AusLeisure

To support its strategic growth plan, leading events and venue software provider EventBooking has appointed industry veteran Steve Mackenzie as President.

The move bolsters the leadership of EventBooking, with Mackenzie bringing 30-plus years of international experience in the hospitality and event space, including more than 20 years focusing on IT sales and service. Mackenzie, who commenced his new role on 1st May, will work alongside EventBooking founder Chief Executive John Platillero to launch the company’s third generation of core software products.

EventBooking was the first company in the world to offer web-based venue management software in 1999 and, since that time, has earned a reputation for applying best practices in its software, tailoring the technology to the specific needs and functionality required for the events and venues of its clients.

With unmatched technical services and product support, the company currently works with more than

700 marquee venues around the world providing space scheduling, sales, and event coordination solutions for convention centers, arenas, theatres and stadiums around the world.

Commenting on the appointment, Platillero stated “Steve has spent decades understanding the event business. He knows everyone, and everyone knows and trusts him.

“He has taken several smaller software companies to the next level, and we’re confident he will elevate EventBooking’s sales,marketing, and strategy to help us reach our full potential as a global company. Most important, he shares our philosophy of product creation based on industry need and client input coupled with the best possible customer service.”

Mackenzie comes to EventBooking from etouches, where for the last five years he has focused on growing the company’s partnerships and channel offerings in the global marketplace.

Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global Sales for ASP Events, a UK-based company providing websites for exhibitions and events.

Mackenzie has been integral to the development of several technology-based entities, with much of his

career spent working for Ungerboeck Systems International, where he established offices in Sydney, Hong Kong, and China before moving to their headquarters in the USA to oversee their expansion globally.

During that time he was directly involved with the technology selection of hundreds of the world’s leading venues.

Looking forward to his new role, Mackenzie stated “I have admired John and what he has built at EventBooking for some time.

“Not only am I a huge fan of the product, but I’ve always been super impressed with the company and its people.”

Mackenzie’s reputation as a leader extends to numerous industry associations, including involvement with the Venue Management Association and International Association of Venue Management as well as service on the board of the Meetings and Events Association of Australia.

A graduate from the Public Assembly Facility Management School in Oglebay, West Virginia in 2007, he also has been an instructor at the Venue Management School in Australia since 2011.

A native of New Zealand, Mackenzie’s early career started in the hospitality industry working at various island resorts along the Great Barrier Reef for almost 10 years. The majority of those years were spent at the exclusive Lizard Island and Dunk Island Resorts, where he served in a variety of positions including Purchasing Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Operations Manager, and Relief General Manager.

Mackenzie said one reason he is eager to make the move to EventBooking is that the timing for its next generation product is perfect, adding “the marketplace really needs a fresh web-based product that combines the functionality with the customer service EventBooking has become known for delivering.

“Too many tech companies fail to recognize that we really must be service providers first, not simply a software provider.

“My commitment is to maintain that core value of client service while ensuring our software grows to encompass the wider needs of the venue managers.”

Click here to contact EventBooking via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

20th November 2012 - VENUE MANAGEMENT SCHOOL A ‘HUGE SUCCESS’

20th November 2009 - MACKENZIE JOINS EVENT WEBSITE SPECIALIST, ASP INC

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.