Planners To Arrange More Meetings, Have Increased Budgets In 2006 According To Results Of HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) Survey
According to a survey of pre-registrants attending the sixth annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) Mid-America show March 29 - 30, 2006 at Chicago's Navy Pier, the majority of the respondents (67.2 percent) expect to plan more meetings in 2006 and beyond. Most of those respondents anticipate planning one - 10 more meetings (79.3 percent).
On a positive and potentially lucrative note for venues and suppliers in the meetings industry, more than half of the respondents (60.6 percent) indicated that their meeting budgets have increased from last year.
Additionally, 87.9 percent said they are looking for new resources and from this number, 64.2 percent are seeking venues for their meetings and events.
In response to how planners' roles have changed over the past year, many cited that they have more meetings to plan, increased responsibility, need to do more in less time, are faced with higher expectations from attendees (particularly in regards to technology), must deal with the challenges of budget constraints, and have more bottom line accountability.
The survey was sent to 972 planners registered for HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) Mid-America with a response rate of 51 percent (478 responses).
Source - HSMAI
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