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Encore is first in the U.S. to offer Overtime Savings to retain the best service talent
CHICAGO (Oct. 29, 2024) – Encore, a global event technology and production services provider, confirmed today the launch of its pioneering ‘Overtime Savings Program’ in the United States, along with additional people-first programs to further support its ongoing workforce in a seasonal industry.
Powered by UKG’s payroll technology, this first-of-its-kind program aims to enhance financial wellness and stability for Encore’s frontline employees, many of whom work in markets that experience seasonal ebb and flow of business volumes.
With 12,000 team members providing event technology and production services at 2,200 hotels and conference venues in 20 countries, Encore faces the same challenges common in the hospitality industry. Seasonal fluctuations often result in workers’ hours varying from ample overtime during peak times to reduced schedules in off-season periods. This seasonality makes it difficult for workers to maintain consistent earnings and creates challenges for companies to retain talent in the off season.
“Encore has always believed its team members are the heart of our story. This people-first mindset motivates us to constantly evolve our team member experience and innovate around challenges, like the impact of seasonality, that the industry previously viewed as immutable,” said Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore.
In addition to the Overtime Savings Program, the company launched a Seasonal Leave of Absence Program, which offers team members the flexibility to take time off during slower seasons while retaining full benefits, accruing paid time off, and maintaining their tenure. This unique program enables employees to explore other work opportunities, pursue education, or focus on personal goals without sacrificing benefits or career progression. Both the Overtime Savings and Seasonal Leave of Absence Programs are active nationwide, with plans for global expansion.
“We established the program as another way to support our team members so that they can be at their best in delivering for our customers,” Erwin added. “With this innovation, they can better plan and save their premium overtime pay for periods of the year when they might not work as many hours. Providing this capability and funding a company-paid match for a portion of the savings should motivate financial wellness and enable them to continue to build their career with Encore. Team member reactions tell us we are onto something,” he said.
With a launch just after Labor Day, usage of the UKG Wallet™ increased tenfold compared to the prior year’s period. he company offered an initial savings match, similar to a 401k program incentive match, to reward healthy financial behavior.
“Financial stress is not a problem isolated to our industry, it’s a stressor for nearly everyone,” said Charlie Young, chief human resources officer at Encore. “Nearly 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck1 and Americans spent $9B in bank overdraft fees in 2023. The more we can do to reduce stress for our team members, the more focused they can be on our customers. We are successful in the event production business because of the unique combination of our technical expertise, hospitality mindset and ability to work under pressure and through challenges. Seasonal fluctuations are part of our business, but with a partner like UKG that understands every industry has unique challenges, we were able to innovate to support those unique needs to make our team members’ lives better.”
Cody Browne, a technical lead with five years of service for Encore in Las Vegas, said he will try the Overtime Savings program, in addition to accruing and saving his Paid Time Off, for the slow season in December in Las Vegas. He hopes the vacation time, in addition to the saved overtime funds, will afford him an out-of-state vacation to visit family. “I love that Encore is creating new opportunities, that’s one of the reasons I am interested in growing my career here,” he said.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for event production and technology, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,200 premiere hotels and venues worldwide, interacting with 25 million people annually. Additional information is available at Encore.
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Media Contacts:
Kirvin Doak Communications
EncorePR@kirvindoak.com
Jen Duffy
Encore
Jen.Duffy@encoreglobal.com
[1] Forbes Advisor 2023 Survey: How Many Americans are Living Paycheck to Paycheck?
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics-2024/
Certification validates Encore’s focus on workforce development and service excellence
SCHILLER PARK, IL Oct 3, 2024– Encore announced today it has earned a 2024-2025 Great Place To Work™ certification in the U.S. and all 10 additional eligible countries, including: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
While this is the third consecutive year for the U.S., Australia, Mexico and United Arab Emirates to earn the certification, it is the first year all eligible geographies qualified, highlighting the success of active listening and detailed action plans managed by Encore global leaders.
The company scored highly in the category of fairness, reflecting that people feel respected regardless of their age, gender, race or sexual orientation and that everyone feels welcomed when they join Encore. It also scored highly for the sentiment that team members are treated as a full team member regardless of their position, which illustrates the company’s focus on fairness. Team members also ranked highly that they are given a lot of responsibility, reflecting the value of credibility.
Encore improved in areas regarding work-life balance, including team members feeling they are able to take time off work when necessary and that they are encouraged to balance their work and life. It also made gains in the sentiment around being an emotionally and psychologically healthy place to work.
“We are a team member-first, academy company for the event technology industry,” said Ben Erwin, President & CEO. “Fostering a high-trust work environment where today’s workforce can thrive is Encore’s competitive edge that powers our partnerships with both meeting professionals and venue partners.”
Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work™ added, “The research is clear: investing in people is not only the right thing to do for team members, venue partners and business stakeholders, but it’s also the best way to grow your business.”
“Encore has excelled in launching workforce development programs that reinforce modern professional values around career development, schedule flexibility, and feeling a sense of purpose and belonging at work,” said Charlie Young, Chief Human Resources Officer. “The recovery from the pandemic wasn’t easy, but our team has adapted and embraced change in the last two years by actively listening to team member feedback and acting on it to continuously attract and retain top talent.”
Encore workforce development programs include growing nine business resources groups; development of badge certifications for completed training; a seasonal leave of absence program that includes fully paid benefits; launching a salary advance program, where team members have access to earned pay before payday; and mobile technology for easy shift scheduling.
WATCH this video for more insights about what makes Encore a Great Place to Work™.
This certification aligns with Encore’s Spotlight on People within its responsible business partner program, Illuminating a Brighter Future.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for event production and technology, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,200 premiere hotels and venues worldwide, interacting with 25 million people annually. Additional information is available at Great Place To Work™ certification
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Duffy
Encore
Jen.duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712
Encore Team Members Contribute 1,500 Backpacks with Community Partners Across the Nation
SCHILLER PARK, IL Aug 2, 22024 – Encore team members in the Chicagoland, D.C.-metro and Dallas-metro areas assembled 1,500 backpacks today to be donated to students in need through charitable organizations in each city.
The opportunity for Encore team members to volunteer and give back to their local communities is just one of many programs that help make Encore a Great Place To Work ™ certified company.
The community partners include:
- Big Shoulders Fund in Chicago
- Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
- MLK Jr. Community Center in Dallas, TX
“Being a Great Place To Work™ is about building a culture that people trust and feel proud to be a part of,” said Charlie Young, Encore Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our Business Resource Groups organize philanthropic efforts year-round, and they do great things for the industry and our communities. With the Backpack Give Back Day, we wanted to create an opportunity that our team members could rally around together across the U.S.”
The Give Back Day is an expansion of effort by the Encore Black & African Americans’ Business Resource Group. For 5 years, the group has donated supplies and assembled backpacks for students in the Dallas-metro area.
“We are so happy to extend this program into new markets and we hope to expand nationally and globally in the future, as part our responsible business program, Illuminating a Brighter Future,” said Patrick Sullivan, Global Director of Sustainability at Encore. “Corporate Social Responsibility is one aspect of our 3-part strategy, which outlines how we take care of people, the planet, and our responsibility to the communities we serve.”
Read more about Encore’s responsible business program, Illuminating a Brighter Future.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
SCHILLER PARK, IL – June 26, 2024 – Encore, a global leader in event production and technology, announced today that it has signed definitive agreements on a refinancing to support its next chapter of growth.
“This accomplishment reinforces Encore’s momentum and positions the company well for ongoing growth in the meetings and events industries,” said Ben Erwin, Encore President & CEO. “It advances Encore’s ability to invest in our teams and services to support our customers and venue partners.”
The transactions include a significant new equity investment from funds managed by existing majority shareholder Blackstone and new investor W Capital Partners, a division of AXA IM Prime, as well as a new seven-year debt structure.
The transactions are expected to close in late 2024. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As a global leader of event production and technology, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production, and digital solutions. Encore operates in 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for 2,200 premiere hotels and event venues worldwide, interacting with 25 million people annually. Additional information is available at www.encoreglobal.com.
EcoVadis validates Encore’s business sustainability commitments and performance
SCHILLER PARK, IL May 7, 2024 – Encore announced today it received a bronze medal from EcoVadis, the
world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings. Awarded during Earth Week, this medal
applies to all Encore global operations, including international subsidiaries and Hargrove from Encore.
Encore earned a place in the top 11% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the Conventions & Tradeshows
sector and in the 83rd percentile of 125,000 companies rated globally.
EcoVadis is the global standard for business sustainability ratings. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates 21
sustainability criteria across four core themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and
Sustainable Procurement.
“We know that our customers are looking for partners that share an interest in taking care of people,
the planet and demonstrating corporate responsibility and we are proud to be making meaningful
strides in those areas,” said Patrick Sullivan, Global Director of Sustainability at Encore. “EcoVadis is a
globally recognized benchmark of performance related to a company’s sustainability practices and to be
recognized with a bronze badge shows our commitment. We are genuinely encouraged by the
acknowledgement from EcoVadis to recognize our global efforts on our sustainable and social impact
journey.”
Encores areas of success include outstanding policies in all four core themes (environment, labor and
human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement), demonstrated results to promote diversity and
inclusion to prevent discrimination, actions to support employee health and safety and career
development, and measures to monitor and reduce consumption and emissions.
EcoVadis’ business sustainability ratings are based on international sustainability standards such as the
Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and the ISO 26000 standard. The ratings provide an
evidenced-based analysis on performance and an actionable roadmap for continuous improvement.
Read more about Encore’s responsible business program, Illuminating a Brighter Future.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader
for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results
through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more
than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the
trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is
headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Duffy
Encore
Jen.Duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712
The company also appoints Patrick Sullivan as Director, Global Sustainability
Encore is pleased to announce a new platform for responsible business, Illuminating a Brighter Future. The platform unites Encore’s breadth of initiatives that make the world a better place through a spotlight on people, spotlight on planet and spotlight on responsibility.
As a hospitality company with a commitment to its approximately 12,000 team members who live and work in communities and venues around the globe, Spotlight on People has always been Encore’s north star. This comes to life through nurturing an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated, all feel a sense of belonging, and team members share in the growth of the company. Nine business resource groups have been established, fostering social impact, networking across the industry, and influencing business strategies.
A focus on leadership, training and recruitment aims to prepare the next generation of audio visual and event technology talent. The Encore Leadership Enrichment and Development (LEaD) program is a one-year talent preparation program for high potential leaders, with 60 percent diverse representation. Encore introduced the Women in Audio Visual Events (WAVE) program to provide free pre-hire certification for women considering audio visual event production careers. And, the National College Leadership Program (NCLP) provides an eight-month rotational program for college graduates that mixes on-the-job experiences with classroom and on-demand education.
Encore’s extensive programs to foster a supportive and diverse employee culture earned the event technology leader Great Place to Work certifications in the U.S. and six other countries.
As a global enterprise, Encore is on a journey to align and transfer environmental best practices across all geographies. Spotlight on Planet integrates efforts to reduce energy emissions and waste, increase recycling and reuse, and create sustainable offerings to its customers. To lead the charge, Encore has appointed Patrick Sullivan, a 10-year company veteran, as its first-ever Director of Global Sustainability.
“Our first priority within Spotlight on Planet is to measure and decrease scope 1 and 2 greenhouse emissions for both internal operations and external events,” said Sullivan. “The scale of our footprint of locally stored equipment and staff plays a major part in helping us reduce these emissions for Encore and customers. From here we will be developing a roadmap to evolve green event solutions in support of the meetings and events industry.”
Encore is also piloting electric vehicles to transport equipment locally and plans to expand to a fleet in the coming years.
With thousands of team members, working in approximately 2,200 venues globally to ensure execution of 350,000 events per year, Encore’s Spotlight on Responsibility has focused on strong data privacy, security, programs to ensure business continuity, and active engagement in the communities served. Encore’s commitment to engagement shows up through giving, volunteering, and in-kind donations across not-for-profit charities, events and causes, with millions of dollars of support each year.
“Illuminating a Brighter Future exemplifies Encore’s core values,” said Ben Erwin, Encore President & CEO. “Being a responsible business partner means that we consistently pursue delivering value for team members, our customers and the communities we serve.”
Encore plans to share milestones under each of the three Illuminating a Brighter Future pillars – people, planet, and responsibility – throughout 2024. Event planning tools to help event professionals positively impact their goals will roll out later this year.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
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Media Contact:
Jen Duffy
Encore
Jen.Duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712
San Diego, CA, January 8, 2024 — Live from PCMA Convening Leaders 2024, Encore is sharing key research insights that meeting professionals need to know, including:
- Hotelier expectations for event growth in 2024
- How meeting professionals are sizing up this year’s budgets
- How meeting professionals are thinking about measuring events’ impact on their organization
- How the industry is defining “immersive” and “engaging” events
In addition, Encore is sharing select insights from proprietary research with leading global research firm, Kantar, on how the event industry can adapt to the changing expectations of business professionals to ensure greater event impact.
How the Events Industry is Shaping Up for 2024
Two-thirds of hoteliers surveyed by Encore in December 2023 expect their 2024 group business revenue to grow; there is more optimism than before, represented by an increase of 16 percentage points compared to the June 2023 survey. By how much? Forty-two percent of hoteliers surveyed expect revenue to grow by up to 10% and 17% expect growth between 11 and 25%.
STR predicts overall RevPAR to grow 4% in 2024, mostly driven by 3% rate growth. Group business is expected to see the most improvement in 2024.
“While the current economic outlook is better than many had anticipated just a few months ago, and we have much to be excited about for the industry, economists are cautious about the back half of the year. The important work event professionals have done demonstrating the value of events for their organizations is a driver of expectations for strong industry performance despite economic uncertainty,” said Ben Erwin, President & CEO, Encore.
Interview opportunities with Ben Erwin:
- Leadership learnings: Partnering with Great Place to Work ™
- Workforce strategies: Growth through putting purpose and our 12,000+ team members at the front of our story
Budget Outlook: Things Look Good for Most Organizations
For association planners, 44% expect a budget increase year over year, while 44% expect to remain flat and just 12% expect a decrease.
Corporate and third-party planners report they are less likely than association planners to cut their AV spending over other budget items.
Planners rank these areas as the most difficult investments to justify to stakeholders:
- Props
- Entertainment
- Offsite events
- In-room AV technology
- Food and beverage
They site ROI data as the most helpful tool to justify AV technology/production spend.
“When challenged with demonstrating the value of certain investments we aim to work with all customers up front in the solution and event design to align those choices with their organization’s objectives for the event,” said Annette Moody, SVP of Production, Encore.
How Do Meeting Planners Define Immersive and Engaging? Core Technology Plays a Big Role
Key insights from Encore’s proprietary research point to immersive technology as a key priority for planners this year. Elements that foster emotional connections, enthusiasm, collaboration, and active participation can increase concentration, sharpen focus, and form a lasting impression from the event. Immersive technology and impactful content drive engagement that brings value to the organization.
- 93% of planners are likely to use immersive technology to engage attendees
- 85% of planners believe that immersive experiences foster greater attendee engagement
- 83% think the technology that delivers immersive experiences would enhance their event ROI
When asked about the top technology and production elements planners are finding the most value in the creation of engaging environments, here is what they shared.
- Basic lighting elements, including stage lighting, GOBOS, LED uplighting – 61%
- LED walls, monitors or totems – 52%
- Scenic décor – 50%
- Background music, stingers or sound effects – 48%
Association planners rank basic lighting, music, unique scenic and upgraded audio/microphones as their top selections for more engaging environments.
“These insights illustrate that simple production additions can dramatically transform an event environment. While some may think that an immersive or engaging event is something that requires only cutting-edge technology innovations, or only the biggest budgets, there is a wealth of creative possibilities available with the technology readily at our disposal,” said Annette Moody, SVP Production, Encore. “A focus for Encore this year is supporting meeting professionals in their mission to create more meaningful, impactful events with their technology choices.”
Interview opportunities with Annette Moody:
- The value proposition for event technology
- Education on event technology costs: the history, the business model, the ins and outs of pricing structures for event technology, internet, rigging and power distribution
- Budgeting tips and solutions for tight budgets
- New and not-so-new tech that can elevate your event
- Scaling immersive and engaging experiences for small meetings to large events
More Association Planners are Measuring ROE Compared to Their Corporate Counterparts
- Two out of 3 event planners are tasked with measuring ROI
- Just over half of planners are tasked with measuring ROE (Return on Experience)
- More association planners are tasked with measuring ROE, compared to their corporate and 3rd party counterparts
While most association planners who gave in-depth responses on the survey reported that they are predominantly measuring attendee feedback and the perception of the event, others noted they are measuring retention from educational sessions, along with landing page clicks, social media clicks, return attendee rates and year-over-year sponsorship revenue.
“Measurable outcomes have always been the backbone to successful events. Where we have the opportunity as an industry to grow is to identify more specific KPIs for the greater organizational impact. How can we grow beyond overall satisfaction and understand if we’ve made deeper connections with social programming, valuable learnings with content and greater interest in association engagement beyond the event itself? That’s where we’re looking ahead in 2024,” said Tara Higgins, SVP Commercial at Encore and President, Hargrove.
Adapting to the Zeitgeist: Insights That Will Drive Designing Events for Impact in 2024 and Beyond
There’s a lot of recent discussion in the events community that our world has changed at an unprecedented speed, and we need to innovate how we create impactful events. That premise spurred Encore to do in-depth research with the world-leading research firm, Kantar, to analyze the priorities and challenges faced by event owners. What we uncovered were powerful insights into the human experience at events. From economists and anthropologists to futurists and CEOs, the research tracks measurable and sustained macro shifts in culture and validates those broader trends for the events industry. The research culminated with ‘streetscape’ interviews with professionals around the globe to understand their attitudes, values, priorities, and needs, and it was followed up with direct customer insights from meeting professionals.
From the long-evolving consumer expectation to have a customizable, personalized experience to an increased value system around social well-being and inclusivity, key trends around people and behaviors, as well as technology and attitudes about the environment underpin the insights.
Encore has leveraged this body of work to advise the industry on how to design for impact-– the practice of optimizing the event experience to deliver the best outcomes for your organization. The research also guides a product roadmap that aligns our pipeline of technology solutions to the shifts in business culture.
“One of the defining insights that impacted attitudes in all areas of life was that 69% of global adults believe “humanness”—seeking to connect with real people—is an extremely or very important personal value. How we approach delivering on connections and acknowledging our humanness through events is key to the future,” said Higgins. Below are just a few core principles from the research.
Insight #1: Business professionals are interested in the breadth of value an event has for themselves, their organization, their communities, and society at large.
Strategic Bet: “Because our increased collective sense of humanity is what’s driving so much of how we experience the world right now, it’s a no brainer that in-person events will continue to be the driver for our industry. Where we see the near future going is in how technology fosters community in the full life cycle of an event calendar, delivering increased education, exposure and connection for an organization,” said Higgins, SVP Commercial at Encore.
Reasons to believe:
- 74% of global adults believe businesses have a responsibility to make society fairer
- 39% report that ‘being memorable’ is the second most important priority for events
Insight #2: Belonging and inclusivity at events is non-negotiable.
Strategic Bet: “Event planners are all quickly forming the habits and routine to ensure diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility at events—and if you’re not, this is your year to get started. Soon, we see the habits of fostering DEIB-A more broadly becoming second nature, ensuring belonging is the price of
entry for organizations, and not an afterthought,” said Higgins.
Reasons to believe:
- 52% of global adults believe belonging, the feeling of being a part of a place or a group, is an extremely or very important personal value.
- 32% of global adults believe “connecting with others” is a top three priority for events, behind “being memorable”
Insight #3: Professionals will continue to demand flexibility in how they attend work and events, as well as how they consume information and network.
Strategic Bet: “Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all for so many aspects of life,” said Higgins. “For events that means getting creative with the use of space and time to design programs, spaces and event
marketing that attracts attendees with multiple-choice options and the power to control their experience. Capitalizing on experience personalization at every event touchpoint will also create event resilience against conflicting attendee interests.”
Reasons to believe:
- 32% of global adults believe “connecting with others” is a top three priority for events, behind “being memorable”
Interview Opportunity with Tara Higgins:
- Business and cultural shift driving change in events
- The importance of strategy and designing to impact
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About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results
through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the
trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
Media contact:
Jen Duffy
310.923.2712
SCHILLER PARK, IL, Nov. 13, 2023 — Encore, the global leader of event technology partnerships at Four- and Five-Star rated properties, has been named the Official Event Solutions Company by Forbes Travel Guide.
Forbes Travel Guide (“FTG”) recognized Encore for its leadership in the event technology industry, dedication to elevating the role of on-site audiovisual providers, support of hotels, resort, conference centers and venues throughout the world that have earned FTG Star Ratings and engagement with FTG as a trusted source for objective, third-party verification of exceptional hospitality experiences. FTG is the only independent global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruises.
“Earning the Official Event Solutions Company by Forbes Travel Guide is a milestone for Encore and a testament to our commitment to a culture of services excellence,” said Ben Erwin, President & CEO of Encore. “We are proud to be recognized alongside so many of our esteemed hotel partners with Forbes Travel Guide ratings and look forward to delivering top-notch event services and continuing to elevate the customer and planner experience together.”
“Encore is a fantastic addition to our 2023 Brand Officials lineup, which has been carefully curated to provide the best products, services and experiences for guests,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “Encore raises the bar in the event production sector with a focus on providing seasoned meeting professionals and their audiences with seamless luxury, just like our Star-Rated properties.”
About Forbes Travel Guide
FTG announced its 65th annual list of nearly 1,400 rated hotels in 81 countries in mid-February. Its coveted Five-Star, Four-Star, or Recommended awards are earned through objective incognito inspections on FTG’s exacting quality and service standards.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences to engage and transform organizations with a hospitality-first approach allowing them to become an invaluable partner on the customers’ journey. As the global leader for meetings, conferences and special occasions, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through world-class service, strategy, design, technology, production, and digital solutions. Encore offers imagination and skill, the latest technical equipment, and a passion for excellence that creates innovative event solutions, which has allowed them to be the trusted partner of choice for premiere hotels and venues worldwide. For additional information, please visit encoreglobal.com.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Duffy
Encore
Jen.duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712
SCHILLER PARK, IL Nov. 16, 2023 – Encore hired Georgina Flores as Chief Marketing Officer to support innovation across the customer journey. In her role she will provide strategic guidance to the company’s brand, customer insights, product marketing, communications, and industry relations functions, leading marketing as a key driver for growth.
“Georgina’s customer-centric orientation and people-centric leadership style is a great fit for Encore,” said Ben Erwin, President & CEO. “We’re continuing to build a leadership team squarely focused on elevating the customer experience to power growth and relationship. The combination of her natural curiosity and depth of experience leading award-winning marketing campaigns will advance how Encore innovates in support of our meeting professional customers.”
“The meetings industry is a relationship business. There’s no better time than now for us to strengthen our partnerships and provide service excellence across the customer journey,” said Flores. “I’m passionate about uncovering opportunities to build trusting connections with customers by ensuring we share the right message to the right audience at the right time, supporting every customer’s pursuit to ‘connect and inspire’ their audiences.”
Flores joins Encore from Aetna, a CVS Health company, where she was VP of Marketing for commercial and specialty markets. Prior to that she spent 18 years at Allstate developing teams and championing marketing campaigns. In her tenure there, she built the company’s multicultural marketing function, executing integrated marketing initiatives to building loyalty with Hispanic, African American, Asian and LGBTQ customers.
About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Duffy
Encore
Jen.duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712
The leading authority on workplace culture awards Encore Great Place to Work® Certification
SCHILLER PARK, IL Oct. 11, 2023 – Encore is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work® for the second year in a row in the United States and other geographies. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Encore.
Encore also earned the certification in Australia, Austria, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and UAE.
Top scores around fairness and inclusion are a point of pride for Encore leadership. “We know that our customer experience cannot exceed our team member experience,” said Trevor Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer at Encore. “People deserve to be protected, respected and connected, and we will continue to serve our team members as key stakeholders in our business,” he added. “Our community is an ecosystem of team members, venue partners and meeting professionals. Through education, leadership, and accountability we can build upon our foundation to deliver events that transform, together.”
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. The survey measures workplace culture within themes like integrity, collaboration, equity, inclusivity, pride and respect that are backed by proprietary research as proven factors for increasing employee satisfaction and retention.
In addition, on Oct. 11 Great Place To Work® will unveil The Great Transformation, a groundbreaking, three-year research initiative with organizations committed to participating in targeted, data-backed action plans designed to unlock the full potential of all employees and improve organizational productivity, agility, resilience, and innovation. The project consists of 10 prestigious organizations alongside Encore, including Hilton, Accenture, KPMG, Cadence, Cisco, DHL Express, Dow, Synchrony, UKG and World Wide Technology. The first-of-its-kind cohort collectively represents more than 1.4 million global employees across a broad range of industries, including technology, finance, transportation, hospitality, professional services, semiconductors and manufacturing.
“Great companies know their most valuable assets are their people. Nowhere is this truer than in the service industry,” said Encore President & CEO Ben Erwin. “We’re proud to join the Great Transformation at a time of our own company’s reimagining. Embracing a ‘for all’ culture for us means celebrating our teams to ensure they feel a sense of belonging in a community they want to grow. It’s a simple truth: Engaged teams who feel supported and valued are best able to deliver for customers. It’s how tomorrow’s successful companies will compete.”
“In 2020, when the event industry collapsed due to the pandemic, making it the worst possible time to make systemic change for most, Encore did exactly that. Encore restarted their business by creating a for all culture for their teams,” said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “They see the future of great organizations are secured with this strategy and they have opened themselves up to transformation by committing to this hard work. We know that leaders are looking for answers in this performance-driven, hybrid, AI confused, trust fragile world. This will be as close to a blueprint as anything we’ve seen because the future of work is For All. “
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About Encore
Encore creates memorable experiences that engage and transform organizations. As the global leader for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, the Encore team of innovators and experts deliver real results through event strategy, design, technology, production and digital solutions. Encore operates in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia Pacific. It is the trusted partner of choice for more than 2,100 premiere hotels and venues worldwide. The company is headquartered in Schiller Park, Ill., within the Chicago metro area.
About Great Place To Work®
Backed by 30 years of data, Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Through its proprietary For All™ Model and Trust Index™ Survey, it gives organizations the recognition and tools to create a consistently positive employee experience. Its mission is to help every company become a great place to work for all, driving business growth, improving lives, and empowering communities. Through globally recognized and coveted Great Place To Work Certification™ and highly competitive Best Workplaces™ Lists, Great Place To Work enables employers to attract and retain talent, benchmark company culture, and increase revenue. Their platform enables leaders to truly capture, analyze and understand the experience of every employee, and compare outcomes with data collected from more than 100 million employees in over 90 countries worldwide. Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Duffy
Encore
Jen.duffy@encoreglobal.com
c: (310) 923-2712