Here’s a creative collection of new meeting deals:
 Mandarin Oriental has announced a new "Meeting Edge" package for groups booking at least 10 rooms. Available at a dozen Mandarin Oriental properties — including Mandarin Oriental hotels in Barcelona, Boston, Geneva, Las Vegas, London Marrakech and New York — through March 31, 2011, the package includes a guaranteed group rate that’s lower than the best available rate by at least 20 percent, as well as a master account credit of up to 10 percent.
 Gaylord Hotels has launched a new program for associations that allows them to lock in savings on upcoming meetings booked in 2009 or 2010. Called the One Partner program, it includes a 10 percent master account credit for new meetings that groups can use to offset the cost of attrition, or to apply toward another meeting that’s booked and actualized by the end of 2011.
 Loews Hotels has introduced a new "Flexible Meetings" program that allows groups to negotiate competitive rates and get additional savings worth 10 percent of total room revenue, good toward any of several fixed value, per night or food and beverage options. Fixed value options include: $500 in audio/visual, $50 spa credits, $500 business center credits, the Meetings Internet Package, airport transfers, $25 food and beverage credit per attendee per stay, and $50 food and beverage credit per attendee per stay.
 The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Fla., introduced two new "More Moments" complete meeting packages for groups. Designed to give organizations "more for their meeting dollar" and "more productive moments with their colleagues," the packages are available for groups booking at least 25 rooms per night for at least two nights.
By David Wilkening
