News for the Hospitality Executive |
Benchmark Hospitality International’s 2011 Top Ten Meeting Trends
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2011 … Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading US-based hospitality management company, which operates 30 award-winning hotels, resorts, and conference centers coast to coast and off shore, announces its "Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2011" as observed by its properties. Overall,
Benchmark Hospitality’s
properties are cautiously optimistic at the start of 2011, projecting
moderate
growth with marginal increases in spending. Looking
a bit further afield, indications are that 2011
will have a
strong finish, and 2012 may just be a great year. Trend
#1 Business
Is On The Move Again! Business travel (group and individual) is up in
2011 across
Benchmark Hospitality’s portfolio. Booking
pace for most properties is outperforming the
previous year’s
results. Customers remain highly rate
conscious and value focused, though, and demand speed – as in fast
Internet
connectivity! Trend
#2 Planners
Want Choice.
The Complete Meeting Package, sacrosanct for
decades, could now be called the Flexible Meeting Package.
Planners still see the value of all-inclusive
packages – they just want these customized to suit the needs and budget
of
their particular meeting. How hotels and
conference centers develop and structure packaging components in the
future
will be influenced by this trend. Trend
#3 Heads
In Beds. The
plan for 2011 is growing occupancy while
maintaining rate integrity, which is generally comparable to last year. To win business, properties are negotiating
added-value options, such as complimentary Internet access,
cancellation/attrition flexibility, forgiving resort fees, and more. Trend
#4 Trend
#5 Only
Connect. Social
Media usage is beginning to take hold
within the meeting planning industry, but is not dominating
communications like
it is for the general public worldwide. The
exceptions are LinkedIn and YouTube, with groups
videotaping
sessions and posting these online for the benefit of their colleagues
back at
the office, for reviewing key points going forward, and for
encapsulating
business concepts addressed in the meeting. Trend
#6 Cost
Still Trumps Green.
Being green remains important for many planners
who look for properties to have these initiatives in place. In fact, today it’s generally assumed they do. Government meetings demand it, as does,
increasingly, the pharmaceutical industry. But,
if asked to choose between being green or providing
maximum cost
savings, budgets still take precedence in 2011! Trend
#7 Taking
Time For Teambuilding. Demand for
teambuilding is back, though unevenly so throughout the country. Where there is demand, planners want unique
programs delivered within tight budgets. These
teambuilding programs may be culinary events, set up
as Reality TV
programs, or utilize other clever concepts. It’s
not likely, however, a ropes course will be involved. Trend
#8 Why
So Serious?
Properties are at last seeing the return of recreation
and entertainment as part of the meeting experience.
To say there is a "comeback" would
be stretching things. But inquires for
entertainment options as diverse as theme parties, comedians, “meeting
camps”
and “think tanks,” etc., are coming from groups interested – for the
first time
in a long time -- in offering more than a strictly serious meeting
experience. Trend
#9 They're
Back! Insurance,
financial, consulting, high tech,
healthcare and education … the tried and true industries that have
supported
the conference center hotel industry over the past decades. As companies within these industries step up
hiring,
training related meetings are becoming more prevalent. Although
somewhat
regionally driven, after a brief and deep retreat nationwide in
2009-10, these
industries are coming back. Trend
#10 It's
No Longer Anyone's Guess. Planners
and meeting customers learn about locations, destinations and
individual
properties through surfing the Internet! Whether
searching Websites, perusing online magazines,
reading
destination coverage, viewing hotel advertising, or receiving an
e-blast, it's
the Internet! Period.
With iPads, smart phones and Apps becoming readily
available to promote nearly every product and service today,
communicating with
customers online has never been more available, more complex, or more
important. Are Planners Making A Comeback? Quite possibly. Whereas planner positions were streamlined or eliminated over the past years, with a recovering economy and improved business conditions, we may be seeing a renewed focus on these professionals and their valuable contributions to meeting productivity. Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels™. The independent company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers. Benchmark Hospitality is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations. Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. The company’s northeast regional office is in New Jersey, with international offices in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com. |
Contact:
Ken Ellens |