As we head into the final leg of 2008, expert opin-ions about how the year would turn out on the economic front seem to have come true—your guess is as good as mine.
With record fuel prices, airfare and route challenges and a generally skittish economy causing jitters all around, the jury is still out on how all of this will affect the meetings industry. Having made my usual rounds at local and national industry events, I’ve noticed that the swagger of some top-tier destinations has been tempered a bit as more supply comes on-line, financing is suddenly drying up and transportation to and from is becoming a preeminent issue.
More than a few are striking a comparison between the current climate and the hospitality downturn immediately following 9/11, and are stressing that supplier response can’t be as drastic and panicky as before.
Check out our story to get your bearings on this bear market, and stay tuned to see the results of our annual Meetings Market Trends Survey coming up at the beginning of the year to gaze further into the crystal ball.
