Meeting Planners Must Manage Growth

Growth in the number, size and budget for meetings impacts planners. Respondents to an MPI study published in its FutureWatch 2007 reflect a picture of expected growth in number of meetings, attendees and overall budgets in 2007. However, there is also an indication that organizations will be focussed on investing in meetings rather than simply spending on meetings. This translates to growing focus on Return On Investment (ROI) and is likely to place more emphasis on planning and implimentation efficiencies.

US Meetings Expenditures Comparison

Data from M&C Magazine 2006 Meeting Market Report (2005 data) reflects comparative meeting spending profiles between associations and corporations.

US Travel Trend

 Data from the Travel Industry Association indicates continued growth in travel since 9/11 reflecting decisions in favor of domestic travel over international choices. This is borne out by findings of the Union of International Associations (UIA). Their analysis of data on international meetings organized and/or sponsored by international organizations reflected a decline in internation travel by such organizations.

Blogging – How to begin? Why?

The first step is the hardest.  Our goal is to identify the reader’s needs in a couple of ways.  We have completed a survey of meetings industry practitioners on the ways in which they use the Web to do  their job.  We will be publishing the results of that survey.   And we will begin feretting resources that respondents said are sometimes hard to find.  We will also present research from time to time that has been completed by us or others for the use of this community.

Think of it as an introduction to a dialogue.  This is our way of priming the well.  The rest is up to the reader.  The objective is to establish a collaborative space in which participants can share needs and experience in a way that becomes a laboratory for creative solutions that are responsive to the meetings community.

Some may feel an initial aversion to adding their voice to this dialogue but the goal is to share experiences that are valuable to others with similar needs. As dialogue builds, the blog becomes an organic knowledge base that is fully searchable. Contributing should be made to be as easy as possible and accessible in every way.  And it is.  Every entry is enabled to record your comments and/or questions.  Communicate freely!