About De Vere Hotels

De Vere Hotels, a group of UK-based properties known for their impressive meeting and event spaces, embarked on a digital transformation journey to modernize how their venues manage and convert small meeting bookings. With MeetingPackage, they found a scalable, integrated solution that aligned with both operational needs and evolving customer expectations.

"The biggest improvements we've seen since launching MeetingPackage are the reduced failures and increased customer satisfaction as they can book directly online anytime."

Moira Henderson - Director of Revenue, De Vere Hotels

The Challenge: A Gap in Digital Booking for Meetings

Before MeetingPackage, De Vere Hotels had no digital solution for booking meeting spaces. While bedroom reservations had already moved online, meeting rooms still required phone calls or emails—a process that fell short for customers looking for quick, low-touch solutions.

“It was becoming more evident that people wanted the ability to be able to book a meeting space online,” said Bethan Stone, Applications Director at De Vere Hotels.

Without real-time availability and self-service options, the sales team was spending time on small bookings that could otherwise be automated, limiting their ability to focus on high-value events.

Why MeetingPackage

While the initial decision came from a leadership-level conversation, MeetingPackage quickly proved its worth with one key feature: seamless integration with Oracle’s Opera Sales & Event Management (OSEM) system.

“That integration is invaluable. Once a booking is made, it drops straight into OSEM, and it does all the work for you—function sheets, contracts, everything,” Stone emphasized.

Moira Henderson, Director of Revenue, added, “We didn’t even look at other tools. The integration and ease of use were exactly what we needed”.

"MeetingPackage's integration with our systems has been invaluable. The booking process is seamless, and the support from the team has been exceptional."

Bethan Stone - Applications Director, De Vere Hotels

Key Benefits and Results

Though still in the early stages of adoption across the full portfolio, De Vere Hotels is already seeing measurable improvements:

• Better Booking Experience for Customers
  Customers now have 24/7 access to book meeting rooms online, complete with payment and confirmation—no emails or phone calls required. “Some customers have built this into their culture. It’s how they book now,” Henderson noted.

• Time Savings for Sales Teams
  Smaller meetings are increasingly booked without sales team intervention, allowing staff to prioritize large, complex events. “That’s one less call they have to deal with, and one less booking to coordinate,” said Stone.

• Improved Conversion Rates
  The team reported a 2-point increase in conversion rates over the past year, with some locations seeing up to 48% conversion on short-lead, online bookings.

• Data-Driven Decisions
  Henderson praised MeetingPackage’s reporting tools: “The visual reporting is fantastic. I can easily track conversion, lead times, and make strategic changes in real-time”.

"The reporting tools in MeetingPackage are very visual and easy to use, making it simple to track performance and make informed decisions."

Moira Henderson - Director of Revenue, De Vere Hotels

Team and Cultural Adaptation

Introducing MeetingPackage required a mindset shift, particularly around relinquishing control of the function diary.

“Some salespeople were hesitant at first, afraid the system would ‘make the wrong booking.’ But the more they saw it working, the more they embraced it,” Stone shared.

“It’s a cultural shift, but we’re getting there,” Henderson echoed.

What’s Next

De Vere Hotels is eager for upcoming enhancements such as group booking and multi-day event support—features that align perfectly with their customer needs, as most bookings include both rooms and meetings across multiple days.

“Group booking would give us so much more scope. Most of our events need bedrooms too,” Henderson emphasized.

The hotel group also plans to enhance internal marketing efforts to better promote the tool’s availability and benefits to their customers.

Final Thoughts

Both Stone and Henderson agree that MeetingPackage is more than a booking engine—it’s a partner in innovation. Their advice to other venues?

“If you’re using Opera OSEM, I’d say absolutely go for it. The integration and automation are a game changer,” said Stone. “There really aren’t any downsides. "It’s simple, intuitive, and the support is fantastic,” Henderson concluded.