C.J. Bader
Gulf Coast Destinations, Inc.
Sarasota, Fla.
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?
The actual window between when we start planning and completion is very short compared to years gone by.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding?
Pretty much the same--our area has so much to offer and enjoy, such as competitive hotel rates and facilities, restaurants, activities--so I think it helps when planning the stay.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding?
The numbers on the events we handle are smaller than in the past. Maybe companies are still being more particular in how they openly spend money.
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?
For quite a while now there have been "perception" issues. Look at the news programs...."$16.00 Muffin" stories. It would be great if this would calm down, but it will probably stay in the foreground until the economy stabilizes and people start feeling a bit calmer again. It has been awhile since we have had a "feel-good" economy.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
Not that we have seen in our area. We are a tropical area and that in itself makes for a good backdrop.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
About the same. The biggest difference is that there is more attentiveness put in to making sure that the people you sign up for these activities are committed to participating and that money is not spent on empty seats or tickets.
Have you offered, or do you think you will offer, a CSR (corporate social responsibility) component to your meetings?
Sure, we do. This whole push on the term "corporate social responsibility" should have been a part of every planner and company's being all along. It is good business. When did we, and I mean everyone, loose their sense of good and bad, and right and wrong? It seems that the term came out when we needed a way to expose those that were "slacking" in this area and it became a way to "sell" more items. This may sound blunt or you may not agree, but it is another "sales" tool for some planners. (And it should just be a part of the way things are.)
Are sustainable (green) meetings something your organization has moved toward? If not, do you expect to implement more-sustainable meetings in the future?
The same pretty much applies here as above.
Do you feel the pendulum is swinging back to being a seller’s market?
No, it is still a buyer’s market. There are so many people out there needing the business that the buyer can still hold the reins.
Are you using social networking websites for business purposes? If so, which ones and why?
Yes. We are using the staples, LinkedIn and Facebook. There have been others that we have tried because someone asked us to and they have bombed out. We use the basics for the same reason everyone else does: exposure, keeping up with, and finding new paths.
Are you more optimistic, or less, about the meetings industry and the economy than a year ago?
Optimistic. The industry is still a good place to be; there is hope for the future in it. It is an industry that allows people to enjoy work and enjoy people, and all at the same time you stay engaged with the world around you and feel like you are learning every day.
How do you think 2012 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?
This is all the same as above; 2012 may turn around, maybe even a little bit due to it being an election year and people are always more hopeful in those years. We see everything still staying competitive. So many times we feel that the best sales are just made by how much you and the perspective client gel. There are so many people offering the same services, and let’s face it, everyone who wants to can have the initials after their name, we are still in an industry of "Customer Service" and it is our job to supply the client with the service and wares that they are opting to spend their money on.
