Gary J. Rosenberg, CMP
Professional Meeting Planner, Consultant & Instructor
GJR & Associates
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
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?
Currently, I find in general that the booking window is shrinking. Clients (associations) who had me find space for them two-plus years out are now requesting it about 14 months out. So far I am not having any difficulty finding space.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding?
Shrinking slightly due to budgets. They are cutting down on F&B functions.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding?
It has shrunk. Many had been supported by government agencies and now have to pay on their own.
Did you have a smaller or larger budget to work with last year? If so, how much do you estimate it was decreased or increased?
Decreased about 15%.
Do you expect your budget to increase or decrease in 2012?
About the same as 2011.
Do you expect your attendance to increase or decrease in 2012?
I expect a slight 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?
I am not using many luxurious properties but I think that stigma is over.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
I have not encountered any.
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?
Have not and none planned at this time
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?
Have not changed the number of sessions. Need them for CEUs.
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
Have not made any changes.
Are sustainable (green) meetings something your organization has moved toward? If not, do you expect to implement more-sustainable meetings in the future?
We are greening, but to a limited extent
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced more, or less, strictly recently?
I have only had one attrition issue and there was very little negotiation for that one.
Do you feel the pendulum is swinging back to being a seller’s market?
Yes, but slowly and depending upon the market. I think there was expectation that the latter part of 2011 was going to be much stronger than it actually turned out, and that expectations are being softened for 2012.
Do you find that you had much more leverage on room rates during the last year?
I had more leverage in the last couple of years. For 2013 I am seeing less discounting.
Have you planned more meetings closer to your organization’s headquarters (“drive-to” meetings) recently?
No.
Are you more optimistic, or less, about the meetings industry and the economy than a year ago?
I am [more optimistic] because I think unless something negative happens there is more optimism and people are ready to spend.
