelmsBriscoe’s search and ensures every option aligns with the event’s real requirements. 

HelmsBriscoe manages the sourcing process, which includes: 

This allows metroConnections to begin strategic planning, creative development, and logistics much earlier in the process. With the venue locked in faster, the metroConnections team can focus on what they do best: designing and producing high impact experiences that move business forward. 

Global Buying Power That Translates into Real Client Value

HelmsBriscoe books nearly $2 billion in hotel room revenue annually, giving them unmatched leverage with hotel brands and properties around the world.  

That buying power matters—especially in a market where room inventory is tight, and rates are rising. 

With metroConnections longstanding relationships and HelmsBriscoe’s purchasing volume, the duo can often secure: 

For metroConnections clients, this means budgets stretch further. Savings from sourcing can be reinvested into: 

“We’ve had a great partnership with metroConnections for nearly 20 years. We’ve helped their clients save time and money, sourcing and contracting hotels with our global buying power and proprietary industry tools. This has allowed metroConnections to invest dollars into the experience and execution of the program.” – Karen Bailey, Associate Regional Vice President, HelmsBricoe

Making International Sourcing Seamless and Consistent 

As more organizations expand globally, sourcing international meetings has become increasingly complex. Cultural nuances, contract norms, destination logistics, and market differences can create risk for teams unfamiliar with the region. 

Our partnership with HelmsBriscoe simplifies this entirely. 

With 1,500+ associates across 60+ countries, HelmsBriscoe allows metroConnections to provide clients with local expertise and global consistency.  

A U.S.-based client planning a program in Europe, Asia, Mexico, or beyond can work through the same trusted partners they already know. This eliminates the guesswork of navigating unfamiliar markets and ensures every program—domestic or international—follows the same reliable process. 

For metroConnections, this global consistency is invaluable. It allows their team to confidently design and execute international programs, knowing the venue foundation is vetted, reliable, and aligned with the client’s goals. 

This is especially impactful for: 

Real-Time Market Intelligence That Protects Client Investments 

metroConnections is always asking the tough questions on behalf of their clients.  Are there any renovations at the hotel in the next year?  When will the new construction be finished?  What other properties might have a similar style and space need while remaining at the same price point? HelmsBriscoe associates are constantly traveling, touring properties, meeting with hotel partners, and staying current on renovations, service levels, and destination trends.  

This firsthand knowledge is paired with proprietary technology that aggregates insights from more than 222,000 pieces of shared intelligence across their global network.  

This gives metroConnections and their clients—access to: 

This level of insight helps metroConnections guide clients toward the best destinations and avoid potential issues before they arise. It also strengthens budget forecasting and risk mitigation—two areas where metroConnections already excel thanks to their 40+ years of experience producing complex conferences.  

A Smarter Way to Plan Your Next Meeting or Event 

Whether you’re planning a multi-day conference, an international incentive trip, or a high-stakes sales meeting, the combination of HelmsBriscoe’s sourcing expertise and metroConnections’ end‑to‑end event services create a powerful advantage. 

You get: 

In a world where expectations are rising and timelines are shrinking, this partnership is built to help organizations plan smarter, faster, and with greater confidence. 

Courtney Malone

See Full Bio