Chicago-based BCD Meetings & Incentives has acquired UK-
based meetings, incentive and event company Talking Point.
Talking Point was partly owned by The Travel Company, which was acquired by BCD Holdings last year.
Scott Graf, president of BCD Meetings and Incentives, said: “The acquisition of Talking Point gives us a stronghold in the British Isles and complements the broad presence we already have within Continental Europe.
“Combined with the integration of TQ3 Events (a subdivision of TQ3 Travel Solutions Management Holding GmbH), which we completed in mid-2006, within EMEA we now have wholly owned locations in Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.”
Talking Point founder and managing director Robin Smith will stay on as managing director, UK and Ireland for BCD Meetings & Incentives.
“We’ll be able to broaden our service offering within the UK and Ireland to span all the products and services offered by BCD Meetings & Incentives, including strategic meetings management,” he said.
Talking Point employs 46 full-time staff and its clients include Sony, O2 Plc, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Bosch Power Tools and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.
It will begin operating under the BCD Meetings & Incentives banner immediately.
By Bev Fearis
