News for the Hospitality Executive |
Meeting Professionals International Presents Future
Watch 2011:
The Latest Research on Meeting Trends for Hoteliers in 2011
Jan. 6, 2011 – Dallas, TX – Meeting and event professionals recognize the top industry trends in FutureWatch 2011, an annual research study conducted by Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Many top trends affect the hotel industry, including relevance of personal relationships versus technology and increased collaboration between planners and suppliers. FutureWatch 2011is designed to provide unique insight to assist businesses in understanding the needs of meeting professionals. The report also guides hoteliers seeking guidance on certain issues common in our current economic state including the top technology trends meeting planners are looking for in 2011. During the past two years, the global financial crisis has led to meeting planners and suppliers to work together to address budgets, cancellations, attrition and staffing. Meeting professionals seek to continue and increase this collaboration between hoteliers and planners according to FutureWatch 2011. “Bonuses for hotels that meet set service levels in post-event surveys can help venues get the business and the bonus and planners get the events they need,” said a FutureWatch meeting planner respondent. In addition to collaboration, professionals rated personal relationships equivalent to solving issues together. Twenty six percent of meeting professionals say that improved planner and supplier relationships are more important than ever before in order for both parties to achieve budget and performance goals. “People aren’t willing to talk face-to-face, they just send me to websites,” said a FutureWatch respondent. “I need to find a venue, I make contact with the sales people and they send me to the RFP site. Suppliers who want to get ahead need to focus on personal relationships instead of technology.” For a copy of FutureWatch 2011, please contact Kristen Kouk at [email protected] or tune into the FutureWatch webinar on Jan. 19, 2011 for more information. About MPI: Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the meeting and event industry’s largest and most vibrant global community, helps our members thrive by providing human connections to knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces. MPI membership is comprised of more than 23,000 membersbelonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information, visit mpiweb.org. |
Contact: Kristen Kouk [email protected] +1.972.702.3060
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