Janna Sperry Sundby
Membership manager
AMIN Worldwide
Wayzata, Minn.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding? Why?
The same duration as previous years. We're actually adding some smaller one day meetings as well.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding? Why?
This April 2011 conference will be very telling if we’re remaining the same or expanding. From 2008 to 2010 we were stagnant.
Did you have a smaller budget to work with last year? If so, how much do you estimate it was decreased?
We do not have a smaller budget; we’re asked to hold the costs down.
Do you expect your budget to increase in 2011?
No.
Do you expect your attendance to increase in 2011?
Yes.
Are perception problems (meeting and luxurious properties, resort destinations, etc.?) a great concern for your organization? Have they become less of a concern in the past few months, and do you expect them to be a problem in 2011?
The group I work for is tired of resorts that don't have options beyond golfing. We're looking for more urban locations. At the director-level meetings, we'll be staying at a luxurious resort in April, but at a great rate, so we're hoping that's a big draw. Too high a room rate will turn owners/attendees off and they just won't come.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are now considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
The properties have to be easy to get to from the airport.
Have you planned, or do you expect to plan, virtual/videoconference meetings? Do you expect to see more virtual meetings in the future?
We do telephone conference meetings (more and more) and will probably get into video conferencing, but for now, we’re comfortable with just the telephone.
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?
Yes, we're pushing more info into each day and not spending on entertainment. Still spending on F&B.
Are you scheduling more educational components for your meetings? If so, why?
Yes, we're pushing for more interactivity between participants and the speakers, which is more educational in nature.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
Cutting out paid entertainment and looking into paying for more bus transportation from the airport to the hotel and back. We want to include more interactive activities between members at the “meeting” functions.
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced less strictly? Can you share any comments/observations about this?
Our group paid attrition fees for the first time in 70-plus years. We had attendees and speakers with emergencies and last-minute cancellations that we simply could not control.
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.
For the smaller one-day meetings, we're getting decent rates: $135/night in metro cities, but there are contract commitments that make you feel locked in--with no room for emergencies--which always happen.
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes? If so which ones and why?
No, we're getting proposals direct from the properties. I'm trying to use the CVBs more.
Have you planned more meetings closer to your organization’s headquarters (“drive-to” meetings) recently? If so, why?
No, we go on either side of the Mississippi in order to accommodate members from all the states.
