Lindsey Short
LA Telecommunications Association
Baton Rouge, La.
Do you find that your booking window is increasing or shrinking recently? Are you finding it harder to book rooms/meeting space in a short timeframe at hotels and other meeting facilities?
Shrinking. We are having a harder time contracting meetings a year in advance.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding?
Same.
Did you have a smaller or larger budget to work with last year?
Same.
Do you expect your budget to increase or decrease in 2012?
Same.
Do you expect your attendance to increase or decrease in 2012?
Increase.
Are perception problems (meeting at luxurious properties, resort destinations, etc.) a great concern for your organization? Have they become less of a concern than they were in 2010, and do you expect them to present any perception problems in 2012?
No perception problems.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
No.
Have you planned, or do you expect to plan, virtual/videoconference meetings? Do you expect to see more virtual meetings in the future?
Not planned. It is a possibility.
Are you exploring the possibility, or have you already held, a “hybrid” meeting (meetings that combine live events with an Internet/digital component? If so, what are your observations?
Interested.
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?
No.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
We changed to an out-of-area optional function, attending a theater production with a luncheon, which requires a bus ride.
Have you offered, or do you think you will offer, a CSR (corporate social responsibility) component to your meetings?
Not likely.
Are sustainable (green) meetings something your organization has moved toward? If not, do you expect to implement more-sustainable meetings in the future?
I am very interested, but have not implemented yet.
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes?
Facebook and Twitter are in progress.
Have you planned more meetings closer to your organization’s headquarters (“drive-to” meetings) recently?
No, our office is no more convenient for our members than our usual meeting locations.
