Rev. Randy Bryant, CMP
Executive Director
Florida State Assoc. of Free Will Baptists
Vero Beach, Fla.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding? Why?
For the most part, our meetings are remaining the same lengths. Many of our meetings are pretty well determined either by our constitution and bylaws or by their set-up.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding? Why?
The attendance at several of our meetings has declined by about 10 percent, while others have slightly increased.
Did you have a smaller budget to work with last year? If so, how much do you estimate it was decreased?
We do have a smaller budget for the majority of our meetings. Depending on the meeting, it has been up to 25 percent. We charge a registration fee for several of our meetings so we have had to increase those fees to make up for the decline in the supplements we can offer.
How are possible perception problems affecting your meetings and your planning of meetings?
None that I can tell at this point.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are now considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
We have always had some types of properties that we unofficially considered "off-limits." We are a nonprofit, church -related organization and are very conscious of perceptions.
Have government regulations or actions affected your programs? If so, how?
None at all!
Are you scheduling more educational components for your meetings? If so, why?
Many of our meetings are purely educational and training, so I cannot say we have increased that any.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
Special things like pizza parties for the youth at one of our functions have been eliminated and other activities at retreats are scaled down some.
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced less strictly? Can you share any comments/observations about this?
In all honesty, we have never fallen short on attrition. However, I do get the impression that the properties are more likely to work with groups more.
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.
Yes and no. Since we do meetings at different times of the year and at different locations in the state, it depends on which meeting at which time at which location. As we are negotiating for a new three-year contract on our annual main meeting, I have found that we do have much more flexibility on those proposals. (One example is a meeting with a hotel today that went from offering rooms at $133 down to $98.)
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes? If so, which ones and why?
No.
Are you taking less (or no) FAM trips? If so, why?
Not really. I have always only gone on these when I thought there was a possibility of using that location.
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 do not see our budget increasing for the next several years because the income of our churches has been declining. As for 2010 and the meeting industry overall, I think things will continue to be a "buyer's market."