The agreement – the first time a major corporation and events agency have paired in the UK – means clients will have access to the services of both companies to plan events.
The two companies have been working together for several months and have now formalised their agreement.
Each company will offer and use the services of the other when contacted by clients, but in a meeting with Event they didn't rule out a closer union in future such as a joint name for the collaboration.
The collaboration aims to avoid a fragmented multi-supplier process by combining American Express Meetings & Events’ expertise in planning and sourcing with WRG’s creative events experience, such as planning the 2010 Papal visit to the UK.
WRG chairman Mark Wallace described the collaboration as a "landmark offering" which would offer "a full-service approach like no other."
The agreement reflects a wider move by American Express to pair with events companies globally - it recently announced a similar joint offer in France with Le Public Système.
American Express Meetings & Events UK director Peter Manning told Event that the "choice was obvious" to pair with WRG.
He added: "Corporations are facing challenges with increased scrutiny over their meetings budgets and need to meet new regulations while not compromising on the ultimate design and creativity of their meetings and events. That is why this exclusive agreement is so appealing, the integration of WRG’s creative marketing services and production capabilities with our planning, sourcing and expense management expertise means corporations will have access to an unmatched approach in all areas of meeting organisation."
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