It may be true that the meetings industry is facing challenging times across virtually all segments, but government get-togethers are not one of them.
In fact, although government planners are acting cautiously like their association and corporate counterparts, this segment is actually in a growth mode as the priorities of the new presidential administration start to take shape, with meetings focused on sustainability and alternative energy leading the pack.
While many of these meetings are utilizing conference space already owned by various governmental agencies—such as Atlanta’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—planners who do bring their groups off-site are tending to opt for suburban locations that offer a less-expensive option, and are actually asking for rates that are below the government per diem allowances.
Trends also point to an increased use of videoconferencing as well as even shorter lead times—sometimes only a month out.
Visit our "Reliable Sources" story, to see what government planners and some of the key destinations that attract them have to say about this consistent—but increasingly complex—market segment of government meetings.
In times like these, it’s good to know our government is meeting!
