David Dimmick
Executive Director
New England Concrete Masonry Association
Manchaug, Massachusetts
Do you find that your booking window (the time between booking a meeting and the actual event) 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?
We have recently added a new event which requires a longer lead time so we are booking earlier than in the past. Our events are regional and the agenda is a day or less in length so we do not book sleeping rooms.
Is the duration of your meetings either shrinking or expanding? Why?
They have actually remained the same for the past few years but our plans for the major education event held yearly is to actually split into 2 separate, shorter events with more specifically focused audiences. We are doing this primarily in an attempt to locate the event where we believe the audience is rather than trying to attract them to our event/location.
Is the attendance at your meetings shrinking or expanding? Why?
For the particular education event discussed above it was up a bit this year (~15%) but has stayed fairly constant for the 3 years we have held it. I’m not sure we know why but some believe it may have to do with where the audience is and how far they will travel. (I should qualify this by telling you the event is a small education day (125-150 total attendees) held in meeting facilities in the outskirts of Boston.)
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?
Our budgets are always based on break even and no funds are designated for this event. We must earn enough to pay for it. With the slight up tick in attendance and a price increase we saw an increase in revenue but the facility we used also cost more. Net revenue was down slightly from the previous year.
Are perception problems (meeting at luxurious properties, resort destinations, etc.) a great concern for your organization?
No, we really haven’t ever used these types of facilities as it was sort of understood it would be inappropriate and also beyond our budgetary means.
Are there any destinations or facility types that are considered “off-limits” due to perception problems or the current economic climate?
No, budget precludes use of them, not perceptions.
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?
No
Are you incorporating more, or less, activities into your agenda? If so, what types of activities are being added or cut?
No, the meetings have remained fairly constant in their content.
Have you offered, or do you think you will offer, a CSR (corporate social responsibility) component to your meetings?
No
Are sustainable (green) meetings something your organization has moved toward? If not, do you expect to implement more-sustainable meetings in the future?
No and no.
Are you finding that attrition clauses are being enforced more or less strictly recently? Can you share any comments/observations about this?
We do not block rooms so this does not apply.
Do you feel the pendulum is swinging back to being a “seller’s” market? Any observations on this to share?
I have not booked meetings in the last 6 months so I have no basis to have observed this.
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 were seeing.
No, in my most recent experiences I found little willingness to offer any significant reductions. We are a small player and generally have lacked leverage. Without the sale of sleeping rooms there is little negotiating power.
Are you more optimistic, or less, about the meetings industry and the economy than a year ago? Why?
In the industries I represent we are not seeing much of a recovery at this time and so I don’t anticipate real growth in our meetings. As I often tell my Board, I am cautiously pessimistic about the near term.
How do you think 2013 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? Why?
I hope venue costs will not rise and with the budget I have falling from this year’s the challenge just to maintain the status quo is more than substantial. It will be critical for me to find a way to increase attendance numbers as well as sponsorship and exhibiting revenue to keep the Association moving forward.
