Just off the road from DMAI’s Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, and gearing up for a busy summer with MPI’s WEC and ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Exposition on the horizon at press time, it seems as I’m not alone in being very busy as of late.
The hospitality industry is also firing on all cylinders, surpassing even the heady days leading up to the 2008 recession.
According to Vail Brown, vice president of global business development and marketing for STR, who presented at DMAI, the U.S. hotel industry is posting all-time highs across the board.
The 12-month moving average posted in May 2015 had supply increasing a scant 0.9 percent while demand increased 4.1 percent, and the occupancy rate came in at 65 percent, a 3.2 percent increase. RevPAR leaped by 8.1 percent and room revenue was up 9 percent.
Brown said these positive numbers—positive if you’re on the supply side—will cause compression downward from the upper end, so properties in the mid-market segments will be even more in the driver’s seat in this seller’s market.
All of this means that as a meeting planner you’ll need to be even more savvy and resourceful when researching and booking accommodations for your groups. Knowing some of the free services offered by destination marketing organizations, also known as CVBs, can go a long way in stretching your budget.
Meetings Focus had the pleasure of taping an On Location roundtable at DMAI, featuring David P. Bradley, with the Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau; Terri Roberts, representing DMAI’s empowerMINT.com; and Edward Harris, with the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. Titled “Mining Your CVB Relationship,” this 60-minute program is available for free on-demand by visiting the Events section of MeetingsFocus.com.
Enjoy your August issue, and also the annual Meetings Focus Guide riding along with it. I’ve always thought that when it comes to quickly researching the basics on facilities in specific regions, low-tech is best, as readers can quickly access the info they need to begin their site selection search.
Have a great end of the summer, and maybe I’ll see you on the meetings trail?
