HSMAI'S Affordable Meetings(R) National Survey Shows Planners Will Arrange More Meetings in 2005 & B
Planners Still Have Time to Register for FreeE Show Sept. 7-8 in Washington, D.C.
MCLEAN, VA, August 30, 2005. Echoing sentiments from past reviews and indicating that the trend remains vital and growing, a survey of pre-registrants attending the 16th annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings(R) National show, set for Sept. 7 - 8, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., indicates the majority of the respondents (56 percent) expect to plan more meetings in 2005 and beyond. Most of those respondents (63 percent) anticipate planning one - five more meetings.
More than half of the respondents (57 percent) revealed their budgets have increased from last year with 49 percent of those citing an increase of between 10 - 19 percent. Sixty-three percent have not had the content or structure of their meetings change since 2004.
While planners' roles haven't drastically changed, many of them have grown their job descriptions with expanded responsibilities (such as content planning, arranging travel, contracting and program management, procurement and training). A number of planners also indicated they need to be more strategic and cost-conscious throughout the entire meeting planning process.
"These survey results tell a great story in terms of the quality of focused, business-generating meeting planners that are attracted to our shows as well as the general state of the growing meetings industry," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "Furthermore, the results are great news for our exhibitors as evidence of why the HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) series is an invaluable investment of their time and money because the attendees are serious about doing business," he added.
A total of 339 pre-registrants for HSMAI's Affordable Meetings(R) National completed the survey (a 20 percent response rate) with most planners from association, corporate and independent sectors.
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