Are you more optimistic, or less, about the meetings industry and the economy than a year ago?
- A bit more optimistic—this can't go on forever.
—Debbie Wardrop, owner, Debbie Wardrop, LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Port Ludlow, Wash. - I am an optimistic person so I am more optimistic about the meetings industry. I feel that attendees and companies are feeling better about the economy and realizing that education and networking are still important in their profession. For our organization, the No. 2 reason why attendees come to the meeting is to network. That is second only to the education.
—Debi Maines, CMP, senior meeting manager, Association Headquarters, Mount Laurel, N.J. - I'm more optimistic. I think some high-end properties will reconsider their rates to capture more corporate business, and mid-tier properties will continue to be competitive to retain corporate business.
—Linda Peters, sales office administrator, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, Calif. - About the same. It isn't always the cost of travel but the fact that there is no one to do your job when you are out of the office.
—Mary E. Barlow, executive director, Eclipse Users Group/UFO, Valrico, Fla. - I am optimistic that this year will begin to pick up. We are budgeting for more attendees at our annual conference this year. We will have to wait and see.
—Tina Rice, director of travel and events, IAPMO (The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials), Ontario, Calif. - Probably less. I was new to this job a year ago but now I have been in it a year and anticipate it being more difficult to stay within my budgets to get facilities at federal per diems. Hotels are not wanting to give space at federal per diem rates, and when they do, they don't have menu options at federal rates so the food becomes difficult to provide, or the meeting space gets prohibitively expensive.
—Nancy Engel, training coordinator, Western Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Colorado Springs, Colo. - I am more optimistic about the meeting industry. While the hotels are trying to bring their business back up, it allows me to negotiate some better deals for our meetings.
—Kay Bothwell, CMP, administrative assistant III, Department of Labor & Employment, Denver - More optimistic. Our meetings have not been impacted by the recession. Our attendees still need their continuing education.
—Frank E. Gainer, MHS, OTR/L, FAOTA, director of conferences, AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association), Bethesda, Md. - More optimistic that meetings will happen, but budgets will be tight. Rarely will it be the sky's the limit.
—Janna Sperry Sundby, membership manager, AMIN Worldwide, Wayzata, Minn. - Less optimistic. The economy will continue the downward spiral. Unfortunately, meetings are the first to be cut.
—Melissa M. Schepacarter, CMP, meetings manager, Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education, Philadelphia - I am optimistic that people will desire to attend meetings/events in 2011, as many are feeling isolated and realize they need professional development and networking to stay on top of their jobs. I am not optimistic about the economy. California's budget is a terrifying example of what is yet to come, coupled with continued unemployment/job loss. I don't think we have hit bottom yet for meetings or transient travel.
—Tracy Petrillo, CAE, director, education & conferences, League of California Cities, Sacramento, Calif. - More optimistic, as we can now see "the light at the end of the tunnel."
—Erin O'Brien, national sales manager, Aqua Blue Meetings, LLC, Clearwater, Fla. - I am much more optimistic about the meetings industry as we approach 2011. I truly cross my fingers that the economy continues to recover and that the word from the industry is supported by government and encourages folks to meet, travel, vacation, etc.
—Danielle Strong, CMP, managing director/meetings division, Sterling Events Group, Clemmons, N.C.
How do you think 2011 will shape up for the meetings industry?
- I think everything will increase slightly…and then, depending on the healthcare and tax situations, a bit more in 2012.
—Debbie Wardrop, owner, Debbie Wardrop, LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Port Ludlow, Wash. - I see hotels and venues still being negotiable with their pricing so they can attract and fill their calendars. I know that my budget has not taken a hit as far as expenses go, but could take a hit on the income side. To be proactive, we are already looking at the expenses to see where we can cut, and also looking at new ideas to generate money through the conference besides the typical registration, sponsorship and exhibit booth fees.
—Debi Maines, CMP, senior meeting manager, Association Headquarters, Mount Laurel, N.J. - I'm hoping costs will remain flat for 2011, as my 2011 budget is the same as my 2010 budget.
—Linda Peters, sales office administrator, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, Calif. - I have tried to negotiate several cities for room rates for 2014; they are not eager to work on it so far in advance as I am certain that they are waiting to see where the economy will be over the next year. In some cities the hotel, restaurant and venue prices are still pricey, and in others they are begging for the meeting business. I'm just stepping back to see where it will go. I have budgeted for an increase in attendance, so we are hopeful that we will get more attendees this year.
—Tina Rice, director of travel and events, IAPMO (The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials), Ontario, Calif. - I think costs will go up, making it more and more difficult for me to stay within my budgets. I think I will get squeezed between last year's budget repeat and increased costs, causing me to have to stay at lower-quality venues in less-expensive cities. I think budget and attendance will stay the same.
—Nancy Engel, training coordinator, Western Regional Children's Advocacy Center, Colorado Springs, Colo. - I believe the meetings industry will begin to get better in 2011—by at least 25 to 30 percent. My budget and attendance will be about the same as it was for the same number of attendees several years ago.
—Kay Bothwell, CMP, administrative assistant III, Department of Labor & Employment, Denver - Our attendance will continue to decrease. Many industries, including government and nonprofits, will take several years after the economy truly improves to see it impact us in a positive way. The hotel industry continues to underbid each other, reduce food costs, value-add Wi-Fi, etc., which is all benefiting the industry and will eventually lead to stronger quality and confidence in attending events again.
—Tracy Petrillo, CAE, director, education & conferences, League of California Cities, Sacramento, Calif. - We expect our attendance to increase. We have begun a third conference each year called a Specialty Conference.
—Frank E. Gainer, MHS, OTR/L, FAOTA, director of conferences, AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association), Bethesda, Md. - I think it will shape up to look like it's back on track for slow, steady, single-digit growth.
—Janna Sperry Sundby, membership manager, AMIN Worldwide, Wayzata, Minn. - Budgets will decrease, hotels and venues will remain the same and/or negotiable, and attendance will increase for online and local live activities but will decrease for the larger, longer programs, which are costly.
—Melissa M. Schepacarter, CMP, meetings manager, Institute for Continuing Healthcare Education, Philadelphia - 2011 will continue to offer great deals on properties, F&B and ancillary services to meeting planners. However, as the economy improves and meetings become more frequent, the deep discounts will begin to be harder to get and we will see slightly more leverage on the hotel side.
—Erin O'Brien, national sales manager, Aqua Blue Meetings, LLC, Clearwater, Fla. - 2011 is shaping up nicely. Our clients are increasing their budgets back a bit at a time at approximately 10 percent. We do see hotel, venue, etc., costs rise a bit as well, and I think that may cause attendees to spend less while they are at their conference.
—Danielle Strong, CMP, managing director/meetings division, Sterling Events Group, Clemmons, N.C.
