Jennifer Winn
Owner/National Event Planner
Winn Events, LLC
Dallas
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding? Why?
Staying the same. None of my clients have changed the length of the meetings. They have added events but chosen to do events in strategic cities where attendance has been good in the past. They are not doing many test cities right now.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding? Why?
Shrinking somewhat due to the economy. This depends on the client and the event content. For some events, we sold out due to the content and the artists. For other events, the attendance is slightly lower than years past primarily due to cost of the event and lower budgets for the organizations that attend.
Did you have a smaller budget to work with last year? If so, how much do you estimate it was decreased?
The budget was definitely tighter and every expense was scrutinized more than in years past. There were no excess expenses at the events this year.
How are possible perception problems affecting your meetings and your planning of meetings?
I have not run into that at all. If people can’t attend an event it has primarily been due to budget cuts and perceived high event costs.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are now considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
Hotels and convention centers. We look for university conference and event centers, which tend to have lower costs.
Have government regulations or actions affected your programs? If so, how?
No, this has not been a factor.
Are you finding that you are scheduling more meeting sessions per day, and if so, is it at the expense of entertainment or events that are more social in nature?
No, the schedule is primarily the same at the events as in years past. The only thing that changed was the topic for breakouts to be more focused on navigating through the economic situation that our country is in. I work with nonprofits, and raising money in these economic times and how they go about it has been a main focus.
Are you scheduling more educational components for your meetings? If so, why?
It is the same as in the past. We have always had a heavy educational focus at our events.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
We do not do activities at any events.
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced less strictly? Can you share any comments/observations about this?
I have found hotels to be more flexible in the negotiating process because they want the business.
Do you find that you had much more leverage on room rates during the last year? If so, please give an idea how much discounting you are seeing.
I have found hotels to be hungry for business and willing to lower the room rates in order to gain business. The rates have been close to what I used to get a few years back.
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes? If so, which ones and why?
Yes, I use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ning and Plaxo to draw people to my website and blog for event planners.
Are you taking less (or no) FAM trips? If so, why?
I have not taken any FAM trips lately because I find the time can be better spent in the office working to bring in new business.
How do you think 2010 will shape up for the meetings industry? Where do you see costs (hotel, restaurant, venue prices, etc.) going? Do you think your budget and/or attendance will increase or decrease? Why?
I think that the meeting industry in 2010 will start seeing a slight turn upwards. I expect the costs to gradually start increasing again. I don’t expect it to be by much at the start of the year. I think it will increase over the year. My clients have gotten into the mindset that the costs are lower and they expect costs to stay low so it is likely that their budgets will reflect that. We will be expected to get the same rates we did in 2009 even as the economy starts to gradually recover.