|
|
Our Timeline
From the beginning, The Knowland Group has transformed the traditional hospitality
field research business by merging the power of the Internet with the sales strategy
demanded in a complex and competitive marketplace. The result: sophisticated data-mining
that allows micro-targeting of the most desirable and profitable prospects.
The Knowland Group™ timeline. Click on left or right arrows to move forward or backward
chronologically.
Founded in 2004, The Knowland Group had its roots in software development and originally
served hotels in the Washington DC area. Using their experience providing other
industries with advanced software and online applications, the company’s founders
recognized the hospitality industry’s need for a higher standard of market intelligence.
The capital was the logical place to launch The Knowland Group as it is home to
many of the nation’s finest properties and major organizations—corporate, government,
military, nonprofit—with heavy event schedules.
After testing its foundational Readers platform in the summer of 2004, The Knowland
Group opened for business on Labor Day. By the end of the year, the company released
its inaugural version of iKnowGroups, effectively unifying field research data with
lead generation and tracking tools, all delivered in an online platform. During
2005, The Knowland Group expanded to over 20 markets serving a diverse clientele
of single and multi-property clients.
2006 saw numerous milestones: 100,000 events tracked and analyzed, over 400 clients,
and service in nearly 60 markets. In 2007, The Knowland Group introduced Insight,
a breakthrough product generating highly targeted sales leads with in-depth details
on each prospect’s past meeting activity, giving sales teams the ability to profile
and rank top prospects. The company also activated a 7,000 square foot call center,
boasting top research and sales support professionals who update the Knowland database
and execute clients’ specific requests such as scheduling sales meetings, rate shopping,
preparing sales blitzes and event booking. In September 2007, The Knowland Group
grew to over 60 markets, including the United Kingdom.
In 2008, The Knowland Group recorded its 800,000th event, further strengthening
the data core of all its platforms and services. The company continued its global
expansion into the Middle East and Asia. In 2009, the firm nearly doubled its database
to 1,500,000 recorded events.
Entering the second decade of the 21st century, The Knowland Group continues its
leadership with Target Net, integrating research, lead generation, and sales force
management in its most intuitive and comprehensive platform to date.
|