Members of Professional Associations and Hobby Groups will be able to link from the Association/Group website to the patented GOBirdsOfaFeather.com search and booking engine, allowing them to join and/or attract other members and individuals with similar interests while traveling…be it business, leisure, or just a “spur of the moment” get-together.

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - 21st July, 2010 - George VonAllmen and Don Farrell, Founding Partners of eConnectPEOPLE, LLC announced today a partnership between the American Birding Association and GOBirdsOfaFeather.com – first in their product-line of network expanding web portals. Members of the ABA will be able to link from the Association’s website to the patented “GOBirds” search and booking engine, allowing them to join and/or attract others with similar interests while traveling…be it business, leisure, or just a “spur of the moment” get-together.

In addition to receiving the lowest published rates from any hotel in the world, Association members are virtually assured that they will be meeting up with other Birders AND guaranteed that a portion of their room rate will be donated back to the Association and its designated charity – the Young Birders Scholarship Fund.
“When we first had this up on the drawing board, we thought about the types of Associations/Groups that would typically use and enjoy this…and “Bird-Watchers” was at the top of the list. So, if you’re wondering - ’What came first – the chicken or the egg?’ – it’s a fair question”, quipped Farrell.

Melissa Rausch, COO of the ABA, sees advantages even beyond the obvious - “We love the fact that our members can facilitate small, informal get-togethers by simply utilizing the “GOBirds” process when they are making any travel arrangements. Nothing goes further in retaining and even growing membership than simply offering more ‘face-to-face’ opportunities”.

VonAllmen added, “Discussions are well under way with similar large groups of people with shared passions and who are predisposed to lots of travel - like the American Motorcyclist Assn., the Antique Automobile Club of America, and even regional groups of the USGA and USTA”. In describing the anticipated product line that “GOBirds” is the precursor for, Farrell pointed out “The goal of eConnectPEOPLE heading into 2011 is for our member users to be able to match-up with other ‘similar interest’ travelers not only in hotels…but in lots of new places - including cruises and vacation rentals, sporting events/shows/concerts, and even on plane/train/bus rides.”

Dave Lutz, Managing Director at Velvet Chainsaw, who has worked with dozens of National Associations to improve both membership and meeting attendance numbers, states “more and more social networks and e-communities are leading to meaningful face-to-face meet-ups. We all like to “hang” with people that share the same interest and passion. GoBirdsOfaFeather.com can help make those connections intentional.” He added, "Knowing both George and Don for a long time...I'm excited about their new venture and their model for helping create meaningful connections, and at the same time supporting an Association’s mission.”

About eConnectPEOPLE, LLC: Founding Partners George VonAllmen and Don Farrell are no strangers to the Hotel/Travel business with over 65 years of experience between them AND, more importantly, they are “4 for 4” in successfully starting-up new business ventures. George co-partnered the launch of RoadBoardz.in 2004, and HeadStand-Consulting in 2007. Don was co-founder of Signature Worldwide, which is now the largest Sales/Service Training company in the world and in 2008 launched Fresh Revenues.

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