There is reason for guarded optimism in the meetings and conventions market in 2012, according to research firm RRC Associates’ DestinationMAP (Meeting Assessment Program), formerly METROPOLL.
During the height of the economic downturn (2008-2009), DestinationMAP indicated that meeting holders were becoming much more cost-conscious. Specifically, they had become more concerned with travel, food and lodging costs as well as getting “good value” from a destination. Evidence indicated these cost concerns trumped convenient travel and a host of recreational and logistical considerations when meeting planners were selecting host sites for their upcoming meetings.
The most recent study indicates cost concerns are falling off somewhat and holders of meetings are starting to place renewed importance on travel convenience and recreational opportunities at sites.
Despite this relatively upbeat news, many of the realities of the economic downturn have not gone away. The vast majority of meeting planners said that they are going to negotiate more discounts and concessions and continue to shop value and price. These tendencies, though, are somewhat down from levels seen in 2009.