Looking to next year, the American Express Meetings & Events 2014 Global Meetings Forecast predicts that the global meetings industry will not experience much growth—or decline—during the next year, but will instead hold steady, as planners look to local destinations to make the most of shrinking budgets, especially as travel costs rise. Group rates and fares for flights and other bookings may also come to play a larger role in meetings budgets. The use of social media is expected to continue to increase as is consideration of non-traditional venues such as outdoor spaces, aquariums and amphitheaters.
On the topic of traveling, another American Express survey examined the air travel habits of business travelers.
Sixty-nine percent of respondents reported valuing longer flights as an opportunity to disconnect, and 60 percent also take the time to watch a movie or read a book while in the air.