PHILADELPHIA (June 16, 2006) – ARAMARK Harrison Lodging (AHL), a leader in the conference and corporate training centers industry, recently conducted a survey with Litchfield Research, an independent research firm based in Marietta, Ga., revealing that venue selection plays a critical role in the overall success of a meeting or conference.

According to the survey, 73 percent of respondents said that the actual training facility/conference center was “very important” in contributing to the overall success of a training or meeting session. 

“A training room/conference center can make or break the training experience,” noted one respondent.  Another respondent said, “A great training environment adds to the experience, but a poor training environment can ruin the best training program.”

“These responses clearly substantiate our strong belief that venue and conference facilities play a critical role in the perceived outcome or success of meetings and training sessions,” said Jeff Weggeman, vice president of sales and marketing, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging. 

Furthermore, participants also indicated that they proactively measure productivity benefits and/or success ratios as it relates to venue.  The large majority of individuals measuring the benefits/success ratio do so by creating post meeting evaluation forms, surveys and questionnaires.

“The meeting industry wants less distractions and more focus on the learning process,” says Weggeman.  “And as the industry continues to focus on measurement, we predict that there will be an increased demand to provide methodologies for conducting studies on how venue selection can impact a meeting/training success rate.”

Currently, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging is in the process of conducting a survey with PFK Consulting and will be later devising a system for companies to successfully measure venue ROI as well as return on objectives (ROO).

About ARAMARK Harrison Lodging 
ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, a division of ARAMARK, provides a wide range of professional services, including meeting and recreational support services to conference and corporate training centers, specialty hotels, national and state parks, resorts and other tourist destinations throughout the United States.  ARAMARK Harrison Lodging is a single source provider for educational environments, event and meeting planning, premium dining needs and catering, on-site restaurants, retail merchandise sales and facilities management.  For more information on ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, please log on to www.aramarkharrisonlodging.com. 

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2006 list of "America's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and industry analysts. The company was also ranked first in its industry in the 2006 FORTUNE 500 survey. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 240,000 employees serving clients in 20 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com.

ARAMARK Corporate Communications
David Freireich
215-238-4078
freireich-david@aramark.com

Lisa Epstein
Allison & Partners
Phone:  619-533-7973
E-mail:  lisa@allisonpr.com