Karen Back
Manager, Meetings and Travel
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
Buffalo Grove, IL
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding? Why?
No. Our meeting duration has remained the same.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding? Why?
No, are meeting attendance has remained the same.
Did you have a smaller budget to work with last year? If so, how much do you estimate it was decreased?
No, my budget numbers were raised with the inflation rate, but I do have to watch expenses much closer.
How are possible perception problems affecting your meetings and your planning of meetings?
For meetings where people are paying their own expenses, I focus on hotels in the mid-tier range--three-star, even if I’m able to get virtually the same rate at a better hotel.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are now considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
Yes, any destination out of the U.S., with the exception of the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada, are viewed as too extravagant right now.
Have government regulations or actions affected your programs? If so, how?
No.
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?
At meetings, we are scheduling more meetings each day and longer sessions so we try to get more work done. We schedule group dinners as a time to socialize.
Are you scheduling more educational components for your meetings? If so, why?
No, we aren’t scheduling more educational components.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
Since we are not adding days to our meetings we are scheduling more meetings during the days, which leaves less time for outside activities.
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced less strictly? Can you share any comments/observations about this?
I’ve found that the three- and four-star hotels that I used this year are watching pick-up much closer than they use to but were still willing to work with you were close. But I’ve had a very different experience with the high-end, five-star, luxury hotels that I dealt with. Not only were the attrition clauses strictly enforced, but attrition clauses that I’ve been seeing in new contract are bordering on 100 percent.
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.
No. I’ve found that hotels that we were dealing with were more willing to give us other concessions and more concessions rather than drop room rates. Our room rates have stayed about the same.
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes? If so, which ones and why?
No, not at this time
Are you taking less (or no) FAM trips? If so, why?
I’m not taking FAM trips.
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 2010 will be a bit better for the meetings industry. As for costs, I think they will continue to rise. I believe that my budget and attendance will remain the same in 2010.