NAB 2010: Quantel Sets Up Shop in Vegas

Creates temporary office in wake of travel disruptions

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/21/2010 11:19:10 AM

NAB 2010: Complete Coverage From B&C

U.K.-based editing, storage and effects supplier Quantel was one of many European vendors whose travel plans home from NAB were scrapped due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland last week and the ensuing ash cloud which cancelled flights to Europe for several days.

Quantel, which used NAB to launch a complete stereoscopic 3D workflow, said it had enjoyed a strong show with various sales leads and didn't want to lose any of the momentum it had gained. So on Monday the company, which had about 25 U.K. staffers in Las Vegas along with another 25 employees from the U.S. and overseas locations, set up a temporary office at the MGM Grand Hotel to house some of the sales, marketing and support personnel who were stranded in Vegas, along with CEO Ray Cross.

"All in all, we're making the best of the situation and ensuring that all our normal operations continue uninterrupted," said Cross in a statement.

The rest of Quantel's U.K. personnel set off to visit customers and prospects in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Australia, India, Canada and Malaysia. While some Quantel staffers were able to get on a flight home from San Francisco last Tuesday, most were looking at the earliest return flights being on Apr. 26 or 27, according to Quantel spokesman Roger Thornton.