Conferences are serious business!

What are the top ten meeting trends these days? According to a recent query of its properties by Benchmark Hospitality, the number one trend is obvious, yet bears repeating: the business of meetings, in today’s economy, is business.

“There’s not a lot of room for leisure and extracurricular play in the current meeting environment where every single dollar is measured for its contribution to the success of the overall conference. Meetings have never been more serious, focused, or strategic — or more regional, for that matter, as transportation expenses have been trimmed”

What are some other trends?

• Being a “green” conference in a challenged economy can take a back seat (despite everyone’s best intentions)
• Booking pace is in recovery for this second half of ’09 and 2010 looks healthy
• Value-added options to complete meeting packages are now a given
• Team-building lives!
• Third-party planners are even more popular
• Three meals a day are the norm
• Meeting demand has grown in the “serious” market segments: government, military, education, state associations and religious market – also medical, biotech and pharmaceutical
• Conference centers have gained popularity as productive meeting environments

Does this really mean there is no longer any room for leisure and fun at a conference? Not at all. But that round of golf or spa manicure is likely now on the attendee’s own dime, and on his or her own time